Korea Arrival Checklist — All Teaching Programs
EPIK, GEPIK, SMOE, GOE, SEC, GIGE, COEIEI, HEC, GEEC, private academies — the visa, banking, and immigration flow is the same. Four phases, every step Korvia has refined across 10,000+ teacher arrivals.
All
Programs
4 Phases
Pre → First Month
E-2
Visa Standard
ICN
Main Airport
Who This Checklist Is For
Every foreign teacher arriving in Korea on an E-2 visa goes through the same immigration, banking, housing, and onboarding loops. The contract holder is different — your day-one experience is not.
Pre-Departure — 2–3 Weeks Before Flight
What you must finish in your home country before boarding. Almost every arrival problem traces back to a missed item in this phase.
Confirm flight details with your recruiter and school
Send your full name, flight number, arrival date and time in KST, and terminal (ICN T1 or T2) to your Korvia recruiter as soon as booking is done — 2+ weeks in advance ideally.
Complete the e-Arrival Card
Korea replaced the paper immigration form with an online e-Arrival Card. Submit within the 3-day window before landing. E-2 visa holders do not need K-ETA.
e-Arrival Card Portal›Activate international roaming or order an eSIM
Walking out of immigration without mobile data is the single biggest mistake arriving teachers make. A prepaid eSIM QR code emailed before departure solves it — you are online the moment you clear customs.
20th Anniversary eSIM Promo›Bring original documents in carry-on
Apostilled bachelor's degree, apostilled criminal record check, TEFL certificate, passport (plus photocopies), sealed university transcripts, extra passport photos. Immigration and your employer will want originals — never check them in.
Photocopy or photograph your E-2 visa and passport
Keep digital copies in email and cloud storage. Carry a paper copy separately from the originals. If your passport is lost, this is how you get moving again.
Pack for the season — Korea's weather is regional
Winter (Dec–Feb) demands a heavy coat, thermals, and gloves. Summer (Jun–Aug) is humid and hot — light breathable clothing. Mountain provinces run cooler; coastal cities are milder.
Bring USD cash for the first 48 hours
Roughly $300–$500 USD covers taxi backup, first meals, convenience-store supplies, and incidentals before your Korean bank account is active. Airport exchange rates are acceptable for this amount.
Install essential Korean apps before you board
Naver Map or KakaoMap (not Google Maps — it is limited in Korea), Papago (Korean translation), Coupang Eats / Baemin (food delivery), KakaoTalk (required messenger), and your bank's app.
Share your itinerary with family
Full flight details, Korvia recruiter contact, your school name, and city. Nominate one emergency contact who can be reached on WhatsApp or KakaoTalk.
Landing Day — Incheon to Your City
From immigration clearance to arriving at your accommodation. Do these seven things in order and you will be sleeping in a Korean bed by midnight.
Clear immigration with the e-Arrival Card confirmation
Show your passport with E-2 visa, e-Arrival Card confirmation, and declaration card to the immigration officer. Expect a short interview about your purpose of entry (teaching English).
Activate your eSIM or pick up a SIM at the airport
If you arranged an eSIM pre-departure, scan the QR code now. If not, KT, SKT, and LGU+ all have counters in the arrival hall — bring your passport.
Order eSIM in Advance›Meet the Korvia/school representative at the designated point
EPIK teachers meet at ICN Terminal 2. GEPIK, SMOE, GOE, and academy teachers meet at a point confirmed by Korvia in your welcome email — typically the exit gate of your arrival hall. Send a KakaoTalk message once you clear customs.
Take the orientation shuttle or the prepared transport
EPIK teachers ride the EPIK shuttle to Jeonju. GEPIK, SMOE, GOE teachers take a school-arranged vehicle or intercity bus to their region. Taxi backup costs 100,000–180,000 KRW to most cities — use only as last resort.
Exchange a small amount of cash at the airport
₩200,000–₩300,000 KRW worth is enough to cover food, transport cards, and convenience store runs for 2–3 days. Full exchange waits until your bank account is open.
Buy a T-money card for public transport
Every Seoul and regional subway, bus, and many taxis accept T-money. Buy one at any convenience store in the airport (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven) for ₩2,500, then top up ₩10,000–20,000.
Report arrival to your recruiter via KakaoTalk
Confirm immigration cleared, eSIM works, and transport is sorted. A one-line message means Korvia does not have to call the airport if something goes wrong.
First Week — Orientation + Getting Set Up
Orientation (program-specific), Residence Card application, banking, contract signing, housing walk-through. The heaviest administrative week of the year.
Attend orientation (program-specific)
EPIK teachers attend a 10-day orientation in Jeonju. GEPIK, SMOE, GOE typically run 1–3 day orientations organized by the local metropolitan office. Private academy teachers may go straight to school with in-house training.
Submit paperwork to apply for your Residence Card (RC)
Formerly called the Alien Registration Card (ARC), the RC is the ID every foreign resident needs. Your school coordinates the immigration appointment, usually within the first 10–14 days.
Korean RC Guide›Open a Korean bank account
KB Kookmin, Shinhan, and Woori all serve foreigners. Bring passport, E-2 visa, employer confirmation letter, and Korean phone number. Most accounts are opened the same day; internet banking activates within 1–3 business days.
Request a Korean alien/foreign resident tax registration (if not on EPIK)
EPIK handles this centrally. GEPIK, SMOE, GOE, and academy employers may ask you to visit the tax office with your RC application number to register for withholding. Ask HR which path applies.
Review and sign your Korean-language contract
Your MOU or offer letter was in English; the binding Korean contract signs on your first workday. Ask Korvia to review it if any clauses were not in your English copy — it is normal, but double-check severance, housing deposit handling, and resignation notice.
Set up KakaoPay or Toss for domestic payments
Both apps connect to your Korean bank account and are how you split bills, send money, and pay at small vendors. Toss is often the smoother experience for foreigners — English UI available.
Request housing walk-through and document condition
Take dated photos of every room, appliance, and any pre-existing damage before you move in. Share the photos with HR the same day. This protects your housing deposit (₩300,000–₩700,000) at contract end.
Memorize your address in Korean
Taxi drivers rarely speak English. Save your address in KakaoTalk, screenshot it, and rehearse pointing it out. Your school nameplate address in Korean works even better.
First Month — Residency Established
Residence Card in hand, postpaid mobile converted, health insurance active, first paycheck reviewed, community connections starting. The 30-day mark is when Korea starts feeling like home.
Pick up your Residence Card
Typically issued 2–6 weeks after application. Collect in person at the immigration office that processed your paperwork — you may not send a proxy. The card looks like a plastic ID with your photo and alien registration number.
Convert prepaid eSIM to a KT postpaid plan (optional)
Once RC is in hand, you can convert your Kimchi Mobile eSIM to a KT postpaid contract for 33–34% off the monthly rate. Same number, no SIM swap — just a reboot. Use within 60 days of RC issuance for best pricing.
eSIM Postpaid Details›Enroll in National Health Insurance (NHIS)
Mandatory for all E-2 holders. Your school's HR files the enrollment within 14 days of your first work day. Contribution is withheld from salary (~3–4% of gross). Save your NHIS card when it arrives — it covers most hospital visits.
Register with your embassy's citizen services
US, UK, Canadian, Australian, NZ, Irish, and SA embassies offer free registration. Enables them to reach you during emergencies and verifies you hold a valid long-stay visa in Korea. Takes 10 minutes online.
Review your first paycheck
Korean pay cycles usually run 25th to 25th or 30th to 30th, so the first paycheck may be partial. Confirm it matches contracted salary, check for NHIS / pension / income tax deductions, and ask HR to explain any unclear line item.
Order apartment internet and utilities
KT, SKT, and LG U+ offer home internet around ₩25,000–₩35,000/mo. Delivery and activation take 3–7 days. Utilities (electricity, gas, water) are often bundled by the school or invoiced through housing management — ask HR.
Meet your co-teachers and build the working relationship
For EPIK, GEPIK, SMOE, GOE teachers — your Korean co-teacher is your single most important work relationship. Ask about lesson-planning expectations, communication preferences, and which teacher's materials set the standard. A coffee invitation in week 2 pays dividends for the year.
Join community channels
The Korvia teacher community on KakaoTalk, Facebook groups (EPIK Ensemble, Gyeonggi Teachers, etc.), and city-specific meetups. Social integration is the #1 predictor of teachers who renew for a second year.
Deeper Reading for Your Program
The universal checklist gets you 90% of the way there. For program-specific differences — EPIK's Jeonju orientation, GEPIK's district-by-district arrival, academy intake — use these dedicated guides.
Arrival Checklist FAQ
Does this checklist apply to all teaching programs in Korea?
Yes. The checklist is program-agnostic — EPIK, GEPIK, SMOE, GOE, SEC, GIGE, COEIEI, HEC, GEEC, and private academies all follow a similar arrival flow because the underlying visa (E-2), immigration process (Residence Card), and banking rules are identical. Program-specific differences (EPIK's 10-day Jeonju orientation vs a 1-day school orientation elsewhere) are called out in the relevant step.
How far before departure should I start the checklist?
Three weeks. The pre-departure phase alone — apostilled documents, visa pickup, flight booking, eSIM ordering, app installation — typically takes 2–3 weeks of overlapping work. Teachers who wait until the last week almost always miss a step and land in Korea scrambling.
What is the single most important thing to get right?
Being reachable on arrival day. That means (a) mobile data the moment you clear immigration — eSIM is the cleanest solution — and (b) your recruiter having your flight info in advance. Every other mistake is recoverable; being unreachable for the first six hours cascades into missed pickups, missed shuttles, and costly taxi backups.
How much money should I bring for the first month?
Plan for $1,500–$2,500 USD equivalent in accessible funds. Your first paycheck typically arrives 30–60 days after your arrival (Korean pay cycles can be partial in month one), so you need runway for housing deposit contribution (if any), utilities setup, food, transport, and incidentals. Keep it as a mix of USD cash ($300–$500) and an international debit card until your Korean account activates.
When does my Residence Card arrive, and what should I do while waiting?
Two to six weeks after the immigration appointment, depending on the office and season. During that window, your prepaid eSIM carries all your data and your passport acts as your government ID. Banking, domestic flights, and many contracts can begin before RC arrives — but postpaid mobile, long-term domestic services, and some government portals wait until it is in hand.
Do I need a Korean bank account before I arrive?
No — you cannot. Korean banks require an RC or passport + alien registration number (from your employer) to open an account. The account opening happens in your first week once you are physically in Korea. This is why USD cash for the first 48–72 hours matters.
What if I arrive outside business hours?
Evening and weekend arrivals are fine for EPIK intakes because the program plans shuttles around flight schedules. For GEPIK, SMOE, GOE, or academy placements, coordinate with Korvia in advance — your recruiter will either meet you at the airport, arrange a hotel pickup, or give you the taxi / express-bus instructions to reach your city. Never improvise a late-night arrival without telling someone.
Is the checklist different for Canadian / UK / Australian / South African teachers?
The steps are the same; only document sourcing differs. Apostille is issued by the foreign ministry in your home country (Global Affairs Canada, UK FCDO, DFAT, DIRCO). E-2 visa requirements are identical across passport countries. Korean immigration does not distinguish between them during the RC process.
Arrive Ready, Not Scrambling
The phases above are universal, but your specific intake has its own date, airport, and shuttle. Let Korvia confirm yours so the checklist becomes a calendar.