Getting Notarization and Apostille

Getting Notarization And Apostille

Notarization First and Apostille Second

Apostilles certify documents for international use whereas Notarizations certify that documents are legitimate copies of original documents.

All teachers applying for ESL jobs in Korea have to have a Degree/Diploma Copy to be Notarized First and then Apostilled to be accepted by Korean Immigration.

In most cases, as the nationwide criminal checks have been issued and signed by the government authorities, the notarization aren’t needed but only apostille certification needed for international use. For this process, please refer to the article – Getting Criminal Record Check and Apostille.

A Notary Public, or lawyer with a notary license provides the notarization service. To find a notary in your area simply do a Google search for: ‘Notary Public + your city name’.

Do NOT, for any reason what so ever, remove the staples and/or damage the apostille certificates. Korean Immigration will automatically reject any apostille authentication that looks like it’s been tampered with (detached, re-stapled, etc.).

Please NOTE that Notarization First and then Apostille Second.

Please find how to get Notarization by country.

USA

To find a notary in your area simply do a Google search for: ‘Notary Public + your city name’.

Please find how to get apostilles on FBI Criminal Check and Diploma in reference to the following;

FBI Criminal Check (Identity History Summary Check)

FBI criminal background checks are federal documents and therefore can only receive a federal apostille from the US Department of State. FBI criminal checks are already notarized, therefore obtaining an additional notarization before an apostille is not needed.

The U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washcington DC accepts requests via Mail or Walk-in Counter or Appointments.

Please NOTE that it would take almost 1 month to get it back from them via Mail request method. So DO NOT just mail your FBI criminal record check directly to the US Department of State if you don’t have enough time in job/visa process. You could opt to request the service via Walk-in Counter or Appointments but please firstly call the Office of Authentications to inquire about the delivery timeline.

Please refer to Requesting Authentication Services on the Department of State website.

Diploma or Degree Certificate

Your university diploma is a state-level document. Therefore you can get it apostilled by your Secretary of State Office in your own state. In order to be apostilled however, the document needs to first be notarized. The process would take 1 to 2 days.

Please refer to Apostille Offices and Authorities in United States.

When urgent, both notarization and apostille via GLOII (3 days)

We provide End to End legalization services on both an FBI check and the copy of Degree/Diploma.

Please refer to Getting FBI Check State Level Apostilled Swiftly

Canada

Find a Notary Public or lawyer via the Yellow Pages website.

Please NOTE that All Canadians must have their original RCMP criminal check and diploma certificates verified by the Korean Consulate/Embassy with a Consulate Verification Stamp because Canada is not a signatory of the Apostille treaty. First have them notarized by a notary public then mail or take the notarized ones to your nearest Korean Consulate or Embassy for the Consulate Verification stamp.

Remember to make a request for 2 notarized criminal checks, you might need an additional copy when applying for your E-2 visa at the consulate.

Please NOTE that multiple applying teachers told us that the Korean Consulate in Montreal and Toronto may not require them to notarize the criminal checks. Please contact your nearest Korean Consulate for more specific details.

South Africa

Find Attorneys in South for notarization via the Attorneys.co.za website.

South African candidates need to have their documents apostilled by the Legalisation Section of the South African Department of International Relations & Cooperation (DIRCO).

Please follow the instructions at Consular Notarial Services (Legalisation of Official (Public) Documents) on the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) website.

You can have an apostille job done the same day via in person visitation.

Please NOTE >>> Newly implemented Time Consuming Degree Verification Process
- To get the copy of degree apostilled, originally DIRCO required a verification letter issued by the Department of Higher Education which takes normally one to two working days.
- However, DIRCO changed this process and requires to obtain a verification letter from the SAQA (South African Qualification Authority) which takes 20 to 30 working days to issue the letter!
- The entire process goes as following; Copy of Degree > Notarization by a Notary Public/Attorney > Verification by SAQA > Apostille by DIRCO

However High Court May Expedite the Degree Verification Process
- Instead of going through the time consuming lengthy verification process with SAQA, we managed to find a working way of having a copy of degree apostilled by working with a South African High Court. They even apostille the Police Clearance Check as well.
- Please contact a high court in the vicinity of your location in advance if they could provide the services of your request. Some high courts may not provide the services.
- The entire process goes as following; Copy of Degree > Notarization by a Notary Public/Attorney > Apostille by a High Court
- We have also found out that a high court usually doesn’t use a standardized single apostille cover template so that they ended up using the templates having different font styles, sizes and layouts on a copy of degree and a Police Clearance Check each. Therefore when you actually sort out these two docs for the apostille working with a high court, please make sure to ask them to apply a same identical apostille cover template. Please find the samples for your reference below.
- We have also noticed a misspelling in the sub title line – ‘(Convention de La Hayel Du 5 Octobre 1961)’. The correct spelling is ‘La Haye’ not ‘La Hayel’. Please check that if there might be a typo like this.

UK

Find a Notary via The Notaries Society or The Faculty Office websites.

The Notaries Society’s Find a Notary Page
The Faculty Office’s Find a Notary Page

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is the best option for getting an apostille in the UK and it is faster and cheaper than other apostille services. Please follow the instructions at Get your document legalised on the GOV.UK website.

It normally takes 2 working days to process the Apostille job using the standard service, plus courier or postage time. Applications during peak periods around Easter and summer can take up to 10 days.

Ireland

Find a Notary via the The Faculty of Notaries Public in Ireland website.

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the only office in Ireland that is able to authenticate documents. Please follow the instructions at Authenticating documents on the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.

Australia

Find a Notary via the Notary Locator website.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is the office that Australian teachers must use for their Apostille authentications. Please follow the instructions for applicants applying from Australia and also from overseas at Legalising documents on the DFAT’s Smartraveller website.

New Zealand

Find a Notary via the New Zealand Society of Notaries website.

Please follow the detailed instructions for apostille at Apostille Certification on the Department of Internal Affairs website.

Getting an aspostile takes 7 – 10 days. If urgent, you could attach a cover letter explaining why it is urgent to make the delivery quicker.

How to Apply for ESL Jobs in Korea

A to Z guideline

We are laying the ENTIRE Application/Hiring process out from A to Z and helping you through it step-by-step so you are comfortable and know what is going on at all times.

E-2 Visa Procedures for English Teachers to Korea

The E-2 visa is the specific visa for individuals coming to Korea as an English Teacher. The E-2 visa is sponsored by educational institutions such as public schools, private academies (hagwons), and at universities. The visa must have prior agreed upon sponsorship by one of those institutions in order to obtain. An E-2 visa is valid for 13 months, and must be renewed with each new contract or continuing contract.

Assuming that you have all the required Visa Documents in your possession, the entire placement process will usually take 1 – 2 months from the point of online application to actual start teaching.

Please refer to the following major steps you’re going through.

STEP 0: Begin Gathering Up Visa Documents (1~2 months)

Gather the following documents ASAP because it takes most of time in process.

Please follow these directions exactly as any variation will be rejected by Korean Immigration.

Obtaining these documents is typically what delays departure to Korea so begin working on these IMMEDIATELY.

Please keep us posted of your gathering progress. It is very important to calculate your approximate start date.

Required Visa Documents;
- Notarized and Apostilled photocopy of your Bachelor’s Diploma
- Notarized and Apostilled Nationwide Original Criminal Record/Background Check
- Application for Visa Issuance
- Self Medical Assessment for Immigration
- A color scan of the information page of your Passport
- (4) passport sized photos (3.5cm x 4.5cm)
- Resume with correct mailing address and phone number (the resume must bear your signature)
- (if any) Photocopy of TESOL/TEFL/CELTA Certificate(s)
- (if any) Photocopy of your Master’s Diploma
- For Gyopo (Korean American) teacher, prepare either the Photocopy of F4 visa or Permanent Residenceship Certificate

STEP 1: Submit Your Application (5~10 mins)

Submit online application via ‘Apply for ESL Jobs‘ page. It only takes a few miniatures as we minimize the application items as simple as possible.
If you have any questions regarding application process, please let us know by sending email to contact@gloii.com for prompt assistance.

STEP 2: Review and Pre Interview (1~3 days)

We will review your application and contact you via email to set up a pre interview over phone or Skype.

During the interview, the below topics will be discussed mainly and your questions will be answered;
- Please introduce yourself briefly.
- Please let us know why you want to teach ESL in Korea.
- Please let us know your educational philosophy and how to motivate/encourage students.
- Please let us know how you would cope with the cultural differences.

Through the pre interview, your qualification, experience and preference will be checked and you’ll be introduced to our nationwide Public and Private schools for prospect interview set-ups.

STEP 3: School Interview and Offer (1 day)

We will notify you soon as any school asks us to interview with you with the details about the position information and condition

We will schedule the interview if you accept the interview invitation after the position review.

The interview will be conducted over phone or Skype taking about 15mins – 30mins.

Upon successful interview, you’ll be given the formal Job Offer from the school with official contract.

You are going to review the contract and having any questions, those will be answered by us and the school and even current foreign teachers with whom we’re going to connect you up for objective information on working and living around the job.

If everything turns out to be ok, you are going to sign, scan and email the signed contract back to us for securing a position.

STEP 4: E-2 Visa Issuance Number (in Korea, 2 weeks)

In order to legally work in Korea, the E-2 visa (work visa for English Teachers) is needed for foreigners who will teach English in Korea.

Soon as gathering all the required Visa documents, please mail them which are listed in STEP 0 via Express Mail Service (UPS, FedEx, DHL or any others in your country) for your Visa Issuance Number. After mailing, send us the tracking number.

Before mailing, make a photo copy of your Diploma and Criminal Record Check with Apostilles to be used in STEP 5.

The school submits your documents (Statement of Purpose and Sponsorship Guarantee form) to the Korean Immigration Bureau for getting the number.

CHECK POINTS before you sending;
- Make sure you have a valid passport that does not expire in the near future (check expiration date)
- Criminal check: Is it apostilled? Is the word ‘Apostille’ there on the paper? Is there written ‘No Record’ in original paper? Is it issued by authorized institute?
- Degree: Can you find ‘BA’ or “‘BS” on your degree?
- Please advise us if you will be answering YES to any of the questions on the Health Statement Form.

STEP 5: Visa Interview (in Your Country) and Flight Ticket Arrangement (1 week)

We will email you the visa issuance number issued by the Korean Immigration Bureau.

Now that you have been approved/confirmed for a visa, you will need to receive the actual visa by sending the following documents to the nearest Korea consulate. Use expedited shipping.

Please NOTE that each Korean consulate handles the visa process differently so make sure to call ahead for double check for the items to be prepared and sent. Some consulates will require an in-person interview, others will require a phone interview and the rest do not require an interview at all.

On average it will take approximately 5 ~ 10 business days from when the consulate receives your request (not including shipping time). We strongly recommend using a tractable overnight carrier to send your visa documents to the consulate.

To expedite the process, you can send the required documents to the Korean consulate with jurisdiction over your area by courier before receiving the visa issuance number, and then call the number in by phone once it is received. This will save some leg-work, but you should call before sending in their documents to verify that this can be done. And as visas are issued faster if the teacher goes to the consulate in person, as opposed to sending their passport and documents via courier, check in with the consulate if that option might be feasible.

Following is the general list of items you will need to take/send to the Korean consulate prior to your interview;
- Passport with at Least 6 months remaining validity (They will stamp it with the visa and send it back to you. Some consulates process the visa electronically issuing the Visa Grant Notice. It depends on the consulate/embassy)
- Filled-out Application for Visa form (Your school’s information is written in the employment contract that you signed.)
- (1) passport-sized photo (3.5cm x 4.5cm) attached to the Visa Application
- Consul’s checklist
- Pre-address and stamped express mail envelope for the Consulate to use when mailing your passport back to you once processed (If you want to collect your passport in person, please consult ahead if that’s optional)
- Cash (for visiting in-person) or Money Order (for mailing-in). The Visa Fee (US citizens: $45 USD / UK citizens: ￡255 / Canada citizens: $78 CAD / Ireland citizens: €54 / New Zealand: $60 USD / South Africa: $60 USD / Australia: A$ 156 – Please check with Consulate General for the exact amount)
- CANADIAN APPLICANTS ONLY!: Canadian applicants will need to have one set of Sealed University Transcripts as this is a requirement by Canadian Korean Consulates.
- And any additional items each Korean consulate require you to submit.

Once you have scheduled your interview with the consulate, please notify us for us to book the flight ticket timely.

STEP 6: Visa Issued! and Fly over to Korea and Start Teaching

Receive your passport back after your visa has been processed. Check inside your passport to verify that a new page with your Korean visa has been inserted. Now you’re ready to come to South Korea! Congratulations!

Once you arrive in Korea, an escort meets you at the airport and transports you directly to the school. Arrival and contact information is always given to you prior to departure.

After Arrival: Medical Check Up (1 day)

In order to obtain your Alien Registration Card (ARC) and register yourself to the local Office of Education, you will first need to get a Medical Check Up done at a designated local Hospital.

The medical exam will check for general health conditions, narcotics usage, as well as certain diseases. The check will consist of an x-ray, blood test, as well as various physical tests.

It takes 3~7 days to get the results for these tests and they are mandatory.

Please request 2 copies of the results before taking the test. One copy will be for your ARC application and the other will be for submitting to your school.

The following documents are required for the Medical Check Up;
- 2~3 Passport size photos
- Valid Passport
- Fee: 60,000KRW – 150,000KRW (varies by Hospital)

After Arrival: Alien Registration Card (ARC) (1~2 weeks)

Once the results of the Medical Check are processed, you will visit the local Immigration Office to apply for your Alien Registration card (ARC).

All foreign teachers must apply for ARC within 90 days of arriving in Korea. Your ARC is a form of official identification. The Korean government requires all non-Korean citizens working in Korea to obtain this ID and carry it on their person at all times.

All foreign teachers need to return to the Immigration Office to pick up their Alien Registration Card. The process often takes between 7 and 14 days. Alternatively, a paid courier service can deliver the card. Please note that you will have to surrender your passport during this period, so plan accordingly.

The Alien Card is necessary to obtain Identification such as a Cell Phone, Bank account, Credit Card, etc.

And having an ARC also allows you to be enrolled in the Korean National Health/Medical Insurance and Pension Plan.

The following documents are required to apply;
- Application form for Alien Registration
- A color scan of the information page of your passport and original passport
- (1) passport-sized photo
- (1) photocopy of accommodation contract
- (1) signed Confirmation Letter of Accommodation Residency
- (1) sealed medical test results
- A copy of the Business License of the employer or school
- Fee: 30,000KRW

Getting Criminal Record Check

And

Apostille

criminal record background check with apostille

Clean Criminal Record Check Required

All teachers applying for ESL jobs in Korea should submit a Nationwide Criminal Record Check (CRC) with an authenticating Apostille Seal or a Korean Consulate verification stamp as an alternative to the Apostille Seal for Canadian teachers.

A Criminal Record Check (CRC) also referred to as a Criminal Background Check (CBC), is a document used to prove that you have not been convicted of a crime in the past. Korean Immigration requires that expatriates coming to work in South Korea have No Criminal Records. Those with criminal records of either felonies or misdemeanors are not eligible to teach English in South Korea. However traffic violations (such as speeding and parking citations) do generally not affect your criminal record for teaching in South Korea.

The CRC must have been issued within the last 180 days – CRC older than 6 months will not be accepted by Korean Immigration.

CRC is issued through third party providers are not acceptable with Korean Immigration. Meaning: you can NOT use a private company to obtain the criminal check; it MUST come directly from a police department or government office/bureau. Additionally, the checks that were ordered online & come as ‘print outs’ are NOT accepted by the Korean authorities.

Please find how to get Criminal Record Check and Apostille by country.

USA – Identity History Summary Check

The Identity History Summary Check issued by the FBI (previously known as a criminal record check) is required for the teachers from the United States.

Please NOTE that Korean Immigration does not accept the criminal record checks issued by individual states, only accepts the nationwide ones by the FBI or FBI-Approved Channelers.

There are 2 ways of getting the check. Please compare the options below in consideration of your Timeline, Costs and Service Convenience. Out of our confirmed experience, we recommend you to use one of Channelers for the fastest and surest result.

Option 1: Submit Your Request Directly to the FBI (10 to 12 weeks plus delivery time)

Getting the check through the FBI is a standard but Direct Request doesn’t mean speed or velocity at all. Notoriously it takes 10 to 12 weeks! It’s cheap but considering 6 month validity and job application process, you should be making a careful choice whether choosing the direct way. We recommend that you should use this method only when you have enough time in job/visa process.

You can initiate the process in reference to the full guideline page for Identity History Summary Checks – How to Submit a Request.

Applicants can have their fingerprints by visiting a local police station or if you live in California, you can get it done at a live scan center. Please find the nearest live scan location to you in reference to Live Scan Locations – State of California Department of Justice.

When you mail your fingerprints to FBI CJIS Division, please make sure to include a Cover Letter explaining that you are applying to teach in South Korea and need the criminal record check for international use. The cover letter will allow the section chief that issues the criminal record check to pre-authenticate it with their signature and you can have it apostilled at the apostille authorities or the Department of State office.

Option 2: Submit Your Request to an FBI-Approved Channeler (2 to 3 days)

FBI-approved Channeler is a private business that has contracted with the FBI to lighten the increasing burden of workload to expedite the delivery of Identity History Summary information on behalf of the applicants in line.

Currently getting a FBI check through a FBI-approved channeler is the quickest way.

Surprisingly it only takes about 2 to 3 days to get the results from the Channler that processes the FBI check applications electronically, but expect the additional fees that is worth investment.

Korea Immigration approves and accepts the results from the FBI-Approved Channelers without any issue because the result is totally identical to the one from the FBI.

You can initiate the process by contacting one of the approved channelers on their websites. Please refer to All List of FBI-Approved Channelers.

For your first look, we recommend the Reliable Channelers to whom out teachers have showed great satisfaction.
- Visit Accurate Biometrics
- Visit NBCI (National Background Check, Incorporated)

After getting the check, please proceed to get an Apostille for International use.

Do NOT, for any reason what so ever, remove the staples and/or damage the apostille certificate. Korean Immigration will automatically reject any apostille authentication that looks like it’s been tampered with (detached, re-stapled, etc.).

There are 2 ways to secure the Apostille Authentication for an FBI check;

Option 1: Through the Department of State office (4 to 6 weeks)

The U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington DC accepts requests via Mail or Walk-in Counter or Appointments.

Please NOTE that it would take almost 1 month to get it back from them via Mail request method. So DO NOT just mail your FBI criminal record check directly to the US Department of State if you don’t have enough time in job/visa process. You could opt to request the service via Walk-in Counter or Appointments but please firstly call the Office of Authentications to inquire about the delivery timeline.

Please refer to Requesting Authentication Services on the Department of State website.

Option 2: Expedited Apostille via GLOII (3 DAYS)

As an FBI check is a federal document, the state level apostille is not available for an FBI check in most states. However we have established a special partnership to enable this. The Korean Immigration accepts an FBI check with State Level Apostille as a legal document.

Please find the guidance on how to expedite getting an FBI check State Level Apostilled that is legally accepted by the Korean Immigration. Furthermore it only takes 3 business days.

Please refer to Getting FBI Check State Level Apostilled Swiftly

Canada – Criminal Record Check

Canadian teachers MUST secure National level FINGER-PRINT based checks from the RCMP. Name and DOB based checks or provincial level finger-print checks are NOT accepted by Korean Immigration.

It takes 5 to 10 days for the check to be processed by submitting electronic fingerprints to the RCMP.

To order your criminal record check, simply follow the instructions at Steps to obtain a certified Criminal Record on the RCMP website. It gives the instructions for applicants applying from Canada and also from overseas.

Submitting electronic fingerprints to the RCMP is not currently available outside of Canada. However, you can contact Accredited Fingerprint Companies within Canada who will digitize ink fingerprints taken overseas and submit them electronically to the RCMP on behalf of you. As the RCMP does not list the Accredited Fingerprint Companies anymore, please Google them to find a proper one to work with.

Please NOTE that All Canadians must have their original RCMP criminal check and diploma certificates verified by the Korean Consulate/Embassy with a Consulate Verification Stamp because Canada is not a signatory of the Apostille treaty. First have them notarized by a notary public then mail or take the notarized ones to your nearest Korean Consulate or Embassy for the Consulate Verification stamp.

Remember to make a request for 2 notarized criminal checks, you might need an additional copy when applying for your E-2 visa at the consulate.

Please NOTE that multiple applying teachers told us that the Korean Consulate in Montreal and Toronto may not require them to notarize the criminal checks. Please contact your nearest Korean Consulate for more specific details.

South Africa – Police Clearance Certificate

South African teachers are required to submit a Police Clearance Certificate with an Apostille certificate.

To order your Police Clearance Certificate, simply follow the instructions at Applying for a Police Clearance Certificate on the South African Police Service (SAPS) website. It gives instructions for applicants applying from South Africa and also from overseas.

You can expedite to receive a police clearance certificate in 7 to 10 days by including a contract with a cover letter explaining your urgency in job/visa process. Please contact us at contact@gloii.com if you need a sample contract for this purpose.

Police Clearance Certificate is required to have an Apostille for international use.

Please follow the instructions at Consular Notarial Services (Legalisation of Official (Public) Documents) on the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) website.

Please NOTE that the Legalisation (Apostillization) Service only apostilles a Police Clearance Certificate that is less than 3 months old.

Legalisation Office/Section at Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) processes Police Clearance Certificates and they are situated in Pretoria. Therefore your location decides how to get an apostille as following;

If you live near to Pretoria

When you submit the application package to the Criminal Record Centre of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Pretoria, please make sure to request the Police Clearance Certificate to be Signed and Stamped

After receiving the Police Clarence Certificate, please visit Legalisation Office/Section at Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in person to apostille your Police Clearance. You can get it back the same day!

If you live far from Pretoria

Police Clearance Certificates Signed and Stamped by the SAPS’ Criminal Record Centre can be sent straight to the Legalisation Office/Section at DIRCO to get the Apostille Authentication.

Therefore when you send application package to SAPS’s Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria, please include a cover letter requesting the Police Clearance Certificate to be Signed and Stamped and DIRECTLY Sent to Legalisation Office/Section at DIRCO before it is returned to you.

UK -Basic Disclosure

British teachers can apply online for what’s called a Basic Disclosure check via the Disclosure Scotland website. Please follow the instructions at Apply for Basic Disclosure guide page here.

The process takes about 14 days and costs 25 pounds.

You can apply online, if your current address is in the UK and if you have been living at this address for at least twelve months.

If you are living outside of the UK you will need to apply using a paper form.

Once you have a Basic Disclosure check, it needs to be Apostilled.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is the best option for getting an apostille in the UK and it is faster and cheaper than other apostille services. Please follow the instructions at Get your document legalised on the GOV.UK website.

It normally takes 2 working days to process the Apostille job using the standard service, plus courier or postage time. Applications during peak periods around Easter and summer can take up to 10 days.

Basic Disclosure Check by Disclosure Scotland or DBS Check by GOV.UK?
- There are 2 different types of police checks issued to British citizens which are a Basic Disclosure Check by Disclosure Scotland and a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Check by GOV.UK.
- We recommend a Basic Disclosure Check by Disclosure Scotland as it is more widely recognized by the Korean Immigration and quicker in delivery with free certification and open to all UK citizens.
- GOV.UK (DBS) issues a DBS Check without signature or stamp and without the certifications, some solicitors might refuse to notarize it which is required for the following apostille process.
- Disclosure Scotland website redirects you to the GOV.UK (DBS) website if you state you’re English and live in England. However you can still access the Disclosure Scotland website and purchase a Basic Disclosure Check though.

Ireland – Police Check Certificate

Criminal Record Checks in Ireland are usually referred to as Police Checks, Police Clearance Letters or Certificates of Character.

You can secure Police Check Certificates by contacting the Garda Police Station in your jurisdiction and requesting a Police Check Certificate of Character.

Once they have your details you should get a number you can call to track it and generally it take 2 to 3 weeks for it to be delivered.

Please find information at Garda Siochana – Ireland’s National Police Service web site.

Once you have a Police Check Certificate, it needs to be Apostilled for International Use. The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the only office in Ireland that is able to authenticate documents. Please follow the instructions at Authenticating documents on the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.

Australia – National Police Check

Australian teachers can request a National Police Check from Korea or anywhere else by contacting Australian Federal Police (AFP).

Please follow the instructions at National Police Checks on the Australian Federal Police website.

Once you have a National Police Check, it needs to be Apostilled for International Use. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is the office that Australian teachers must use for their Apostille authentications. Please follow the instructions for applicants applying from Australia and also from overseas at Legalising documents on the DFAT’s Smartraveller website.

New Zealand – Criminal Conviction History

Criminal Record Check (Criminal Conviction History) issued by the Ministry of Justice is required for the teachers from the New Zealand. You need to have the check Apostilled for international use.

As it is an official/certified document issued by a government authority, it doesn’t need to be notarised before apostilled.

New Zealand teachers will need to download the proper form from the Ministry of Justice website and submit (via mail or email) a signed copy with an ink signature.

Please follow the instructions at Get Your Own Criminal Record on the Ministry of Justice website.

You can download Request your own Criminal Conviction History form (used to be called a Priv/f1 form).

The Ministry of Justice says this process takes 20 working days, but they are often delayed & getting the apostille will add several more days. So the entire process could take almost 2 months!

If urgent, it’s best to work with a professional paid agency to expedite significantly to obtain the check.

We recommend CheckPlease. They can deliver the check in just 3 working days on reasonable fees. They will email you the electronic check in PDF format and you can get it printed out and use it for the apostille. If you want a paper version as well, you will receive your electronic result first, and then the printed copy some days (or weeks if you are overseas) later, as the Ministry of Justice will send it via standard post.

The electronic check looks like this.

Please follow the detailed instructions for apostille at Apostille Certification on the Department of Internal Affairs website.

Getting an aspostile takes 7 – 10 days. If urgent, you could attach a cover letter explaining why it is urgent to make the delivery quicker.

Essentials

Getting Notarization And Apostille

Notarization First and Apostille Second

USA

Related Links/Downloads

Canada

Related Links/Downloads

South Africa

Related Links/Downloads

UK

Related Links/Downloads

Ireland

Related Links/Downloads

Australia

Related Links/Downloads

New Zealand

Related Links/Downloads

How to Apply for ESL Jobs in Korea A to Z guideline

E-2 Visa Procedures for English Teachers to Korea

STEP 0: Begin Gathering Up Visa Documents (1~2 months)

Related Links/Downloads

STEP 1: Submit Your Application (5~10 mins)

Related Links/Downloads

STEP 2: Review and Pre Interview (1~3 days)

STEP 3: School Interview and Offer (1 day)

Related Links/Downloads

STEP 4: E-2 Visa Issuance Number (in Korea, 2 weeks)

STEP 5: Visa Interview (in Your Country) and Flight Ticket Arrangement (1 week)

Related Links/Downloads

STEP 6: Visa Issued! and Fly over to Korea and Start Teaching

After Arrival: Medical Check Up (1 day)

Related Links/Downloads

After Arrival: Alien Registration Card (ARC) (1~2 weeks)

Related Links/Downloads

Getting Criminal Record Check And Apostille

Clean Criminal Record Check Required

USA – Identity History Summary Check

Related Links/Downloads

Canada – Criminal Record Check

Related Links/Downloads

South Africa – Police Clearance Certificate

Related Links/Downloads

UK -Basic Disclosure

Related Links/Downloads

Ireland – Police Check Certificate

Related Links/Downloads

Australia – National Police Check

Related Links/Downloads

New Zealand – Criminal Conviction History

Related Links/Downloads

How to Apply for ESL Jobs in Korea

A to Z guideline

Getting Criminal Record Check

And

Apostille