60 DAY TEFL · GUIDES THAT ACTUALLY ANSWER THE QUESTION

australian passport, e-2 and working holiday routes

Can Australians teach English in South Korea?

AUSTRALIA
Teacher with students in a classroom on a teaching placement abroad
2026 update

the short answer

Yes, Australians can teach through the standard E-2 language visa with a bachelor's degree, or use Korea's working holiday agreement with Australia as a separate, more flexible entry route. For the E-2 you'll need an AFP (Australian Federal Police) National Police Check rather than a state police check, apostilled under Australia's Hague apostille system, alongside an apostilled degree.

Key facts

Visa optionsE-2 (degree route) or working holiday agreement
DegreeRequired for E-2; not required for working holiday
Background checkAFP National Police Check
AuthenticationApostille via Australian Passport Office / DFAT
Working holiday age cap18-30, no children
Typical pay₩2.1m-₩3.0m/month, hagwon range, typical first-year
Common employersHagwons, EPIK, GEPIK/SMOE, some working-holiday casual roles

step one, always

Get the certificate before you apply

Get the accredited TEFL course

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typical, not guaranteed

Your timeline

  1. 1

    Choose your route

    Degree + E-2 for a sponsored teaching contract, or the working holiday visa for a faster, more flexible start.

    same day
  2. 2

    Get TEFL certified

    120+ hours accredited is expected by hagwons and EPIK either way.

    1-4 weeks
  3. 3

    Request AFP National Police Check

    Apply online through the AFP; must specifically be the AFP check, not a state police certificate.

    2-4 weeks
  4. 4

    Apostille the AFP check and degree

    Australia is a Hague Convention member, so apostilling through DFAT is a single clear process.

    1-3 weeks
  5. 5

    Apply to EPIK, GEPIK/SMOE or a hagwon

    Or apply directly for the Korea working holiday visa if going that route.

    2-8 weeks
  6. 6

    Visa issuance and travel

    E-2 needs an employer-issued visa number; working holiday can be arranged independently.

    2-6 weeks
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Two different routes, two different documents

The E-2 route needs a bachelor's degree and treats Australia the same as the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa as a core native-speaker country. The working holiday route doesn't require a degree at all, since it's a general reciprocal visa rather than a teaching-specific one — see the dedicated working holiday page for how that visa works and what it does and doesn't allow.

Most Australians who want a proper teaching contract with housing support and a set salary go the E-2 route; the working holiday visa suits people who want flexibility and are open to a mix of casual jobs, one of which might be tutoring or an informal teaching gig, though formal hagwon employment on a working holiday visa needs its own check with the employer.

The AFP check and why it's different from a state check

Korean immigration and EPIK want the AFP National Police Check, which covers all Australian jurisdictions in one document, rather than a certificate from just your state police force. Because Australia is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, authenticating it through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is a single, relatively fast step compared with non-Hague countries.

Degree apostille and who hires Australians

Any bachelor's degree from an Australian university qualifies for the E-2, apostilled through DFAT the same way as the police check. EPIK, GEPIK (Gyeonggi) and SMOE (Seoul) all recruit Australians on the standard intake cycle, and hagwons hire year-round for those who miss those windows or want to start sooner.

what people actually ask

FAQs

Should Australians use the E-2 visa or the working holiday visa?

The E-2 suits those with a degree who want a formal sponsored teaching contract with set pay and housing support. The working holiday visa suits those without a degree, or who want flexibility to try multiple jobs, but comes with its own age limit and conditions — see the dedicated working holiday guide.

Is a state police check enough for the E-2 visa?

No, Korean immigration and most programmes specifically want the AFP National Police Check covering all states, not a single state's certificate. Apply directly through the AFP online system rather than your local police station.

How does Australia's Hague Convention membership help?

Because Australia is a Hague Apostille member, both your AFP check and your degree can be apostilled through DFAT in a single straightforward process, unlike non-Hague countries that need multi-step consular legalisation. This typically makes document prep faster for Australians than for some other nationalities.

Can Australians work as teachers on the working holiday visa?

The working holiday visa allows a wide range of work, but formal hagwon teaching roles vary in whether they'll sponsor or hire working holiday-visa holders versus E-2 applicants. Confirm directly with any specific employer before assuming a hagwon contract works the same way on both visas.

Does age matter for Australians teaching in Korea?

The E-2 visa has no formal age cap, but Korea's working holiday agreement with Australia caps eligibility at 18-30 with no dependent children. Choose your route based on which age and document requirements you actually meet.

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Read next

Nationality-specific TEFL rules →South Korea TEFL overview →Working holiday visa route to teach in Korea →
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