South Korea Tourist Visa Guide: e-Visa Application Process, Requirements and Label-Free Visa Policy

By vivomigsgee in Features Travel June 26, 2020

Annyeonghaseyo K-drama aficionados! Whether you’re a newly-converted K-pop fan or just can’t get enough of watching Korean dramas as a coping mechanism during the Covid-19 pandemic, one thing is for sure ~ Korean masterpieces have inspired a lot of people to travel to South Korea and experience what they are seeing on screen in real life.

So, if you’re planning to visit the Land of Oppas when the global health crisis subsides, you may consider checking the latest visa application process, requirements and label-free visa policy.

A person who plans to visit Korea for 90 days or less on the purpose of travel for holidays or leisure may be eligible to apply for Ordinary Tourist Visa (C-3-9). If you are applying for a transit visa, study visa, business visitor visa or other categories of visa, you may visit Korea Visa Portal for more details and eligibility criteria information. You may also try the ‘Visa Navigator’ menu in said portal to help you find which visa suits you.

In addition, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the Philippines announced through their Facebook page that the Embassy will no longer issue a visa label for visa applications processed in the Philippines starting July 01, 2020. The ROK immigration system does not require visa labels to be affixed to a page in an applicant’s passport as the visa status can be verified with ROK’s latest immigration system. In lieu of visa labels (stickers), the Embassy will issue a “Visa Grant Notice” for successful applicants. It can be accessed through the Korea Visa Portal and can be printed out any time.

How to Apply for a Korean Tourist Visa

Republic of Korea Tourist Visa Application may be done digitally or manually. As per Visa Portal, there are two ways on how to apply:

e-Visa Application via the Visa Portal
Visa Application via Korean Diplomatic Missions Abroad

A. Procedures for e-Visa Application

Electronic application of Korean Tourist visa is available on the Visa Portal by selecting “Application” >> “E-Visa(Individual)” (www.visa.go.kr). As of writing, the application process for e-Visa Application has been suspended due to Covid-19 from April 06, 2020 until further notice. As visas are issued promptly without confirmation of health status, there is a possibility that they may be abused as an illegal entry channel for Covid-19 infected people.

Application must be submitted by a foreigner or the sponsor on behalf of the foreigner.

e-Visa Application Requirements

‘e-Form’ Visa Application (electronic form on the Visa Portal)
Scanned image files of passport pages
Digital Photograph (in natural color, size: 3.5cm x 4.5cm)
Fee (credit card for e-Payment)
Required documents for respective status of stay (soft copy) – Please refer to the guide on required documents for each type of visa on the Visa Navigator or to the Visa Information on the website of a respective diplomatic office.

B. Visa Application via Korean Diplomatic Missions Abroad

Applicant may alternatively process the Korean visa application manually (in person) via Diplomatic Missions. It just means that the location of the application will be at the Korean Embassy or Consulate in the applicant’s country (or area) of residence. For Filipino citizens residing in the Philippines, you may apply in any of the following addresses:

Korean Embassy – The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of the Philippines is located at 122 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig city 1634, Philippines
Korean Consulate in Cebu – The Consulate of the Republic of Korea in Cebu is located at the 12th floor Chinabank Corporate Center, Lot 2, Samar Loop Cor. Road 5,Cebu Business Park, Mabolo, Cebu City.

Application must be submitted by the applicant himself or a visa agency on behalf of the foreigner (Filipino applicant).

I. Single Entry / Double Entry

Visa Application Requirements (Hard Files)

1.) Visa Application Form (Form No. 17)

Download and print the Visa Application Form: Form No. 17
You must fill out the form completely and correctly
Write in block letters either in English or Korean. Answers need not be computerized
Avoid erasures as much as possible

2.) Passport

Must be original and valid for more than 6 months
Despite the label-free visa policy, applicants must present and submit a passport for the purpose of document and identity verification
Photocopy of Passport Bio-page (page 2)
Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years (If applicable, and Korean Visas will not be counted)

3.) Photo (in a standard format)

1 piece Passport-sized photo, 3.5cm x 4.5cm
A natural color photo taken within last 6 months (full face without hat, front view against white or off-white background)

4.) Fee

The Philippines is one of the countries with exempted visa fees (Gratis)
Condition: 59 days or less visa for business or tour (All of C-3)
If duration of stay in Korea is 60 to 90 days – Visa Fee is Php 2,000

5.) Documents demonstrating the financial capacity during the stay in ROK or a document for identification

Original Personal Bank Certificate (must include account type, current balance, account opening date, ADB). As to how much “show money/ bank balance/ travel fund” is considered enough for the trip for purposes of demonstrating financial capacity, you may get some tips here
Bank Statement (original or certified true copy of bank statements/ passbook for the last 3 months)
Photocopy of ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316 (checked by BIR with stamp)
Copy of PRC Card or IBP Card (if applicable only)

6.) Additional Requirements for Filipino Employees

Original Certificate of Employment (must show applicant’s position, date hired, compensation, address, office landline number and e-mail address)
For students, spousal, senior citizens, businessmen and other titles, refer to the complete details in the Visa Requirements webpage

7.) Additional Requirements if Invited by a Korean individeual or company:

If personally invited by Korean – Invitation Letter & Copy of invitor’s Passport
If invited by Company in Korea: Invitation Letter & Copy of Korean Company Business Permit

※ The head of Korean diplomatic missions abroad may request for additional documents depending on the condition of the country of residence/ jurisdiction if it is deemed necessary for visa evaluation.

You can apply for a single-entry visa valid for 3 months or a double-entry visa valid for 6 months. Periods of stay will be granted for up to 90 days for a single-entry visa, and 30 days for a double-entry visa.

II. Multiple Entry

A multiple-entry visa valid for 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years will be issued to an eligible applicant. Period of stay for this visa will be granted for up to 30 days. Eligibility Criteria for Multiple Entry Visa Applicants are as follows:

1.) multiple-entry visa valid for 1 year – visited the ROK once and have no criminal and illegal immigration records

2.) multiple-entry visa valid for 3 years – any of the following:

A permanent resident of any OECD country or a person who has visited any OECD country (excluding the ROK) twice or more in the past four years, or a person who has visited the ROK twice or more
A public/civil servant, an employee of government-owned company, an executive or a staff member of an airline or a shipping company providing services to the ROK on a regular basis
A VIP customer of an internationally accepted credit card(Gold or Platinum Card Holder) or a person whose annual income is higher than $8000
A person who plans to establish a company working with ROK on the development and sales of resource/energy, or a person invited by a public/private organization to engage in activities such as counseling or signing a contract on resource/energy
Important figures or interest parties attending international events or conferences upon the invitations of the government of the ROK and public institutions.
An executive of a corporation or the CEO of a company (have been employed for at least one year)
Media staff such as journalist, producer, editor and others (have been employed for at least one year)
Professionals (i.e. doctor, lawyer, accountant, assistant professor or higher), and important figures, famous artists, athletes, writers, celebrities and others acknowledged by the head of diplomatic mission
A person at the age of 55 or older collecting his/her pension
An international student who graduated from a vocational college or higher in the Republic of Korea
A spouse, minor child, parents or parents-in-law of a person with a valid multiple Short-Term Visit (C-3) visa holder

3.) multiple-entry visa valid for 5 years – have previously received a multiple-entry visa valid for 3 years and have no criminal and illegal immigration records.

Additional documents required for multiple entry applicant varies according to each case above (e.g. valid record to demonstrate proof of profession, relationship or status). The head of Korean diplomatic missions abroad may request for additional documents depending on the condition of the country of residence/jurisdiction if it is deemed necessary for visa evaluation.

How to Verify Visa Grant Notice from the Korean Embassy

The Embassy will notify applicants of their visa details by issuing “Visa Grant Notice” on the Korean Visa Portal. As for the visa processing period, you may refer to the official visa announcement of Korean Embassy. You can check the status of your application online and print out the document by following these procedures:

1.) Go to www.visa.go.kr

2.) Select Application Status > Click “Check Application Status & Print” menu.

3.) Enter your passport number, name, date of birth, and click the Search button. If your visa application is approved, you will find the “Certificate” button activated.

4.) Click the “Certificate” button and the “Visa Grant Notice.” is automatically downloaded to your device. You need to print and present the hard file to the Korean Immigration authorities during immigration clearance upon arrival in South Korea. Visa Grant Notice is valid printed either in color or in black and white.

Please read the “notice” section found at the bottom page of the Visa Grant Notice. Such document is a proof that a valid visa of the Republic of Korea (ROK) has been issued to the above applicant. The holder of such document may use it as an official proof to verify the validity of the issuance ROK visa, even without a photo on it. The validity of this document can be verified on the Korea Visa Portal website (www.visa.go.kr).

The holder of said document may enter the ROK within the Validity period of Visa stipulated above after going through immigration inspection by Korean Immigration authorities, and may stay during the Period of Stay. Nevertheless, a visa holder may be denied entry into the ROK in the process of immigration inspection, and the Period of Stay can be changed by immigration authorities in accordance with the Immigration Act.

Now that you already have an idea on the latest tourist visa application and label-free visa policy, you may consider planning as early as now for your South Korea trip so that you’ll be all set when international travel is already allowed. For your reference, here’s a detailed blog about effective South Korea travel hacks: 4D3N South Korea Travel Guide for First-Timers