The E-2 is South Korea’s visa for native English teachers. Every applicant needs a bachelor’s degree and a clean national criminal record check, both apostilled.
The two documents go to different places. Your diploma is apostilled by the state where your university is, usually as a notarized copy so you keep the original. Your FBI background check is federal, so it takes a federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State. Order them in parallel, not one after the other.
The FBI check must be issued within six months of your visa application, so do not order it too early. Recruiters and schools set their own deadlines on top of that.
At a glance
U.S. documents for this visa
| Document | Issued by | Certification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FBI background check | FBI | Federal apostille | Issued within 6 months of applying |
| Bachelor’s degree | Your university | State apostille, often on a notarized copy | See diploma apostille |
| Transcripts (sometimes) | Your university | Sealed, or apostilled if asked | Some schools and offices ask for them |
Checked against consulate guidance in October 2026. Your consulate’s current checklist always takes precedence.
Things worth knowing
- Two apostilles, two offices. The diploma goes to a state; the FBI check to the U.S. Department of State.
- Keep your original diploma. A notarized copy apostilled by the state is what most applicants send.
- Name matching. The name on the degree, the FBI check and your passport must match, or explain the difference.
How it works
Step 1
Tell us the visa and consulate
We match its checklist against the documents you have.
Step 2
Order what is missing
FBI check, certified copies, or anything else, timed for recency rules.
Step 3
Apostille or attestation
Federal and state documents processed together.
Step 4
Translated and returned
With certified or sworn translation if your consulate asks.
South Korea E-2 Visa Documents: common questions
Does my diploma need a state or federal apostille for Korea?
State, from the state where your university is. Only the FBI check takes a federal apostille.
Can you handle all the apostilles for my South Korea application in one order?
Yes. Federal documents such as the FBI check go to the U.S. Department of State, and state documents go to the states that issued them. We run them together and return the set to you, with translations if you need them.
Do requirements differ between consulates?
Often, in the details. Treat this page as a guide and your consulate’s own checklist as the final word. Tell us your consulate and we will check its current list against your documents.
Official sources
Requirements, fees and processing times are set by the authorities below and can change without notice. Verify anything time-critical directly with them.
Korea Immigration Service (Hi Korea)
Ready to get started?
Tell us your visa and consulate, and we will price every document you need in one order.
Related: All visa guides · Germany · FBI background check