Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifications do I need to teach English in Korea?
The E-2 visa process currently requires a minimum of a Bachelors degree in any field.
Some schools may only hire teachers who majored in Education or English. Generally, if you do have a Bachelor of Education or Bachelor of English, you will have access to better positions and higher salaries than those with a BA in other disciplines. If you have TESOL or CELTA certification, or teaching experience, this also improves your employment prospects. We cannot accept any applicants without at least a Bachelor's Degree.

You must be a Native English Speaker. This is understood to be a citizen of a country whose official and most commonly spoken language is English. English must be your own first language, and you must also have graduated from an English speaking university. We cannot accept applicants who do not meet this requirement, as they will be unable to obtain an E-2 visa.

You must demonstrate full fluency in written and spoken English. This will be determined by your resume and e-mail correspondance, and by preliminary telephone interviews.

Once I have submitted my application, what happens next?
Once you have submitted your application, including resume and photo, we will select one or more positions that would fit well with your qualifications and preferences. Your resume and photo are then submitted to the school for their approval.

The school will usually conduct a telephone interview before making their final decision. The school will then forward a contract, which we go over with the applicant to ensure it is acceptable to all parties. The signed contract is then sent to Korea, along with the appropriate documents, to begin the visa process.

How long do the job application and visa process take?
The job application process can take from as little as a week, to a month or two. We try to match our teachers to the best possible schools, so it may take some time to find exactly the position you are looking for. We advise planning several months ahead, to ensure you have time to select the best position and allow plenty of time for the visa process. For example, if you wish to start work in Korea in January, you should begin the application process in October or November. Of course, it is possible to find a great job in the first few days after you apply, but we advise giving yourself as much time as possible.

The visa process varies depending on your nationality and the position you are hired for. In most cases we advise allowing 1 to 2 months for the entire visa process, as it may take some time to gather the necessary documents.

What documents will I need for the visa application?
Please see our E-2 Visa Process page for a list of documents currently required for the job and visa application process.

Who takes care of my flights to and from Korea?
Every school has a different procedure. Some will pay for the teacher's tickets outright, others ask the teacher to pay up front, and reimburse when the teachers arrives in Korea. For a 1-year contract, the school will pay for both your flight to Korea, and your return. In the case of a shorter contract, the school may only pay your airfare one-way. Exact airfare details will be outlined in your contract.

We can take care of all your flight bookings for you, or you may choose to book your own flights. However, when booking your own flights it can be problematic to arrange payment by the school, as they may only deal with certain airlines or travel agents.

What happens when I get to the airport?
We will arrange for someone from your school to meet you at the airport and take you to your apartment in Korea.

What kind of salary and benefits can I expect?
Salary will depend on your school, your contract, and your own qualifications and experience. Currently, the average starting salary is roughly 2 million won per month, for a 1-year contract, roughly 8 working hours per day.

Benefits will also vary depending on your school, but there are some standard benefits which we ensure are written into every contract for our teachers.

You will always have housing provided, either paid up front by the school, or via a housing allowance if you prefer to find your own apartment. Your housing may be shared with other teachers, but in most cases private housing is provided. This can be negotiated in your contract.

You will have all Korean statutory holidays off with pay. Most contracts also include roughly 2 weeks of holidays, one week in summer and one in winter.

Schools provide 50% medical insurance coverange. This means the school pays 50% of the premiums, and the teacher pays 50%. You may also purchase your own medical insurance if you wish.

What paycheck deductions can I expect?
Schools will deduct income tax (roughly 5%) from your pay. You health insurance premiums and pension deductions will also come out of your pay. Income tax and pension can be claimed when you finish your contract and are leaving Korea.

Depending on your housing arrangements the school may pay your utilities (gas, electricity) up front, and deduct these from your pay.

You should always ask for a complete breakdown of your pay and deductions. If you have any questions or concerns about payroll deductions, contact us and we can assist you.

If you have any other questions, or wish to submit an addition to our FAQ page, please contact us at info@get2korea.com.