The Korean Tourist Visa for your Holiday or Visiting a Family
If you are thinking of travelling to Korea as a tourist or to visit a family or friend, then applying for a Korean tourist visa can become a necessary task.
Generally, a visitor should be able to apply for the necessary Korean tourist visa online/ at the nearest Korean consulate in the country where you live, for a stay in Korea of up to three months.
General Visa Requirements and Validity Period of Korean Tourist Visa
It is advisable to check the Korean tourist visa requirements, before applying for your tourist visa to Korea.
A brief summary of the most important requirements and conditions when obtaining the tourist visa for Korea:
- You do not intend to conduct unpaid job that may otherwise be undertaken by a paid employee in Korea.
- You do not plan to join a work relationship in Korea.
- You do not plan to supply services to Korean organisations (this is permitted with a Korean work visa or business visa).
- You do not mean to offer or offer services or products to consumers in Korea.
- You and your family members are not in debt to the Korea Government.
- You do not pose a risk to the health or safety and security of residents of Korea.
- You are able to show that you have adequate financial resources to cover your stay and return from Korea.
Do I need a Korean tourist visa?
It depends on your nationality and the type of travel document you are using to take a trip to Korea.Please visit here to verify if you need a Korean visa.
Who can get a Korean tourist visa?
Any individual wishing to go on holiday to Korea can make an application for a Korean tourist visa.
There are several kinds of visa for Korea which you can use as a visitor to Korea. If you are uncertain which type of Korean tourist visa you need to apply, please get in touch with the nearest Korean visa office to obtain further clarification as aim of this page is to provide you basic guide when looking for Korean tourist visa.
What type of Korean visa do I require?
This relies on three factors:
- The nationality according to your passport – If the nationality according to the passport is from a nation that is on visa free travel to Korea or eligible to make an application for a visa on arrival in Korea, then you may not require to make an application for a Korean tourist visa before leaving from your home country. Please click on this link to check if you need a Korean visa.
- The length of your trip in Korea – If you want to remain in Korea for a shorter duration no more than 90 days, then you can request the Korean tourist visa. If you prefer to stay longer, then speak to the local Korean visa office to find the appropriate visa for your travel.
- The activities you want to perform in Korea – If your main purpose of taking a trip is for vacation, then you can make an application for all kinds of Korean tourist visas discussed on this page.
General Visa Application Requirements to Request Korean Visitor Visa
- Visitor visa Form for Korea – Completed Korean visa application form.
- Original and signed passport – The passport has to be valid for a minimum of 6 months prior to entering Korea and three months after departing Korea. It needs to have a minimum of 2 extra visa web pages and can not be older than 10 years.
- Passport type photo – Photo should be no older than 6 months and must be 35 x 40mm in size.
- Previous passport – Offer a previous passport if you had any.
- Previous visas – Copies of previous Korean visas information if you had any.
- Flight tickets to Korea – Reservation of return or round trip flight tickets. In some scenarios the Korean visa office might request pre-paid flight tickets to Korea.
- Travel insurance policy – Proof of travel insurance coverage with a minimum cover set by the Korean consular office provided with the Certificate of Insurance and the table of benefits. The travel insurance need to cover the expense of repatriation for medical reasons and the Certificate of Currency should be issued by an insurance provider. If you are thinking about utilizing your credit card travel insurance for your travel to Korea, please call Korean consular office for additional information and travel insurance coverage requirements for the Korean visa.
- Original financial institution statements – Original bank statements for the last 3 months revealing adequate funds to cover your visit in Korea. If statements are printed online then it has to be Authenticated (stamped) by the financial institution representatives.
- Hotel Reservations in Korea – Copy of confirmed hotel bookings including name of the applicant, name and address of the hotel, length of stay. In many circumstances, only bookings which are partially or completely pre-paid can be accepted.
- Employment letter – This letter must be: original and signed letter from employer written on company letter head paper, verifying your ongoing employment, the status of employment, regular monthly income and yearly leave. Also, please offer your 3 newest pay slips. If you are self-employed: give certified copies of company registration, tax return.
- For students. Please supply the following:
- Proof of current student status: Certificate of Enrollment.
- Original and signed letter from university written on university letter head paper, affirming ongoing enrolment, verifying the payment of tuition fees or any scholarships, and confirming semester break.
- Insurance from Organisation/University – Provide a letter from the University specifying the purpose, period of travel and confirmation that you are going to be covered by the insurance for the entire trip along with the Certificate of Currency and summary of benefits.
In general, visa applications for Korean visa need to be submitted for a maximum of 6 months, and no behind 15 days, before the trip.