Teaching English in Korea The following information is provided by the government publication Teaching English in Korea. Work Visas for English Teachers Teach English Abroad Online TEFL course. - £195/$295 Visa Matters

Employment Visas

To work legally in Korea, you must obtain the appropriate employment visa. The Korean government tightly controls the issuing of visas for employment, and in some instances teachers have been unable to obtain the appropriate visa. If you wish to work in Korea, you must obtain the visa outside the country. However, you can enter Korea on a tourist visa, obtain letters of sponsorship and apply for the visa in a nearby country (Japan or Hong Kong). Depending on the job and other factors, it can take between one week and two months to obtain the appropriate visa. As visa regulations and the documents required change quite frequently, you should contact the nearest Korean diplomatic or consular mission if you are outside Korea, or a Korean immigration office within Korea, for confirmation of regulations and fees.

On arrival in Korea, you must register at a Korean immigration office and obtain a residence permit and a re-entry permit within 90 days of entry. All foreigners are required to possess a valid re-entry permit in order to re-enter Korea. Korean immigration offices require the same documentation as is needed for obtaining the visa, so you should make plenty of copies.

Most English instructors are granted an E-1 visa (professor at an educational institution higher than a junior college), an E-2 visa (conversation instructor) or an E-5 visa (professional employee with a public relations firm or corporation). Dependants of diplomats stationed in Seoul can work as English teachers by obtaining a work permit from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This can be arranged through the Personnel Office of the Canadian Embassy in Seoul. An individual who is married to a Korean citizen can also acquire permanent residency rights as a spouse.

Despite what some employers may tell you, you are not required to hand over your Canadian passport to your employer for the duration of your stay. It is your passport and you should keep it in your possession.

Required Forms

To obtain a visa (before entering) or a residence permit (within 90 days after entry), you must submit the following documents to the Korean government office responsible:

a sponsorship guarantee form (shin won pojungso) (notarized by a notary public);

an employment contract for not less than one year and not more than two years (ko yong kyeyakso);

and a certificate of employment (chaejik jungmyungso)

These documents are supplied by your employer and should be arranged one month in advance to allow for delays arising from mistakes and other mishaps. In addition, the authorities will probably require the following:

a statement of purpose;

a résumé;

an original of your college diploma, plus copies;

transcripts;

and driver's licence-sized photographs

Changing Your Employer

To change employers, you require permission from the Korean immigration authorities and, in principle, must leave Korea and return under a new visa with a new sponsor. Changing employers is quite difficult and requires release consent from your original employer for the remaining contract period. You should direct any questions on this procedure to the nearest immigration office.

If you resign to take up new employment without a letter of release from your previous employer, you must leave the country within 14 days of your resignation. A new work permit will not be issued until the expiration of your previous contract. However, after leaving the country, you can return to Korea as a tourist while awaiting the expiry of your old contract, although you are not allowed to work in the interim.

Legal Problems

Some expatriates have encountered serious legal problems with the Korean immigration authorities because either they have accepted employment as English teachers while in Korea on a tourist visa or they have agreed to take part-time employment or teach private classes without obtaining the proper permission. Violation of Korean immigration laws can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment, fines of up to 50,000 won for each day of overstay, or deportation with a ban on re-entry, usually for up to two years. It is your responsibility to understand local laws and obey them. Canadian government offices cannot assist you in any way if you violate Korean laws, other than to provide you with a list of attorneys.

Please choose from the following sections:

Teach English Abroad Online TEFL course. - £195/$295

Introduction
Types of English Language Schools
Visa Matters
Contracts
Housing
Working Hours
Severence Pay
Income Tax
Medical Insurance
Ticket Home
Cultural Differences
Adapting to Korean Society
How Canadian Government Offices can Help

Canuck Abroad takes no responsibility for the information or accuracy contained in this section and suggest you go to http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/pubs/Korea-en.asp for the latest information.

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