EPIK Arrival & Orientation Guide
Arrive on the date in your EPIK arrival notice, register at Incheon Terminal 2, and board the official shuttle to the residential orientation.
Updated October 2026. We update this page when the Spring 2027 arrival notice is published.
Next Intake
Spring 2027
Arrival Date
Set by EPIK notice
Registration
8 AM-6 PM
Last Shuttle
6:30 PM
Spring 2027 arrival details are not out yet. The figures below are from the last main intake; registration was at ICN Terminal 2 only, and Terminal 1 arrivals had to transfer before check-in.
Quick Answer
How does EPIK arrival and airport check-in work?
Complete the e-Arrival Card within 3 days of your flight
All teachers must fill out the new e-Arrival form no earlier than 3 days before arrival in Korea. This replaces the paper immigration form you would normally fill out on the airplane.
K-ETA is NOT required — K-ETA only applies to passengers entering Korea without a visa, and you will have an E-2 visa.
Arrival Time, Airport Desk, Shuttle & Orientation
These are the main-intake details from EPIK's last arrival notice. We update this page when the Spring 2027 arrival notice is published. Late-intake or individually instructed teachers should follow their own coordinator's message.
Arrival & Registration
8 AM-6 PM
Arrive on the date in your arrival notice. EPIK asked that flights land by 4:00 PM so participants can register by 6:00 PM. If you cannot find a suitable flight, arrive the night before and cover your own accommodation.
EPIK Registration Counter
T2 · 1F · Desk 53-54
Go to Terminal 2, Arrivals Floor (1F), Desk 53 or 54, behind the LG U+ and SK Telecom roaming counters. Terminal 1 arrivals must use the free inter-terminal shuttle bus and should allow about 30 minutes.
Official Shuttle
6:30 PM Last Bus
The last regular shuttle leaves at 6:30 PM. One emergency shuttle leaves at 7:30 PM only for unexpected flight delays or emergencies. Seating is assigned in registration order, so boarding delays are possible.
Residential Orientation
About 8 days
All participants must stay in EPIK's designated accommodation for the full program. The venue and detailed schedule remain TBA; follow the next official update from your EPIK liaison.
From Flight Booking to Orientation Check-In
Five steps that cover everything from the moment you confirm your flight to the moment you drop your luggage at the orientation venue.
Check Your E-2-2 Visa Grant Notice
Before BookingConfirm that your Visa Grant Notice shows E-2-2 and a 13-month validity period. Contact the issuing consulate and your coordinator or agency immediately if anything is different, and buy your ticket after the visa is issued.
- ✓Visa type: E-2-2
- ✓Validity: 13 months
- ✓Visa stickers are no longer issued; carry the printed Visa Grant Notice
- ✓Do not leave Korea after entry and before orientation
- ✓Send your itinerary to your coordinator or agency when requested
Complete the e-Arrival Card
3 Days Before FlightAll teachers must fill out the new e-Arrival form no earlier than 3 days before their arrival in Korea. This replaces the paper immigration form that you would normally fill out on the airplane.
- ✓Submit online at e-arrivalcard.go.kr
- ✓Earliest window: 3 days before your arrival in Korea
- ✓K-ETA is NOT required — you enter on your E-2 visa
- ✓Keep your confirmation accessible for immigration
Land at Incheon & Meet the EPIK Team
Arrival DayPlan for your flight to land by 4:00 PM, then register between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM at ICN Terminal 2, Arrivals Floor (1F), Desk 53 or 54. Terminal 1 arrivals must transfer to Terminal 2.
- ✓Arrival date: set in your intake's EPIK arrival notice
- ✓Registration: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM
- ✓Flight arrival target: no later than 4:00 PM
- ✓Counter: Terminal 2, Arrivals Floor (1F), Desk 53-54
- ✓T1 arrivals: allow about 30 minutes for the free inter-terminal shuttle bus
- ✓Come find the Korvia team for your welcome package
Board the EPIK Shuttle to Orientation
Same Day — AfternoonShuttle seats are limited and assigned in registration order, so boarding can take time. The last regular shuttle leaves at 6:30 PM. A 7:30 PM emergency shuttle is only for unexpected delays or emergencies.
- ✓Free EPIK shuttle — departs from ICN Terminal 2
- ✓Last regular shuttle: 6:30 PM
- ✓Emergency shuttle: 7:30 PM for unexpected delays only
- ✓Contact your coordinator or agency immediately if you cannot register by 6:00 PM
- ✓If you miss the final shuttle, arrange transportation at your own cost
Check In at the Orientation Venue
Arrival EveningThe residential EPIK orientation starts on arrival day and runs for about a week (eight days in the last main intake). Participants must stay in the designated accommodation for the full program; EPIK announces the venue separately.
- ✓Orientation period: dates in your intake's arrival notice
- ✓Residential attendance is required
- ✓Venue and detailed program: announced separately by EPIK
- ✓Stay in close contact with your EPIK liaison
Contact EPIK Before You Arrange Transport
The venue address has not been announced, so a generic taxi note is not enough. Follow the official escalation sequence instead.
Before 6:00 PM
Contact your coordinator or agency immediately if a delay means you cannot register by 6:00 PM.
Unexpected delay
Ask whether you qualify for the one emergency shuttle leaving Terminal 2 at 7:30 PM.
After the final bus
Get the confirmed venue address, then arrange and pay for your own transportation.
The 7:30 PM bus is not for flights intentionally booked after the registration window. Early arrivals also arrange and pay for their own accommodation until registration opens.
What to Bring for Arrival Day
Keep your entry documents, medical-exam cash, and first-month funds accessible. Do not pack time-sensitive items in checked luggage.
Passport + Visa Grant Notice
Carry a printed Visa Grant Notice showing E-2-2 and 13-month validity. Korean consulates no longer place visa stickers in passports.
Only Pre-Approved Missing Documents
Missing documents should reach EPIK by your assigned deadline. Bring one to orientation only if EPIK approved that exception beforehand.
Medical Exam Cash
Prepare exactly ₩50,000 in cash for the government-designated medical exam arranged during orientation.
At Least USD 1,500 Equivalent
Have at least USD 1,500 equivalent immediately accessible for the first month and emergencies. Bring KRW if possible; the notice recommends USD as a fallback because the venue has no exchange service.
Prescriptions & Medication Proof
Bring essential medicine and an English prescription. The EPIK notice warns that some non-essential medicines may affect screening; do not stop prescribed medicine without medical advice, and ask your coordinator if unsure.
Power Adapter (Type C/F)
Korea uses 220V, Type C/F outlets. Bring at least one adapter for your first night.
Business-Casual Clothes
Smart outfits for orientation sessions, demo lessons, and school introductions — conservative styling.
Unlocked Phone
An unlocked smartphone so you can insert a Korean SIM card on arrival and use KakaoTalk, Naver Maps, and Papago.
Printed Itinerary & Contacts
Carry your flight details, coordinator contact, and the newest EPIK arrival message in case your phone runs out of battery.
Watch for your SMOE onboarding notice
Teachers placed with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will receive a separate notice for the handoff into their contract and school. It may cover contract processing, the district or school handoff, payroll setup, and immigration, tax, or medical paperwork.
What applies to you depends on whether you attended the main EPIK orientation, your placement, and your visa status. The Korvia EPIK Team will send SMOE's official guidance directly to each affected candidate.
Use that message for dates, document requests, and contact details. If you are placed in Seoul and do not receive it, contact your assigned Korvia EPIK coordinator through the same channel used for your application.
Read SMOE's 2026 NSET GuidebookPrepare for the provincial handoff
Gangwon's GIEI coordinator sends a separate, private checklist for visa details, passport photos, first-month funds, mobile data, and possible Residence Card coordination. Exact dates and fees come from your current intake message.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.When is the EPIK arrival date, and what is the flight cut-off?
EPIK sets the arrival date in each intake's arrival notice; we update this page when the Spring 2027 notice is published. In the last main intake, registration ran from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM at Incheon Terminal 2, and EPIK asked that flights land no later than 4:00 PM. If that is not possible, arrive the night before and pay for your own accommodation.
Q.Where is the EPIK airport registration counter?
In the last main intake, EPIK registration was at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2, Arrivals Floor (1F), Desk 53 or 54. The counter is behind the LG U+ and SK Telecom roaming counters. If your flight arrives at Terminal 1, use the free inter-terminal shuttle bus and allow about 30 minutes.
Q.Do I need K-ETA?
No. EPIK teachers enter on a valid E-2-2 visa, so K-ETA is not required. Valid visa holders do need to submit the free official e-Arrival Card within the 3-day window before landing.
Q.What happens if I miss the EPIK shuttle bus?
The last regular shuttle leaves at 6:30 PM. One emergency shuttle leaves at 7:30 PM only for unexpected flight delays or emergencies, not for intentionally late bookings. Contact your coordinator or agency immediately if you cannot register by 6:00 PM. After the final shuttle, you must arrange and pay for your own transport to the orientation venue.
Q.What must my EPIK Visa Grant Notice show?
EPIK's arrival notice says your Visa Grant Notice should show E-2-2 and a 13-month validity period. Korean consulates no longer issue visa stickers, so carry the printed notice with your passport. Report any mismatch to the issuing consulate and your coordinator or agency immediately.
Q.Can I leave Korea before EPIK orientation starts?
No. EPIK's arrival notice warns that leaving Korea after entering on the Visa Grant Notice but before orientation may invalidate the visa. Contact your coordinator before making any travel plan during this period.
Q.How much money do I need for EPIK orientation?
Prepare ₩50,000 in cash for the medical exam and have at least USD 1,500 equivalent immediately accessible for your first month and emergencies. EPIK recommends exchanging to KRW before arrival if possible, with USD as a fallback; no exchange service is expected at the orientation venue.
Q.Can I bring missing EPIK documents to orientation?
Only if EPIK approved the exception beforehand. Missing or additional documents should arrive at the EPIK office by the deadline provided by your coordinator or agency. Unapproved missing documents can disqualify a placement.
Q.When is EPIK orientation?
The residential orientation starts on arrival day and ran for eight days in the last main intake. Participants must stay in the designated accommodation for the full program. EPIK announces the dates and venue in each intake's notice; we update this page when the Spring 2027 notice is published.
Q.What should I do if I am placed with SMOE in Seoul?
Watch for a separate SMOE onboarding notice from the Korvia EPIK Team. The steps depend on your orientation attendance, placement, and visa status. Follow that notice for dates, document requests, and contacts. If it does not arrive, contact your assigned Korvia EPIK coordinator through the same channel used for your application.
EPIK Mandatory Arrival Webinar
Successful EPIK applicants are personally invited to a Mandatory Arrival Webinar before each intake — what to prepare before you fly, what to expect at orientation, and a live Q&A. Your invitation is sent individually by email.
See the arrival webinar detailsSources & scope
EPIK intake notices plus official public guidance
The check-in, Desk 53-54, shuttle, cash, medical fee, and orientation details come from EPIK's arrival notice for the last main intake, issued to placed teachers. That intake document is not publicly linked. Public sources below verify the general visa, entry-card, and airport-transfer guidance.
The general SMOE handoff topics come from the most recent SMOE orientation notice supplied for affected Seoul placements. Private contacts, document submission instructions, room details, and form links are intentionally excluded.
- EPIK - How to Apply - E-2-2 visa and orientation pathway
- Korean Consulate - E-2-2 Visa - printed Visa Grant Notice; no passport sticker
- Official Korea e-Arrival Card - free submission within 3 days before arrival
- SMOE - 2026 NSET Guidebook - official public guide for native English teachers in Seoul
- Incheon Airport - Inter-Terminal Transportation - shuttle bus and paid Airport Railroad options
Last reviewed October 8, 2026. We update this page when the Spring 2027 arrival notice is published. If EPIK or your coordinator sends a newer message, the newest official instruction controls.
Planning Your Next EPIK Application?
Spring 2027 applications are open. Prepare now with Korvia's document review, interview coaching, and arrival support.