FAQs About South Korean Visa Process 2023 | Requirements and Easy Processing

South Korean Visa

Irsa GulJune 27, 2023Last Updated: June 27, 2023

0 8 minutes read

If you’re planning a trip to South Korea, you’ll need to go through the South Korean visa application process. The requirements and procedures can seem daunting, but with the right information, it can be a straightforward process. In this article, we’ll answer some frequently asked questions about the South Korean visa process in 2023, so you can better prepare for your upcoming trip. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, understanding the visa requirements is essential to ensure a smooth and stress-free journey. So let’s dive in!

FAQs About Korean Visa Process 2023 — FAQs About South Korean Visa Process 2023

Who must require a South Korean Visa?

Most foreign nationals who wish to enter South Korea for any purpose, including tourism, business, work, or study, will need a visa. However, there are some countries whose citizens are exempt from obtaining a visa for short stays.

For up to 180 days

Canada

For up to 90 days

European Union countries (except Cyprus)
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Grenada
Guatemala
Haiti
Hong Kong
Iceland
Israel
Jamaica
Japan
Kuwait
Liechtenstein
Macau
Malaysia
Mexico
Morocco
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Norway
Panama
Peru
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Serbia
Singapore
Suriname
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uruguay
Venezuela

For up to 60 days

Lesotho
Russia

For up to 30 days

Albania
Andorra
Argentina
Bahrain
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brunei
Cyprus
Eswatini
Fiji
Guam
Guyana
Honduras
Kazakhstan
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Micronesia
Monaco
Montenegro
Nauru
New Caledonia
Oman
Palau
Paraguay
Qatar
Samoa
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Seychelles
Solomon Islands
South Africa
Tonga
Tunisia
Tuvalu
Vatican City

Other Visa waiver programs

Individuals have a Chinese group tourist and have a group tourist visa to Japan.
Individuals have the US. visa, Canada visa, Australia visa, or New Zealand visa, and they are traveling directly from one of those countries.
Individuals have a booked flight leaving the country within 30 days of entry.
Only citizens of the following countries are eligible to apply for a South Korean working holiday visa;

Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
France
Germany
Hong Kong
Hungary
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Netherlands
New Zealand
Poland
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Taiwan
The U.K.
US

South Korean Visa Types

Here are the main types of South Korean visas for South Korea:

Short-Term Visit Visa: For tourists or business travelers planning to stay in South Korea for up to 90 days. This visa can also be used for attending conferences or cultural events, but it does not allow for employment or long-term stays.
Work Visa: For foreign nationals who have secured a job in South Korea and plan to work there for some time. This visa requires sponsorship from the employer in South Korea, and the visa may be valid for up to 3 years, depending on the job and other factors.
Student Visa: For foreign nationals who plan to study at an educational institution in South Korea. This visa requires proof of admission to a recognized school or university in South Korea and may be valid for up to 2 years or the duration of the study program.
Family Visa: For foreign nationals who are married to a South Korean citizen, or who are a dependent family member of a South Korean citizen. This visa allows for long-term stays in South Korea and may be valid for up to 2 years.
Working Holiday Visa: For young people aged 18-30 from select countries who wish to experience living and working in South Korea for a short period. This visa allows for temporary work, usually for up to 1 year, and is not tied to a specific employer.

Documents Required

Valid Passport: Must have a valid passport with at least six months of validity remaining.
Completed Application Form: Must complete and submit the appropriate visa application form, available on the website of the South Korean embassy or consulate in your home country.
Passport Photos: Must provide two passport-sized photos that meet the embassy’s specifications, such as size and background color.
Visa Application Fee: Must pay the appropriate visa application fee, which varies depending on the type of visa and the applicant’s nationality.
Proof of Travel Arrangements: Must provide evidence of travel arrangements, such as a flight itinerary or hotel reservation.
Financial Documents: Must provide proof of financial means to cover the cost of the trip, such as bank statements or pay stubs.
Health Certificate: May be required to provide a health certificate, depending on the type of visa and the length of stay.
Criminal Background Check: May be required to provide a criminal background check, depending on the type of visa and the purpose of the trip.

Additional Documents

Here are some additional documents that may be required based on the purpose of your visit to South Korea:

For tourism

Itinerary of your trip to South Korea
Proof of hotel reservations
Copy of your round-trip flight itinerary

For business

Letter of invitation from a South Korean company or organization you will be doing business with
Letter from your employer stating the purpose of your trip and guaranteeing that you will return to your home country after your visit
Proof of business registration or tax documents from your employer

For study

Letter of acceptance from the school or university in South Korea you will be attending
Proof of payment of tuition fees
Transcripts of your academic record

For family visits

Proof of relationship, such as a birth or marriage certificate
Proof of the sponsor’s financial ability to support your stay
A copy of the sponsor’s ID or passport

Application Process for South Korean Visa

Review the visa requirements and determine which type of visa is appropriate for your purpose of travel.
Collect all the required documents.
Submit your application and pay the visa fee at the South Korean embassy or consulate in your home country.
Wait for your visa application to be processed, which can take up to several weeks, depending on the type of visa and the embassy’s processing times.
If your visa application is approved, collect your visa and passport from the embassy or consulate.
With your visa in hand, you can travel to South Korea and enjoy your stay.

List of Diplomatic Missions by South Korea

Here is a list of South Korean diplomatic missions around the world, including embassies and consulates:

Embassies

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Algiers, Algeria
Amman, Jordan
Ankara, Turkey
Antananarivo, Madagascar
Apia, Samoa
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Astana, Kazakhstan
Athens, Greece
Baghdad, Iraq
Baku, Azerbaijan
Bangkok, Thailand
Beijing, China
Beirut, Lebanon
Belgrade, Serbia
Berlin, Germany
Bern, Switzerland
Bratislava, Slovakia
Brussels, Belgium
Bucharest, Romania
Budapest, Hungary
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Cairo, Egypt
Canberra, Australia
Caracas, Venezuela
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Copenhagen, Denmark
Dakar, Senegal
Damascus, Syria
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Dublin, Ireland
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Hanoi, Vietnam
Harare, Zimbabwe
Havana, Cuba
Helsinki, Finland
Islamabad, Pakistan
Jakarta, Indonesia
Kabul, Afghanistan
Kampala, Uganda
Kathmandu, Nepal
Khartoum, Sudan
Kyiv, Ukraine
Kigali, Rwanda
Kingston, Jamaica
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuwait City, Kuwait
La Paz, Bolivia
Ljubljana, Slovenia
London, United Kingdom
Luanda, Angola
Madrid, Spain
Manila, Philippines
Mexico City, Mexico
Moscow, Russia
Nairobi, Kenya
New Delhi, India
Niamey, Niger
Nouakchott, Mauritania
Oslo, Norway
Ottawa, Canada
Paris, France
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Prague, Czech Republic
Pretoria, South Africa
Pyongyang, North Korea
Quito, Ecuador
Rabat, Morocco
Rangoon, Myanmar
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Rome, Italy
San José, Costa Rica
Santiago, Chile
Sarajevo, Bosnia, and Herzegovina
Sofia, Bulgaria
Stockholm, Sweden
Suva, Fiji
Taipei, Taiwan
Tallinn, Estonia
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Tehran, Iran
Tel Aviv, Israel
Tirana, Albania
Tokyo, Japan
Tripoli, Libya
Tunis, Tunisia
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Vienna, Austria
Vientiane, Laos
Warsaw, Poland
Washington, D.C., United States
Wellington, New Zealand
Windhoek, Namibia
Yangon, Myanmar
Zagreb, Croatia
Zanzibar City, Tanzania

Consulates

Atlanta, United States
Auckland, New Zealand
Barcelona, Spain
Boston, United States
Brisbane, Australia
Busan, South Korea
Calgary, Canada
Chicago, United States
Chongqing, China
Cotonou, Benin
Daegu, South Korea
Dallas, United States
Denver, United States
Detroit, United States
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Durban, South Africa
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Frankfurt, Germany
Guangzhou, China
Halifax, Canada

To see the whole list, visit the given link.

About Confirmation of Visa Issuance

Confirmation of Visa Issuance (COVI) is a system that allows South Korean immigration authorities to check and pre-approve visa applications before an applicant goes to a Korean embassy or consulate to apply for a visa. Here is an overview of the COVI requirements and procedure:

Requirements

The applicant must be a citizen of a country where COVI is available.
The applicant must have a valid passport.
The applicant must have a clear purpose of travel to South Korea.

Procedure

The applicant must complete the online COVI application form and submit it to the Korean embassy or consulate in their country of residence.
The embassy or consulate will review the application and request additional documents if necessary.
The embassy or consulate will forward the application to the Korean Immigration Service for review.
The Immigration Service will review the application and either approve or deny the COVI. If approved, the applicant will receive a COVI number.
The applicant can then go to the Korean embassy or consulate to apply for a visa with their COVI number and required documents.
The embassy or consulate will issue the visa if all requirements are met.

Requirements for Jeju-do Region

Jeju-do is a special self-governing province in South Korea, and the visa requirements for visitors to Jeju-do are slightly different from those for the rest of South Korea. Individuals from the following countries are not included in the Jeju-do region scheme:

Ghana
Nigeria
Macedonia
Sudan
Syria
Yemen
Afghanistan
Iran
Iraq
Kosovo
Cuba
Palestine
Gambia
Senegal
Bangladesh
Kyrgyzstan
Pakistan
Somalia
Uzbekistan
Nepal
Cameroon
Sri Lanka
Myanmar
Egypt

Visa Requirements

Nationals of most countries are eligible for visa-free entry for up to 90 days if they enter Jeju-do directly, without transiting through another South Korean city.
If you are not eligible for visa-free entry, you can apply for a Jeju-do visa at a South Korean embassy or consulate.
The Jeju-do visa is only valid for entry to Jeju-do and cannot be used for travel to other regions of South Korea.

Entry Requirements

Foreign nationals must have a valid passport with at least six months of validity remaining.
Visitors must have a return or onward ticket.
Visitors must have enough money to cover their stay in Jeju-do.
Visitors cannot engage in any activities that are prohibited by South Korean law.

South Korean Visa Costs

The cost of a South Korean visa depends on the type of visa you are applying for, as well as the country which you are applying. Here is a general overview of the South Korean visa costs: