e-2 visa route
the short answer
Yes — Ireland is one of the seven passports Korea has historically accepted for the E-2 teaching visa, alongside UK, USA, Canada, Australia, NZ and South Africa. You'll typically need a bachelor's degree, a clean criminal record check, and an accredited TEFL certificate (100-120 hours is commonly requested). Confirm current E-2 rules with the Korean embassy or your recruiter, since document requirements shift periodically.
| Degree | Bachelor's degree required for E-2 visa |
|---|---|
| TEFL hours | 100-120 hours commonly requested |
| Visa | E-2 teaching visa, employer-sponsored |
| Typical pay | Typical first-year hagwon pay, not international-school pay |
| Best city | Seoul or Busan for most openings |
| Hardest part | Getting your degree apostilled correctly |
| Who this suits | Irish grads wanting a structured, sponsored route |
step one, always
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typical, not guaranteed
120 hours online is generally accepted for E-2 applications.
Apostille your degree and get a sealed transcript from your university.
Garda vetting or equivalent, then apostilled.
Recruiters can help match you to schools accepting Irish applicants.
Visa issued through the Korean embassy in Dublin once documents clear.
Korea's E-2 visa has long been limited to seven passports, and Ireland is one of them. This isn't a loophole — it's built into the standard requirements most hagwons and public school programmes list on their job ads.
That said, being eligible for the visa doesn't guarantee a job offer. Schools still screen for degree subject, accent familiarity, and interview performance, so treat the passport as a door-opener, not a guarantee.
Expect to apostille your degree certificate through the Department of Foreign Affairs, get an original sealed transcript, and complete Garda vetting for your criminal record check. Recruiters based in Ireland or the UK are used to this exact paperwork and can flag mistakes early.
A common error is submitting a photocopy instead of an apostilled original — Korean immigration and most hagwons will reject it and send you back to redo the process, costing weeks.
EPIK (the government programme) has set intake windows and tends to prefer candidates with some in-person teaching exposure or education background, though many online TEFL holders are accepted — check the current EPIK guidelines before assuming.
Private hagwons hire year-round and are usually more flexible on TEFL format, but vary wildly in quality. Read reviews and ask for the contract early rather than accepting a verbal offer.
what people actually ask
Yes, Ireland is on the standard list of seven passports Korea has accepted for E-2 teaching visas, alongside the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, NZ and South Africa. Always confirm current rules with the embassy before applying.
Yes, a bachelor's degree in any subject is a standard E-2 visa requirement, along with an apostilled transcript and criminal record check. Without a degree, Korea is generally not accessible on this visa type.
Most hagwons and EPIK ask for at least 100-120 accredited hours, though some prefer in-person or observed teaching practice. Check individual job ads, since requirements vary by school and programme.
EPIK offers more structure and set benefits but has fixed intake windows; private hagwons hire year-round and are often faster, though quality varies more, so vet the contract carefully before signing.
Sending a plain photocopy of their degree instead of an apostilled original, which Korean immigration typically rejects. Start the apostille process early, since it can take several weeks through the Department of Foreign Affairs.