Dreaming of visiting the birthplace of K-pop and K-drama? Need some tips on how to secure a Korean visa? Guess what? We’ve put up a general tourist visa application guides to South Korea to make things a whole lot easier on your end. From Korean visa requirements to important contact numbers, this guideline will surely make your application process a breeze. So, refer to the instructions below, and start securing your Korean visa requirements!
Where to submit my Korean visa application?
The Filipino travelers can submit their Korean visa application at the embassy of the Republic of South Korea. Please note that this action is advisable after you complete all the Korean visa requirements. The proceeding time to apply is between 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. local time from Monday to Friday.
Republic of Korea Embassy in The Philippines
- 122 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City 1634
- Tel. +632 856 9210
- Fax. +632 856 9008
- Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. local time
- Filing: 8:30 – 11:00 a.m. local time
Do I need to make an appointment?
The good thing is, there is no need to make an appointment for general tourist Korean visa submission; you can proceed to the embassy and file for the application. The travelers, however, are better to come first because the embassy applies first come, first serve on their daily basis.
- Service is open from 9 AM to 11 AM.
- Applicants must arrive before 10:30 AM since service closes at 11 AM.
- First come first serve basis, so go as early as possibly can.
Not from Manila? Well, you can actually apply for a tourist visa without setting foot on the Korean embassy. So, how do you do that? Just write a letter authorizing a representative of yours to do the Korean visa application on your behalf. Alternatively, you may also let a travel agency do all the legwork for you.
What are the Korean visa requirements?
The general requirements for Korean visa tourist application are pretty straightforward. However, the list can be quite long, so you better prepare everything in advance.
The basic Korean visa requirements:
- Correctly filled visa application form. You can download it here.
Helpful tips: Don’t leave anything blank. Simply state N/A if the question in regards is not applicable.
A valid Philippine passport. The validity should be at least six months before its expiration date.
One colored photo (35 mm x 45 mm) with a plain white background. Applicants can paste the photo on the application form.
A photocopy of bio page of your passport.
Helpful tips: If you have an arrival stamp to any OECD member country, just make sure to provide the original copy as well as a photography. Trust us, this travel document will greatly improve your chances of having an approved Korean visa.
For more information about OECD and its members, check out its official website.
Additional Requirements:
To ensure that you can support the trip to South Korea, some Korean visa requirements and documents may need to be presented. That includes:
Personal bank certificate (must include information about the account type, current balance, account opening date).
Original or copy of bank statement for the past three months (certified).
Copy of income tax return (ITR).
Certificate of employment (for employee).
Copy of PRC or IBP card (if applicable).
If invited by a Korean citizen, provide an invitation letter along with the inviter’s copy of passport or ID card (highly recommended).
If invited by a company in Korea, provide an invitation letter along with the company’s business permit (highly recommended).
Although no confirmed hotel and flight are required to be presented, you can put down the information of the hotel you intend to stay at (optional).
How long is the processing time?
Generally, the processing timeline for general tourist Korean visa application is relatively fast. For a first-time traveler, the processing time will take about 5 business days, while an application from frequent traveler will take about 3 business days.
Once the application is submitted, the embassy will give you a claim slip. Releasing time is from Monday to Friday, 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. local time. Although the application submission can be made through a representative, first-time travelers or applicants are advised to claim their Korean visa personally, in case there is an interview with the consul.
Once granted, the general tourist Korean visa is valid for three months from the date of the issuance.
Speaking of which, did you know that there’s an instant Korean visa application for Pinoys? Yep, and you can learn more about it here.
How will the Korean visa application cost?
The case of Korean visa application cost may vary differently according to the staying period.
- If a traveler wishes to stay in South Korea for 59 days or less, the application is generated for free.
- A 60 to 90 days of stay will be charged up PHP 2,000 for the application.
- Jeju is visa-free for Filipinos.
What if my Korean visa application got rejected?
Various reasons cause a rejected Korean visa application.
Common reasons include:
- Failure to provide the necessary Korean visa requirements and documents.
- Failure to provide strong financial support.
When rejected, the traveler can submit for a re-application after 6 months.
This information is correct as of 15 June 2019
