The Korean Visa for your Trip to South Korea
Applying for a Korean visa is necessary if you are travelling on holiday trip or to visit a relative or living in South Korea or on a work trip.
Usually, a visitor should be able to apply for the necessary Korean visa online/ at the nearest Korean consulate in the country where you live.
The Korean visa for your trip to South Korea
It is advisable to check the Korean visa requirements, before applying for your visa to South Korea.
A brief summary of the most important requirements and conditions when getting the visa for South Korea:
- You do not expect to conduct voluntary job that may otherwise be performed by a paid staff in South Korea.
- You do not intend to enter into an employment relationship in South Korea.
- You do not plan to supply services to Korean organisations (this is allowed with a Korean work visa or business visa).
- You do not intend to provide or market product or services to consumers in South Korea.
- You and your family members are not in debt to the South Korea Government.
- You do not pose a threat to the health or safety and security of the people of South Korea.
- You are able to show that you have enough financial resources to pay for your trip and return from South Korea.
Do I need a Korean visa?
It relies on your citizenship as well as the kind of travel document you are using to travel to South Korea.Please go here to check if you need a Korean visa.
Who can make an application for a Korean visa?
Any individual choosing to go on vacation to South Korea can make an application for a Korean visa.
There are many kinds of visa for South Korea which you can use as a visitor to South Korea. If you are uncertain which sort of Korean visa you require to apply, please call the nearest Korean visa office to obtain more clarification as goal of this web page is to provide you general guide when looking for Korean visa.
What type of Korean visa do I require?
This relies on 3 aspects:
- The nationality according to your passport – If the citizenship according to the passport is from a country that is on visa free travel to South Korea or eligible to obtain a visa on arrival in South Korea, then you may not need to get a Korean visa prior to leaving from your home country. Please click here to confirm if you need a Korean visa.
- The timeframe of your trip in South Korea – If you wish to remain in South Korea for a much shorter period less than ninety days, then you can obtain the Korean visa. If you like to stay much longer, then get in touch with the nearby Korean visa office to secure the appropriate visa for your trip.
- The activities you like to accomplish in South Korea – If your main purpose of travelling is for vacation, then you can make an application for all types of Korean visas stated on this web page.
General Visa Application Requirements to Get Korean Visitor Visa
- Tourist visa application for South Korea – Completed Korean visa application form.
- Original and signed passport – The passport has to be valid for a minimum of 6 months prior to going into South Korea and three months after departing South Korea. It needs to have at the very least 2 extra visa pages and can not be older than ten years.
- Passport type photo – Photo needs to be no older than six months and should be 35 x 40mm in size.
- Previous passport – Give a previous passport if you had any.
- Previous visas– Copies of previous Korean visas details if you had any.
- Flight tickets to South Korea – Reservation of return or round trip flight tickets. In some circumstances the Korean visa office may request pre-paid flight tickets to South Korea.
- Travel insurance policy – Proof of travel insurance coverage with a minimum cover set by the Korean embassy provided with the Certificate of Insurance policy and the table of benefits. The travel insurance policy need to cover the cost of repatriation for medical reasons and the Certificate of Currency must be issued by an insurer. If you are thinking of utilizing your credit card travel insurance for your travel to South Korea, please call Korean consular office for more information and travel insurance policy requirements for the Korean visa.
- Original financial institution statements – Original financial institution statements for the last 3 months showing enough funds to cover your visit in South Korea. If statements are printed online then it needs to be Confirmed (stamped) by the financial institution representatives.
- Hotel Reservations in South Korea – Copy of confirmed hotel reservations including name of the applicant, name and address of the hotel, time-span of stay. In a lot of conditions, only bookings which are partially or completely pre-paid can be accepted.
- Employment letter – This letter has to be: original and signed letter from employer written on company letter head paper, confirming your ongoing employment, the status of employment, regular monthly income and annual leave. Additionally, please supply your 3 most recent pay slips. If you are self-employed: provide certified copies of business registration, income tax return.
- For students. Please give the following:
- Proof of current student status: Certificate of Enrollment.
- Original and signed letter from university written on university letter head paper, confirming ongoing enrolment, confirming the payment of tuition fees or any kind of scholarships, and confirming term break.
- Insurance from Organisation/University– Supply a letter from the University stating the purpose, period of travel and confirmation that you are going to be covered by the insurance coverage for the entire journey together with the Certificate of Currency and summary of benefits.
As a whole, visa applications for Korean visa should be sent for an optimum of 6 months, and no behind 15 days, before the trip.