Passport Info Page — What to Send and How to Scan It
The fastest-rejected document in the E-2 visa process. Here's exactly what to submit, how to scan it, and the mistakes that add weeks of delay.
Bio Page Only
What We Need
Color Scan
Required Format
6+ Months
Validity Required
Clean + Legible
Quality Bar
Why Korvia Needs Your Passport Info Page
Your passport info page is used at multiple stages of the recruitment and onboarding pipeline — which is why we ask for it early and insist on scan quality. A rejection at the consulate stage can push your entry into Korea back by 2–4 weeks.
- E-2 Visa Processing: The Korean consulate uses the info page to verify identity, nationality, and passport validity against the visa-issuance number.
- Program Application: EPIK, GEPIK, SMOE, GOE, and hagwons all require a passport scan with the initial application package.
- Bank Account & Alien Card: Upon arrival in Korea, your passport info is used to open a Korean bank account and apply for the Alien Registration Card (ARC) at immigration.
- Flight Booking: Some programs book your inbound flight directly and need the exact passport-name spelling.
- Contract & Employment Records: Your legal name on file for contract signing, tax registration, and pension enrollment.
What Counts as the "Info Page"
The passport info page is the single double-page spread that contains your photo and the machine-readable zone (MRZ). It is not the cover, not the endorsement pages, and not any visa or stamp pages.
What the Info Page Contains
- ✓Your photo (full face, color)
- ✓Full legal name (surname + given names)
- ✓Nationality
- ✓Date of birth
- ✓Sex
- ✓Place of birth
- ✓Passport number
- ✓Date of issue
- ✓Date of expiration
- ✓Authorizing entity / issuing authority
- ✓Machine-readable zone (MRZ) — two lines of OCR text at the bottom
Diagram — Visual Reference
↑ MRZ must be visible
The MRZ is the two-line block of machine-readable text at the bottom. It is critical — if it's cropped, covered, or illegible, Korean immigration will reject the scan.
How to Scan It Properly
Six non-negotiables. Miss any of these and expect a re-scan request before your application advances.
Use Color
Never black-and-white. The Korean consulate needs to see the color passport photo and any security watermarks. Grayscale scans are routinely rejected.
300 DPI Minimum
Resolution must be at least 300 dots per inch. Lower DPI makes the MRZ unreadable. Most modern flatbed scanners default to 300 DPI or higher.
Full Page Visible
All four edges of the info page must be inside the scan. No cropping, no cutoff at the spine, no fingers blocking corners. Leave a thin white border around the page.
No Glare, No Shadows
Close the scanner lid fully. If using a phone, avoid overhead lighting that creates glare on the laminated page. Re-scan if you see bright reflective spots anywhere.
PDF or High-Quality JPG
PDF is preferred. If JPG, use quality 90%+. Avoid screenshots, WhatsApp-compressed images, or Instagram exports — these degrade the MRZ.
File Size Under 5 MB
Email attachment limits and portal upload caps typically sit around 5 MB. If your scan is larger, use a PDF compressor (Adobe Acrobat, Smallpdf, or similar) but preserve legibility.
Passport Validity Requirement
Your passport must have at least 13 months of validity remaining at the time of E-2 visa submission — this covers the 12-month contract plus a short buffer. In practice, Korean consulates and Korvia strongly recommend 15–18 months of remaining validity so your passport does not expire mid-contract and you do not have to renew abroad and then extend your visa on the new passport.
If your passport expires during your E-2 contract, you will need to renew mid-contract at your home-country embassy in Korea and then go back to Immigration to have your visa transferred to the new passport — an avoidable hassle we see applicants run into every intake. The cleaner path is to renew (or re-issue) your passport before starting the E-2 process, not extend a soon-to-expire one.
Rule of thumb: if your passport expires within 15 months of your intended Korea arrival, get a brand-new passport before applying. We do not recommend simply applying with the minimum — the buffer exists specifically so you never have to deal with a mid-contract renewal.
If Your Passport Is Expiring
Timing matters. Starting the E-2 process with a passport that has less than 15 months of remaining validityis a common cause of downstream delays — and below 13 months your application will not move forward at all. Here's the recommended sequencing.
Renew your passport before submitting any documents to Korvia. Your degree apostille and Criminal Record Check will be tied to the new passport number going forward.
If your Criminal Record Check (CRC) or degree apostille was already issued referencing the old passport number, it may still be accepted — but clarify with your recruiter. Some consulates re-request documents matching the new passport.
If your passport renewal includes a legal name change (marriage, court order), your supporting E-2 documents (degree, CRC, apostille) will need re-apostillation matching the new name. Build in an extra 4–6 weeks.
If you renew your passport after arriving, you must notify Korean immigration and update your Alien Registration Card. Your existing E-2 visa stays valid — but immigration requires your ARC record match your current passport.
What NOT to Do
These are the five most common passport-page submission mistakes we see. Any one of them means a re-scan request and a delay of several business days.
Phone photo with camera flash
Flash creates a harsh glare across the laminated page and washes out the MRZ. If you must use a phone, use a scanning app in natural daylight — never direct flash.
Finger or hand covering any part of the page
Holding the booklet open with fingers across the edges blocks data fields. If needed, weigh the page open with a clear plastic sheet or use a scanner that flattens the spread.
Cropping out the MRZ line
The two-line machine-readable code at the bottom of the page is required by Korean immigration. Scans that stop mid-MRZ or cut off the bottom are automatic rejects.
Sending a screenshot from an image viewer
Screenshots downsample the image and strip metadata. Always send the original scanned file — not a screen capture of a preview window or phone gallery.
Sending the wrong page
We often receive visa pages, endorsement pages, or even blank pages. Only the info page (photo + MRZ) is needed. If your passport has a separate signature page, send that only if explicitly requested.
Passport Info Page FAQ
What if I get a new passport in the middle of my application process?
If your passport is renewed mid-process, notify your Korvia recruiter immediately. You will need to resubmit the info page of the new passport. If visa-related documents (like the Notice of Appointment or visa-issuance number) already reference the old passport number, they may need to be reissued — starting early saves weeks.
Does my passport need to be brand new?
No. A well-used passport is fine as long as the info page is clean, legible, and free of damage. What matters is remaining validity (at least 13 months from visa submission; 15–18 months strongly recommended) and that your name, photo, and passport number can be read clearly.
What if my passport info page is damaged or smudged?
If the info page has water damage, ink smudges, lamination lifting, or any compromise to legibility, the Korean consulate or immigration may reject it. Apply for a replacement passport before proceeding. Damaged passports are a common cause of visa delays — better to renew early than stall at visa issuance.
I have dual citizenship — which passport do I send?
Send the passport from the country of citizenship you'll use for the E-2 visa. The E-2 is issued to citizens of seven recognized English-speaking countries (US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa). Your passport, Criminal Record Check, and degree apostille should all be from the same issuing country where possible — mixing countries complicates the application.
Is an emergency or temporary passport acceptable?
Emergency and temporary passports are generally not accepted for the E-2 visa. These are usually valid for only a short period (a few months to a year) and often lack the machine-readable zone needed by immigration. Apply for a full standard passport before starting the visa process.
Can I photograph the passport instead of scanning it?
A proper flatbed or sheet-feed scan is strongly preferred. If you only have a phone camera, use a dedicated document-scanning app (Adobe Scan, Microsoft Lens, or equivalent) that flattens perspective, corrects glare, and exports a clean PDF. Never send a raw phone photo with angle distortion, flash reflection, or background clutter — it will be rejected.
Documents Ready? Let's Get You to Korea.
The passport info page is one of several E-2 visa documents Korvia will guide you through. Start your application, or read the full E-2 visa walkthrough.