TEFL Requirements in South Korea: Visa, Degree & Certification
Last updated: 2026-08-05 · Data source: aggregated live research (government/consular guidance, industry TEFL guides), see sources below
E-2 visa: bachelor's degree mandatory, citizenship limited to 7 recognised English-speaking countries, and a 100-hour TEFL certificate unless you already hold an education degree or teaching licence.
Visa / work permit route
Teaching in South Korea runs on the E-2 (Foreign Language Instructor) visa, restricted to citizens of the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Degree requirement
A 4-year bachelor's degree from an accredited university is mandatory for most public-school and hagwon roles (any subject); international schools and universities typically want a teaching licence and often a master's.
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A minimum 100-hour TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificate is required for the E-2 visa unless you hold a bachelor's, master's or PhD in Education, or a valid home-country K-12 teaching licence — in which case the requirement is waived. 120 hours has become the de facto industry-standard course length most providers sell to meet this.
Background checks & document legalisation
A national-level criminal background check is required — for US applicants, an FBI check — which then needs to be apostilled or consular-authenticated before you submit your visa application. A medical exam (including a drug screening) is completed after arrival in Korea.
Recent rule changes to know about
No major, clearly-dated overhaul of the E-2 visa itself turned up in this research pass for 2024–2026, but specific document routing (for example, UK applicants going through the Korea Visa Application Centre in London) and TEFL-hour exemption details can shift between intake cycles — always reconfirm directly with EPIK (epik.go.kr) or a Korean consulate before applying.
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This page is general information, not immigration or legal advice — always confirm current visa and work permit requirements with the relevant embassy, consulate, or a licensed immigration adviser before booking travel.
FAQs
Do I need a degree to teach English in South Korea?
A 4-year bachelor's degree from an accredited university is mandatory for most public-school and hagwon roles (any subject); international schools and universities typically want a teaching licence and often a master's.
How many TEFL certification hours do I need for South Korea?
A minimum 100-hour TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificate is required for the E-2 visa unless you hold a bachelor's, master's or PhD in Education, or a valid home-country K-12 teaching licence — in which case the requirement is waived. 120 hours has become the de facto industry-standard course length most providers sell to meet this.
What visa do I need to teach English in South Korea?
Teaching in South Korea runs on the E-2 (Foreign Language Instructor) visa, restricted to citizens of the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Is a background check required to teach in South Korea?
A national-level criminal background check is required — for US applicants, an FBI check — which then needs to be apostilled or consular-authenticated before you submit your visa application. A medical exam (including a drug screening) is completed after arrival in Korea.