Photocopy/scan of passport photo page:

-Please scan the front page of your passport. This has your photo as well as your general information (DOB, passport issuance/expiration, etc.)

-Bar code on the bottom needs to be clearly visible

-Can be in color or black/white

Document processing, particularly with degrees and background checks, can be quite specific. Look out for these pitfalls:

• United States
  • There are two ways to apostille a document in the US: via the state and via federal, and they are not interchangeable. Both the degree and FBI check may be apostilled either way, but we suggest obtaining the state-level apostille from the Secretary of State, on both the degree and FBI check. (This should allow for quicker processing time)
• South Africa
  • In South Africa, apostilles can be done at 1 of 2 locations: DIRCO (the Department of International Relations and Cooperation) or at the higher court, but only an apostille from DIRCO in Pretoria will be accepted by the immigration office in Korea.
  • For degrees, the process used to be identical to background checks. However, as of the beginning of 2020, an extra step was added: SAQA (South African Qualification Authority) will be issuing verification on degrees before the apostille at DIRCO. Communication with SAQA must be established (via email) before sending them your degree copy. Once SAQA issues the verification letter, only then can you get it sent to DIRCO for the apostille.
• Canada
  • Canada has also added an additional step to getting documents authenticated.
  • Step 1: Authentication from Global Affairs Canada or appropriate authority based on the province one lives in. (Make sure to send it to the appropriate authority based on your province)
  • Step 2: As Canada is not a part of the Hague Convention, the documents can not be apostilled, therefore in place, one must obtain a Consular’s seal on each document from the Korean Consulate or Embassy.

Like many countries in Asia, Korea’s standard for a teacher’s education begins at the bachelor’s level. What is important to note is that regardless of what other degrees one may have, a bachelor’s degree still must be present as well. Please note that the degree certificate being submitted must state Bachelor/Baccalaureate. This goes for all of the following:

• Advanced Diploma
• Associates Degrees
• Honors Degrees
• Masters Degrees
• Doctorates/PHD

In most situations, an apostilled bachelor’s degree is all you need. However, you are absolutely free to additionally authenticate your master’s or any other degree, but just make sure you have your bachelors done as well. The few situations where it could be an advantage to additionally process an upper degree would be if said degree was in English or education/TESOL. In this situation, it may apply to your advantage (this will highly depend on the type of school you choose to apply for).