Korvia Official Guides
Step-by-step guides for every part of your teaching journey in Korea — from document preparation to daily life.
18+
Official Guides
3
Guide Categories
4
Document Guides
8
Program Guides
Document Preparation Guides
How to prepare, format, and submit each document for your application.
Document guides cover the physical items that must be submitted to EPIK and Korean immigration — passport photos, background checks, recommendation letters, and lesson plans. Small formatting errors (photo size, apostille placement, ink color) are the most common cause of rejection, so follow each guide exactly.
Passport Photo Guide
Correct sizing, format, and positioning for your EPIK application photo.
Lesson Plan Sample
A sample lesson plan to reference when preparing your EPIK application.
Criminal Background Check
Country-by-country guide to obtaining and apostilling your background check.
Recommendation Letters
Format, content, and ink signature requirements for recommendation letters.
Application & Process Guides
Timeline, registration, and step-by-step application guides.
Process guides walk through when to apply, what the application stages look like, and how to confirm eligibility. Start with EPIK Eligibility to make sure you qualify, then open the Application Process to see the 4-6 month timeline, and use the Downloads pages to grab official forms.
EPIK Application Process
Step-by-step from application to arrival.
EPIK Eligibility
Check if you qualify for EPIK.
EPIK Registration 2026
Current intake information and application form.
EPIK Guide & FAQ ↗
Full checklist and FAQ from Korvia.
Korvia Downloads
All 41 application documents with descriptions.
EPIK Downloads
Official EPIK forms and resources.
Program & Information Guides
Salary, benefits, locations, and program comparisons.
Program guides describe each teaching track Korvia supports: EPIK (national), SMOE (Seoul), GEPIK (Gyeonggi), GOE (Gyeongnam), and private academies (hagwon). Compare salary bands, benefits, and locations here before deciding which program to target.
EPIK Salary Levels
2026 salary by region and qualification level.
EPIK Benefits
Housing, insurance, vacation, and bonuses.
EPIK Locations
All teaching regions across Korea.
GEPIK Guide
Teaching near Seoul in Gyeonggi Province.
SMOE Guide
Teaching in Seoul.
GOE Guide
Teaching in Gyeongnam Province.
Private Academies
Hagwon positions and what to expect.
Korvia FAQ
30+ answers to common questions.
How to Use These Guides
If you're applying for the first time, read in this order — it mirrors how your Korvia recruiter will walk you through the process.
- 1
Confirm Eligibility
Start with the EPIK Eligibility guide. Check citizenship, degree, and visa-history requirements before spending time on documents.
- 2
Pick Your Program
Read the Program Guides (EPIK, SMOE, GEPIK, GOE, hagwon). Compare salary, region, and school type. Many applicants apply to EPIK first and consider hagwon as a backup.
- 3
Review the Timeline
Open the EPIK Application Process guide. Timelines run 4-6 months — knowing deadlines prevents panic late in the cycle.
- 4
Prepare Each Document
Work through each Document Preparation guide one at a time. Passport photo first (fast), background check early (can take 4-8 weeks), recommendation letters last (after you've chosen your referees).
- 5
Cross-Check with Downloads
Use Korvia Downloads as a master checklist and EPIK Downloads for official blank forms. Submit everything through your Korvia recruiter.
- 6
Prepare for the Interview & Arrival
Once your documents are in, shift to soft-skill prep. Read the interview, contract, co-teacher, and first-month articles in the Related Reading section below.
After the Documents — What to Read Next
The guides above cover what to submit. These Korvia Magazine articles cover everything else: interview prep, contract review, workplace relationships, and the first weeks in Korea.
EPIK Interview Questions (2026)
Common questions, structure, and what EPIK HQ actually assesses in your interview.
Hagwon Contract Red Flags
What to look for — and what to walk away from — in private academy contracts.
First Month in Korea — Survival Guide
Apartment, bank account, Residence Card (RC, formerly ARC), SIM card, co-workers: the real checklist for week 1-4.
Co-Teacher Relationship Guide
How the Korean co-teaching system works, and how to build a good relationship from day one.
Guides FAQ
Q.Where do I start if I'm brand new to teaching in Korea?
Start with the EPIK Eligibility guide to confirm you qualify, then read the EPIK Application Process to see the full timeline. After that, open the Document Preparation Guides and gather each item one at a time — your Korvia recruiter will check every document before submission.
Q.Are these guides official EPIK materials?
The program guides reflect the latest official EPIK, SMOE, GEPIK, and GOE requirements as published by Korea's Ministry of Education and the respective provincial education offices. Korvia is EPIK's official recruiting partner, so we update the guides each intake cycle to match current rules.
Q.Do I need to follow every document guide exactly?
Yes — small formatting mistakes (wrong photo size, missing apostille seal, ink color on signatures) are the #1 cause of application delays. Each guide shows exact specs, sample images, and what reviewers reject. Follow them precisely and your Korvia recruiter will catch anything missed.
Q.What's the difference between Korvia Downloads and EPIK Downloads?
Korvia Downloads is our curated checklist of all 41 documents required across EPIK, SMOE, GEPIK, and GOE — with descriptions and sample images. EPIK Downloads contains only the official blank forms from EPIK HQ. Use both together: read Korvia guides, download forms from EPIK Downloads.
Q.Can I use these guides if I apply through a different recruiter?
Technically yes — the document requirements are program-wide. However, you won't get the free document review, interview prep, and priority EPIK HQ processing that come with applying through Korvia. We recommend working with an official EPIK partner to avoid delays.
Q.How often are these guides updated?
Guides are reviewed every EPIK intake cycle (Spring and Fall) and whenever EPIK or a provincial office of education changes a requirement. If a guide is outdated, your Korvia recruiter will flag the current requirement during your application review.
Q.In what order should I read the guides?
Most applicants benefit from reading in this order: (1) Program Guides — confirm which program fits you (EPIK, SMOE, GEPIK, GOE, or hagwon); (2) Process Guides — review the timeline and eligibility; (3) Document Guides — prepare each required document; (4) Magazine articles — for interview prep, contract review, and first-month-in-Korea tips. See the 'How to Use These Guides' section above for a suggested reading path.
Q.Should I also read articles on the Korvia Magazine?
Yes — the guides cover what documents and programs require. The Korvia Magazine covers the 'soft' side: interview preparation, contract red flags, co-teacher relationships, and what the first month in Korea actually looks like. Both together give you the fullest picture before you arrive.
Q.What if a guide doesn't answer my specific question?
Email your assigned Korvia recruiter directly, or use the contact form. The guides cover the common 90% — your recruiter handles the edge cases (dual citizenship, unusual degree paths, name discrepancies, prior visa history, and so on). There is no question too small.
Ready to Get Started?
Apply through Korvia and your recruiter will guide you through every step.