TEFL Requirements in South Korea: Visa, Degree & Certification
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.
Quick eligibility checklist
- Citizenship of an eligible country — USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa — the E-2 visa is restricted to these 7 nationalities only.
- Bachelor's degree — 4-year degree, any subject, from an accredited university — mandatory for most public-school and hagwon roles.
- 100-hour TEFL certificate (minimum) — Waived only if you hold a bachelor's/master's/PhD in Education or a home-country teaching licence. 120 hours is the common course length sold to meet this.
- National-level criminal background check — An FBI check for US applicants, apostilled or consular-authenticated before you apply.
- Post-arrival medical exam — Includes a drug screening, completed after you arrive in Korea on the E-2 visa.
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.
Which nationalities are eligible for the E-2 visa?
Only citizens of the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa are eligible — the E-2 visa is restricted to these 7 countries and there is no exception route for other nationalities.
Can I get an E-2 visa without a TEFL certificate?
Yes, if you hold a bachelor's, master's or PhD in Education, or a valid home-country K-12 teaching licence — the 100-hour TEFL requirement is waived in that case. Everyone else needs the minimum 100-hour certificate.
Do I need a medical exam to teach in South Korea?
Yes — a medical exam including a drug screening is completed after you arrive in Korea on the E-2 visa, at a designated health centre, not before you leave home.
How long does the E-2 visa application take?
Processing specifics vary by intake cycle and consulate, and can shift over time — always confirm current timelines directly with EPIK (epik.go.kr) or your nearest Korean consulate before booking flights.