E-2 (Conversation Instructor) Visa Issuance for Native-Speaker Instructors and Report or Permission for Change of Workplace between Academies

Procedure

1. 1. Check the nationality and degree requirements

   As a basic rule, an English conversation instructor must be a national of one of the 7 countries who earned a bachelor's degree or higher in that country. There are special cases, such as a bachelor's degree earned at a Korean university, so check the country and the program in which the degree was earned.

2. 2. Prepare the degree certificate and criminal record certificate

   The degree certificate and the nationwide criminal record certificate from the country of nationality (issued by the FBI for the United States) must carry an apostille or consular legalization. Use a criminal record certificate issued within the last 6 months.

3. 3. Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance or change of status of stay

   For an instructor who is abroad, the hiring academy applies for a Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance, and the instructor obtains the visa at a Korean diplomatic mission abroad. An instructor staying in Korea on D-2 (Study), D-10 (Job Seeking) or a similar status applies for permission for change of status of stay after meeting the requirements.

4. 4. Foreigner registration and hiring procedures after entry

   Complete foreigner registration within 90 days after entry. At that time you must submit a pre-employment medical certificate that includes drug test results, issued by a medical institution designated by the Minister of Justice (instructors selected for elementary, middle and high schools through programs run by the Ministry of Education or a metropolitan or provincial office of education are excluded). The academy manages the hiring of the instructor in line with the standards of the office of education.

5. 5. Change of workplace when moving to another academy

   If the instructor has completed the contract period, the contract ended through no fault of the instructor, or the instructor left mid-contract but obtained a letter of release from the previous academy, a report of change of workplace is filed within 15 days from the day the new work starts. If the instructor was dismissed or left mid-contract for reasons attributable to the instructor and did not obtain a letter of release either, permission for change of workplace must be obtained before starting work. Working at the new academy before permission is granted is illegal employment.

Required documents

• Passport, photograph, integrated application form
• Degree certificate (apostille or consular legalization)
• Nationwide criminal record certificate from the country of nationality (apostille or consular legalization, issued within the last 6 months)
• Employment contract, the academy's business registration certificate and academy registration certificate
• For a change of workplace: letter of release (if any), new employment contract, residence card (Residence Card)
• For foreigner registration: pre-employment medical certificate from a designated medical institution (including a drug test)

Fees

Immigration fees paid by revenue stamp are fixed, for example 120,000 won for a change of workplace and 100,000 won for a change of status of stay. At Hwang Yunsang Administrative Office, the service fee starts from 180,000 won for permission to change or add a workplace and from 350,000 won for permission for change of status of stay (VAT excluded). We will advise on the fee after a consultation, based on the scope of document preparation.

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

• Immigration Act, Article 21
• Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, Article 26-2
• Public Notice on the Requirements for Foreigners Who May Change or Add a Workplace by Report Alone under Article 26-2, paragraph (1) of the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act
• Immigration Act, Article 95
• Immigration Act, Article 31
• Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, Article 72
• Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, Article 76
• Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, Attached Table 5-2

Checked against the statutes on 2026-10-05

Statutes and public notices change, so each case needs to be checked individually. Statute titles are given in English for reference. The Korean statutes are the authoritative text.

Check these first

• First check whether the new academy is allowed to hire foreign instructors and meets the facility standards, and then sign the employment contract.
• The deadline for the report of change of workplace is 15 days from the start date of the new work, so keep a record of the start date.

Frequently asked questions