Visa and Immigration Guide (1/14)
D-10 to E-2 Visa Transfer | Korea Visa Guide
Got a new teaching job lined up? Congratulations! Your next step is to switch from your D-10 to an E-2-1 visa, which allows you to legally teach in Korea. Make sure to take care of this at least two weeks before your start date, since you cannot work full-time while on a D-10. This guide will explain the documents you need and the general process for completing the transfer once you land your next teaching job in Korea. Job Seeking Visa (D-10-1) Holders D-10-1 is a job-seeking or internship visa for foreign residents in Korea. The maximum stay period is three years, renewable in one-year increments. You may intern at any number of Korean companies, but each individual internship can last no longer than one year with the same employer. In theory, this means you could intern at up to 36 different companies over three years if each internship lasted only one month. If you want to teach English full-time, you must transfer to an E-2-1 (Foreign Language Instructor) Visa. The E-2-1 visa, also called the general “Foreign Language Instructor” visa, is the most common visa for native English speakers teaching conversational English in Korea. This visa lets you work at private language academies, language research institutes, and other equivalent educational organizations. E-2-1 (Foreign Language Instructor) Period of Stay: Up to 2 years (generally 13 months/1-year contract, or the duration indicated on your Visa Issuance Certificate). Validation of Visa: 3 months following the visa issuance date (must arrive in Korea within 90 days) Entry Type: Single entry Purpose: Limited to teaching conversational English (NOT literature, linguistics, or translation). Eligibility for D-10-1 to E-2 Visa Transfer To transfer from a D-10 visa to an E-2 visa, ensure you meet the following requirements: Must hold a valid D-10-1 visa in South Korea Must be eligible for an E-2-1 Visa E-2-1 Eligibility Requirements: Be a citizen of a country where English is the primary language. (U.S.A., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, U.K. and Northern Ireland, Ireland, and South Africa) Hold at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in one of the 7 native English-speaking countries. Be a native speaker or have completed junior high school (7th grade) and lived for at least 10 years in a native English-speaking country Must have a signed contract from a registered educational institution in Korea The position must meet E-2-1 visa requirements Required documents must be submitted and approved (see below) Required Documents for D-10 to E-2 Visa Transfer Prepared by the Teacher (D-10 Visa Holder) Application Form No. 34: Visa application form for the transfer. See Form Release Letter (If applicable): Needed only if leaving a previous contract early. Passport: Valid passport with at least six months of validity. Residence Card (RC): Current Residence Card issued in Korea. Labor Income Withholding Receipt (근로소득원천징수): Obtainable from your previous school or local tax office. Medical Checkup: Two sealed copies of the medical checkup. Visa Transfer Fee: 130,000 KRW Prepared by the the School (New School): Business Registration Certificate (사업자등록증): Copy of the school’s business registration number certificate. School Establishment Registration (학원설립운영등록증): Copy confirming school is registered in Korea. Class Timetable (강사 활용계획서) Showing the classes the teacher will teach. School Status Report (학원 현황표) Confirmation of Residence and Lease Contract: Needed when the school provides the housing. Overview of the E-2 to D-10 Visa Transfer Process Once you sign a contract with a new school, you can begin your visa transfer process. Collect Required Documents: Prepare all necessary documents. Visit the Immigration Office: Schedule an Appointment: Required for most immigration offices. In-Person Visit: Bring required documents for submission. Submit Documents: Hand in all documents for verification. Fee Payment: Pay the visa transfer fee (KRW 130,000). Processing Time: Typically 7-14 business days for approval. Receive Updated RC: Get an updated RC reflecting your new place of employment. Important Considerations Visit the immigration office before your D-10 Visa expires if no appointment slots are available. You must wait for your E-2 visa transfer to be completed before starting work.
