Korean Visa Requirements

Are you excited about your upcoming trip to Korea? Whether you’re studying or working, here are the Korean Visa Requirements:

Getting a cheap flight to Korea is one thing, but getting a Korean Visa is another thing. The requirements differ depending on your status. I’ll divide this into the most common status of tourists: employee, business owner, and student.

Korean Visa Requirements
Please don’t leave Korea without wearing a hanbok!

Employee

1. Application Form
2. 1 piece of Passport size colored picture
3. Original Passport (should be valid for more than 6months)
4. Photocopy of Passport Bio-page (page 2)
5. Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years (If applicable only)
6. Original Certificate of Employment
(must include applicant’s position, date hired, compensation, office address, HR landline number (cell-phone number is not allowed), HR e-mail address)
7. Original Personal Bank Certificate
(must include account type, current balance, account opening date, ADB)
8. Bank Statement
(original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months)
9. ITR(Income Tax Return) or Form 2316 Copy
10. Copy of PRC Card or IBP Card (If applicable only)

Korean Visa Requirements

Of all the four seasons, I think Autumn is the best.

Business owner

1. Application Form
2. 1 piece of Passport size colored picture
3. Original Passport (should be valid for more than 6months)
4. Photocopy of Passport Bio-page (page 2)
5. Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years (If applicable only)
6. Photocopy of Business Registration from SEC or DTI
7. Photocopy of Business Permit or Mayor’s Permit
8. Original Personal Bank Certificate
(must include account type, current balance, account opening date, ADB)
9. Bank Statement
(original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months)
10. Photocopy of ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316
11. Copy of PRC Card or IBP Card (If applicable only)

97113-20160301_171258
Put some love locks at the Namsan Seoul Tower.

 

Student

1. Application Form
2. 1 piece of Passport size colored picture
3. Original Passport (should be valid for more than 6months)
4. Photocopy of Passport Bio-page (page 2)
5. Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years (If applicable only)
6. School Certificate (Original)
7. Copy of School ID
8. Copy of Birth Certificate
9. Parents’ Documents
– If employed: Employment Certificate Original [must include position, date hired, compensation, office address, HR landline number(cell-phone number is not allowed), HR e-mail address]
– If Self-employed: Business Registration from SEC or DTI (Copy), Business Permit or Mayor’s Permit(Copy)
– Original Bank Certificate [must include account type, current balance, account opening date, 6 months average balance (ADB)]
– Bank Statement (original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months)
– Copy of Income Tax Return(ITR)
– Copy of NSO Marriage Certificate

Korean Visa Requirements
Experience the Winter Sonata at Nami Island.

* If personally invited by Korean
. Invitation Letter
. Photocopy of invitor’s Passport or Identification Card
(authentication not required)

* If invited by Company in Korea
. Invitation Letter
. Photocopy of Korean Company Business Permit
(authentication not required)

* Frequent travelers who have traveled as tourists to OECD member countries within 5 years are exempted from submitting ITR.

Processing Time:
3 working days (for those who have been to OECD member countries within 5 years as tourists)
5 working days (for those who have not been to OECD member countries within 5 years)

Visa Fee: 59 days (or less) stay in Korea — GRATIS
60 to 90 days stay in Korea — PHP1,800.00

Source: http://embassy_philippines.mofa.go.kr/english/as/embassy_philippines/visa/requirement/

145 comments

  1. Hi maam carla paanu po about sa amin seaman plano ko po magbakasyon sa korea pagbaba ko about sa income tax return eh wala naman po kami nun maam thank you po

  2. hello,

    just want to ask kasi my sister is planning to treat mo for a trip to korea cya ang mag sponsor lahat..paano kaya ano kaya ang requirement…Housewife lang ako…then meron lang kmi maliit n sari sari store.

  3. Hello maam karla????.. can i ask po kung anu need na requiremetns for ofw for applying korean tourist visa? Balak ko po kasing mg apply pg uwi ko ..tnx po?

  4. Hello , ask ko lng po,tinatanggap b nila khit hndi latest ung itr.thanks po.if hndi anu po ibang requirements n pde iplit dun.thanks,

  5. Hi Ms. Karla, I’m trying to download the application for the korean visa. Unfortunately, I cannot open their webpage. I think there’s a problem po with their website. Ask ko lang po if you have a soft copy of the application. Ayaw po kasi talaga nag open ng websote nila. Hindi ko po ma download. Thank you in advance 🙂

  6. Hi po, ask ko lang po magkano po kaya dapat ang budget for 5 days stay? Kahit estimated lang po.. Hehe.. Thank you! ????

  7. Hi Ms. Karla, I just wanna ask if necessarily need a bank statement? Im working abroad but i never apply any bank company to open an account. It is okey if i have a pocket money instead of bank account? Thanks.

  8. Hello Ma’am Karla, i would like to ask how my visa would be approved if i am considered unemployed but working under direct supervision of a professional as i need the number of hours for board exam thus, working under allowance. Are the chances of being denied high? what must i do to ensure my chances of being approved? Btw, i am a fresh graduate thus not qualified for student.

  9. Hello,i will apply for a korean visa next year,together with my mother.but when we got my NSO BC.i found out that the maiden name of my mother in my BC is mispelled by 1 letter.example my mothers name is Nelia Lontoc Lati(not her real name).in my BC her name was Nelia Lontok Lati.will i encounter a problem?Thanks

  10. Hi Ms. Karla. Tanong ko lang,
    1.) kailangan ko pa ba mag submit ng Marriage Cert kung ang magta travel ako lang naman?
    2.) Mga magkano po ba ang dapat laman ng Bank Account?
    Salamat Ms. Karla ??

  11. I have a question. Me and my fiancée is planning to visit Korea this December , how possible I will be granted knowing I have never been employed since I was a student before , I stopped now cause I’m pregnant but I have more than enough money on my bank to show , I am just concern ba ka ma deny lng ako .

  12. Hi Ms Karla! Question lng po hope you can help me. Im applying as enteprenur but unfurtunatly what i only have is mayors permit because under renewal pa ung DTI ko. Will it cause denial of my application???

    Thanks!!

  13. Good day po ma’am~ okay lang po ba na yung ipapasa ko na bank certificate & bank statements ng dad ko next week ay nakuha from the bank last sep 20 pa po? One month po ba validity nun? I’m a student applying for an sk visa po. Thanks po

  14. Hi Ms. Karla, ask ko lng kung anung Category n i-apply for Tourist visa in SK. Unemployed n ako 56 isasama lng ako ng pamangkin ko… Thanks po

  15. hi! we plan to travel to SK by spring nextyear.by that time,unemployed na kami ng friend ko.so we’re confused about which category kami and requirements

  16. Hi Ms Karla,

    Question lang po.. pupunta po kaming mag asawa by nov sa SK. and will apply for visa on 3rd week of oct. may mga requirements po ba for magasawa? like need pa ba ng marriage cert, ung bank account kelangan ba joint or pwede separate kme ng ipapakita, etc.
    Super duper kinakabahan kme if maaapprove kame.. hoping tlaga na maapprove dahil pangarap ko makapnta dun and its my bday p. hehee

    PS: My mga cases po ba na nagpupunta pa sa office mismo ang korean personnel to check if tlagang nagwowork k tlga? hehehe.. thanks in advance.

  17. Hi Ms. Karla ???? we will travel next month to seoul. this monday kami mag apply for visa. nalilito ako regarding sa marriage cert. do we need it pa ba? btw ms. karla may promo ang bdo, you might want to include it to your blog to help other traveller who wants to go to korean soon. thanks for your blog! hihihi… btw natry mo na pala pumunta ng autumn sa kanila? if yes, kamusta ang lamig? thank you thank you!!

      1. waaah oh noooo! thank you ms. karla! tom kuha nalang kami sa nso mismo para mas mabilis kumuha. thank you so much!! oct 22 ales namin. so parang baguio lang lamig nya ha? hahaha baka magulat kami ng di oras katulad nung first time namin sa japan boom ang lamig di kami handa :)) hahaha!

  18. Hi Karla! I have a question, I saw that you traveled with your family in Korea. May I know if you sponsor them in applying for visa? Do you have a separate blog for it? Thanks in advance! ????

  19. Hi ms.karla!ask q lng po, is it possible to apply for tourist visa for around 30days? My husband is an ofw in korea.is it also possible to stay in his dorm? Do i also need invitation letter from korean national?

      1. Thanks ms. Karla. But what if his dorm was provided by the company/employer, is it still okay? How much po kya need q n show money pag 30days aq mgstay s korea? How much po kya need n laman ng account q d2 s pinas?

  20. Hello. Were planning to go in Korea this October.
    Second time na po namin un. Kpag po ba second time ung pag apply ng visa is 100% granted or depende pa rin sa mga documents na isusubmit.

    Thanks.

  21. Hi! I’m planning to apply for a multiple entry tourist visa this August. I have been to oecd member countries like Japan and Canada but not in SKorea. Do I have the chance of being approved for a multiple entry tourist visa?

  22. Hi miss karla unemployed po aq may fiance aq na nag wowork sa korea pilipino din po xa. nag pplano fiance q na mag visit aq sa SK for 4days inaalala q lng po bka ma denied visa q peo i have may bank account na more than 50k nman..plsss advice lng po

  23. Hi ms karla. Im planning to go to korea this november. Im just wondering if i could apply for my visa this july or it should be 2months before the expected departure? And should i provide an itinerary in submitting my documents? I havent seen an itinerary requirement in korean visa requirements. Im confuse and i just wanna make sure because my friend submitted an itinerary when she applied for visa, japanese visa. Thankyou. 🙂

    1. The consul usually gives a visa with 59 days validity. I think you should apply closer to your travel dates. That way, they can be sure that your financial documents are updated. Itinerary is not needed, but the address of your accommodation should be provided in the application form.

    2. Hi ms.karla can i grant visa unemployed po ako but my korean bf wants to send invitation to me do i need bank cert.even he sponsoring my travel expenses?

  24. Hi Ms. Karla, okay lang po ba kung wala pang six months sa work before mag travel sa korea? Kasi makikita yun sa coe diba po?

  25. I provided lahat naman ng requirements. Nagpasa ako nung may 25. So bukas or Thursday makukuha kona. Nagffollow up ako sa korean embassy kaso hindi daw sila peding magdisclose ng kahit ano thru phone. Gusto kona sana magpabook kasi yung leave ko first week of june siya. Wala naman ako nakita reason para madecline application ko base sa mga sinabi mo. You think push through nako sa booking of flight??

  26. Hi Ms. Karla.. I just want to ask somethings about visa requirements.. May bf kasi ako nagwowork sa Seoul. At plano po niyang magvisit ako sa kanya ngayung first week of June through invitation . Tapos naman nagwowork ako sa isang Australian as a personal assistant kapag bumibisita siya ng pinas (no agency or company).. Is it possible na kailangan pa ng certificate of employment sa visa requirements as a tourist? At saka po magkano po ang kylangan sa bank account or budget as a tourist..? At saka po madali lang po ba kumuha ng bank of statement sa bank? My bf po is planning to buy tickets balikan 4 days lang naman po ang vacation. Thank you po..

  27. hello po may tel number ba kayo para matawagan atbsaan po sa pilippines pwedeng mag appy ng visa thanks

  28. Hi ms. karla, ask ko lang po kasi bago pa lang po yung business ko wala pa 6 months and we’re planning to travel korea.. hahanapan pa din po ba mg ITR since bago pa po business pero may BIR poa t complete po business. Permit

  29. hi.. mga how mch po ba kailangan mgreflrct sa bank certificate under ADB?? IF UR KOREA trips is arnd 5days po. thankyu

  30. What if yung ticket mo going back to ph from jeju yung layover ay sa busan. Is it okay? Going to ph to jeju is via taiwan but going back is via gimhae airport.

  31. Hi Ms. Karla,

    Good day!
    Is it advisable to indicate our flight details when applying for the visa?

  32. Hi Ms. Karla,

    Your blog helps me a lot. received my visa Today in Bahrain. Took 3 days. I did not present any ITR except to the bank statement which they asked me.

    Question, if sesend ko ung visa ko sa pinas sa embassy. ma expedite kaya visa ng fam ko?

    thank you

  33. hai ms.karla im an ofw here in kuwait me and my friend in philippines plan to visit in korea. panu po ba ang ggwin ko to apply a visa? lalo n wla po ako sa pinas? thank you

  34. Hi ms.karla itatanong ko lng po mag aaply po ng tourist visa parents ko complete requirements naman sila posibleng madeny padin po ba sila? Thank you po..

  35. Hi Ms Karla, what are the requirements for those who just passed the boards ? I have work but the income is not hat stable yet. The trip is sponsored by my dad

  36. Hi po.

    I’m 21, unemployed but is currently enrolled in a language institute, should I apply under the tourist visa for students?

      1. This might sound ridiculous pero same lang if language center, right? Can apply under tourist for students?

  37. Hiiii, I’ve been to korea thrice (alone) and I’m planning to bring my boyfriend next time. He’s unemployed, just wondering what requirements should we submit? Can we say that I’ll be the one sponsoring our trip? Thanks!

  38. Hi Karla! I work here in Korea holding an E-9 visa.. Am I eligible to sponsor my sibling for a tourist visa here, is it possible? If yes, how? Waiting for your quick response. Thank you. ^_^

    1. I’m not sure. I suggest that you just let them apply as a tourist without any invitation so there will be less hassle. (That’s what I did to my mom and sister. I just sent a big amount for their show money. They got approved last week.)

  39. Good day po, bilang estudyante na mag aapply for tourist visa, tanong ko lang po kung kapatid ko po ang mag sponsor sa akin at government employee siya (dati siyang nasa government hospital pero nalipat na sa isang government agency din po ngayon january) kailangan po sa mga requirement yung certificate of bank account, paano po kung payroll lang po sila. Pwede po ba yun kahit payroll lang sila. Salamat po.

      1. Fresh grad.po may bank account din po ako. Unemployed po yung prarents ko.
        Yung lola ko po mag sponsor if mag tourt po ako.

  40. Hi ms karla. Just want to ask kc ung sister ko uuwi sya from baharain then nakapapag pa book n dn sya ng ticket going to seoul. D p sya nakakakuha korean visa plano nya ako isama for her korean trip. Nagsearch ako ng req for applying korean visa meron nmn po akong bank account kaso unemployed ako ung pera pmpsok s accnt ko galing sa asawa Ko nagwowork as seaman. Paano po ba un kc wla dn akong copy ng contract nya at ksalukuyan nsa barko sya ngyon. Posaible kaya na ma aaproved ako ng korean embassy?

      1. Helow pu miss karla..tnung q lang dn pu panu kung aq mag aply ng visa wla aq employmet certifacte at ung bank account….hnd na pu b mkkuha ng visa..

        1. Gnito kc maam karla.dto pu aq ngaun ng middle east.mag bbkasyon aq ng 2mons..gusto q sana pumasyal ng korea..habang bkasyon q. ..pwd q b magmit ang contrata q dto sa amo q..pra maging certifacate of employe..

        2. Panu dn pu kung wla ka nun requitmets ng #9.. kc d nman aanag bbyad ng buwis posible b d makukuha ng visa

  41. hi ms. karla. my friends are ofw and they will be arriving here in the Philippines in June. Do you suggest that they process their visa on the country they are in or just do it here in Manila? Also do you happen to know what will be the requirements for OFW or is it just the same with the employee. Thank youuu

  42. Good day ma’m im an ofw and i want to travel and visit korea, but the problem is wala akng bank accnt since i send money through remittance centers but i have VISA of OECD member countries how am i able to apply a korean visa. Hope you can answer me. Thanks. Have a nice day.

    1. Hmmm, maybe you can attach a letter explaining your situation. Do you have an ITR? If you don’t have, you have to apply for “Certificate of non-filing of ITR” Let the BIR tag you as an OFW. 🙂

  43. ?? ??? ??? .
    I’m planning to live and work in Korea for at least 2 years after graduation. I started learning Hangul already.
    Uhm, my question is ano po bang klase ng Visa ang kailangan ko? P.S I don’t have a parents.

  44. Hi teacher karla, is it necessary na dapat marunong mag hangul kapag pupunta sa korea as a tourist?

  45. Hi unnie. We’re planning to live at Seoul. What should we do? What requirements should we prepared? What kind of tourist we are? Thank you in advance po ????????

      1. Hi maam Karla, wala po kasing trabaho yung mom ko. Housewife lang po siya. Mga kapatid ko lang yung nagsusustain sakin. Kapag ganon po ba, ano pong mangyayari? wala din po akong bank account eh. btw, grade 11 pa lang po ako 🙂

  46. We planning to live at Seoul. What kind of requirements, visa? We needed? Thank you for in advance unnie

      1. Hi Miss Karla,

        Good day!

        I’m planning to apply for Korean Visa, actually I already have po my complete documents. It’s just that I’m concern with my COE since my company has a standard format for COE and they don’t include landline/phone number though they include email address. In your opinion, do you think it will affects my application? have you heard someone with the same concern 🙁

        Thanks in advance.

    1. hello po isa po ako ng ofw sa Italy dito po ako naka stay yung anak ko po gusto kong regaluhan ng tour papunta ng korea kasi birthday nya.saan po ako pwedeng mag apply ng visa

  47. Hello po if by student visa po ba meaning po magiischool jaan? Ang complicated po kasi xD,Sorry parang ang retarded ng question kasi im in grade 9 and my parents are in another country so possible po ba na ako ang kumuha ng mga yan?

  48. What if i’m unemployed? Last week pa ng Feb yung graduation namin pero hindi na ko enrolled for this term, naghihintay nalang talaga ng grad. So it means hindi na ko student diba? Balak namin magapply for visa on Feb (before or after grad). I checked the categories for visa pero walang pang-unemployed. Thanks 🙂

        1. Hello! Same tayo ng case. Ask ko lang kung nagapply ka parin as student? Ano pinasa mong school certificate?

      1. Hello Bes.
        Ask kulang po.. Pano po pag wala kng work tpos may own account k nmn po… Anong visa and need mo pra makpnta k sa korea.

  49. Hello teacher carla 🙂 can i ask ? Ahm ! How can i apply a tourist visa ? I want to go there because my boyfriend is there in yangsan . I want to visit him . Ahm mam i want to apply a tourist visa for 3 days only to stay there . How can i apply mam ? Thank you 🙂

      1. hi ma’am ask ko lng po plano po nmn mag punta s korea s april may buss. nmn po ako kaso ang buss. licensed ko naka name sa asawa ko pero hnd sya kasama sa pag tour ako lang at anak ko at may account nmn ako may chance po ba n ma deny kame mag ina? thanks po sa sagot

  50. Hi Ms. Karla, me and my friend will be in Korea by October. I’m planning our itinerary for our 7days 6nights trip and your blogs were really helpful, especially on the best places to visit. Hope to have the best experince in Korea! Thanks!

  51. Hi Ms. Karla is it necessesary that you have a bank account? how about a ordinary employees that have no bank account ? are they qualified for Employee Visa ?

      1. Good day Ms Karla, I just wanna ask kung meron po bang required amount of balance sa Bank account to acquire a tourist visa? I’m an employee po.

  52. Hi Karla, I was very thrilled that I found your blog. It’s very informative and helpful. Me and my best friend is planning to go to Korea next year. We want to do a 2-week vacation, so I got so many useful tips from your articles on what we can do. Thank you!

  53. Hi teacher Karla! Nice blog! I’m planning to visit seoul on October. I’m currently working on my itinerary and I really find your blog helpful.

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