E2 Visa Transfer Instruction from A3(SOFA)/D4/D10/H1 Status (Changing Status of Sojorn)

Originally published: 2020-04-07Last updated: 2026-05-04By Korvia Editorial Team

If you get a new teaching job while you stay in Korea on one of the following visas (A3/D4/D10/H1), you should transfer your current visa to E2 status at least 2 weeks before your contract begins. You need to file an E2 visa application to the head of the immigration service office with jurisdiction over the place of the new school. Take the steps, following the guide in order to switch your current visa to E2 for your employment.

Step 1: Get an E2 medical check-up at a government-approved hospital near you and obtain the results in a sealed envelope. The check typically costs around 100,000 KRW, which is an expense you will have to pay and examines for HIV, TBPE, and drugs. The drug test checks for all kinds of drugs, including marijuana. It should be done prior to a month or shorter of your visit to the immigration office for the transfer process. The health check results need to be submitted as part of your E2 visa application. The list of the approved hospital is here - Government-approved Hospitals

Step 2: Locate the immigration office that holds jurisdiction over the area where your school is on List of Immigration Office in Korea

Step 3: Make an appointment in the immigration office for your E2 visa application at hikorea.go.kr. For the details, check out How to make a reservation in the immigration

Step 4: Prepare the necessary documents for the process like the following.

[Required documents for E2 visa process]

	Document	You prepare	Get from Employer
1	Application Form (no.34 form)	v
2	Passport along with an additional copy	v
3	ARC along with an additional copy	v
4	1 copy of a passport-style photo: 3.5 cm X 4.5 cm in size / in color	v
5	1 original copy of the contract signed by you and the employer	v
6	Apostilled BA degree	v
7	Apostilled Criminal Background Check	v
8	E2 medical check-up results in a sealed envelope	v
9	1 Photocopy of school business certificate		v
10	Status form of students		v
11	Weekly teaching timetable		v
12	*1 Photocopy of school registration (applicable to private academies only)		v
13	1 Photocopy of housing lease contract		v
14	Signed confirmation of accommodation residency		v
15	Application Fee: 130,000 KRW (*ARC mailing service: 3,000 KRW)	v

*If you have your own housing and your name is on the lease contract, you don't need the confirmation letter of the accommodation residency (no. 14 on the list) from the school and should prepare the housing lease contract yourself.

*If you have submitted the apostilled BA diploma and the apostilled Criminal Background Check to the immigration service, you don't have to bring that again to the immigration office to switch your current visa to E2 status.

Step 5: Visit the immigration office and file the E2 visa application along with all of the required documents.

Step 6: Your visa will be switched to E2 in 2~3 weeks after the submission of the E2 visa application. For a new ARC card, the immigration may request you to come back and pick it up in 2~4 weeks.

According to the policy of the immigration service, it is banned for foreigners to leave Korea during the process of his/her visa transfer. Therefore, make sure that you do not plan traveling abroad while your E2 visa is in the process.

Sources

법무부지정 채용신체검사 의료기관 조회 — Hi Korea / 법무부 출입국·외국인정책본부