Visas and work permits are usually filed by the sponsoring employer in South Korea. Once your work permit has been approved, the Ministry of Justice will issue a
Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance (CCVI). This certificate must then be submitted with the relevant visa application forms to the South Korean embassy or consulate in your country of residence.
Documents needed
A number of documents need to be submitted with your CCVI. These include:
- passport photos
- a copy of your ID passport page
- your resume or CV
- original copies of your academic credentials
- along with certified copies and apostilled documents
- an original assignment letter or contract
- proposed job description
In many cases a criminal clearance certificate will also need to be presented. A work visa is usually valid for one year and takes about 2 to 4 weeks to process. It is not possible to change from a tourist visa to a work visa within South Korea – this must be done from an embassy or consulate outside the country.
When applying for your visa it is important to tell your employer and the staff at the South Korean embassy that you would like a
multiple or single entry visa. If you get a single entry visa and then need to leave South Korea for a vacation or business you will need to get a re-entry stamp from the immigration office at the airport, this will cost US $40. It is also possible to change your visa from single to multiple entry when you register for your Alien Registration Card.
The Alien Registration Card
An Alien Registration Card is required for opening a bank account, signing a lease, getting a cellular telephone number and applying for a driver’s license. You can obtain an Alien Registration Card from the immigration office in your suburb. You will need your employer’s business registration number, three passport photos, your passport, US $10 application fee and a further US $50 if you want to change you your visa to a multiple entry visa. It is also advisable to take your criminal clearance certificate and academic credentials with you to the immigration offices. Once you have completed the application form and handed it to the immigration official your fingerprints will be taken. You will then be handed a receip with date on which your passport and Alien Registration Card will be ready for collection.
Changing employers
Changing employers is an equally complicated procedure as your visa is sponsored by your employer. This means that in order to change employers your visa needs to be changed. This can be done without leaving Korea if you have all the relevant documents needed for a visa and if your current employer signs a Letter of Release which is then submitted to the Korean immigration office with your passport and Alien Registration Card. You may also need to undergo a full medical in a Korean hospital and a valid criminal clearance certificate is also required.
Finding work
It is far less complicated to find work before going to Korea. Expats need to apply for a work permit for employment from a sponsoring employer. Most nationalities are given 30 to 90 day tourist visas on entry. However, an in-person interview at the South Korean embassy or consulate, in your home country, is usually required in order to obtain a work permit. This rule is particularly strict for those wishing to teach English.
