E-2 Foreign Language Instructor
🇰🇷 South Korea visas · Work
What it is
For native speakers of English, French, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and other languages teaching at language institutes (hagwon), schools, or universities in Korea. Official sub-categories: E-2-1 일반회화강사 (conversation instructor); E-2-2 학교보조교사 (school assistant teacher); E-2-91 FTA영어 (FTA English).
Key facts
- Category
- Work
- Duration
- 1 to 2 years (renewable)
- Processing time
- 4 weeks
- Maximum validity
- 2 years
- Path to permanent residence
- Indirect route
- Dependants
- Yes
Standard figures for this route. Some applicants pay a reduced fee or none at all, so confirm your own case on the official page.
Fees
- Application fee (single entry, stay 91 days or more)
- USD 60
- Application fee (if issued as a 2-entry visa)
- USD 70
- Application fee (if issued as a multiple-entry visa)
- USD 90
Key requirements
- Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited university
- Citizen of a country where the target language is used as a primary language
- Clean criminal background check (apostilled)
- Health certificate (including drug test)
- Employment contract with a Korean school or language institute
Working on this visa
A status of residence permitted to engage in employment (Enforcement Decree Art. 23(1)).
Facts checked against the official source. Last updated 18 July 2026.