Guide on Applying for a Korean Visa

Planning in flying to South Korea soon? If it is your first time applying for a Korean visa do not fret here is a quick and easy guide on how to fill up the Korean Visa application form and what requirements you need.

Here are the requirements for visa application:

Tourist/Business Visa Requirements for Employees

1. Application Form
2. 1 piece of Passport size colored picture (Please attach on the application form)
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)

* 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 tourist to COED member countries within 5 years are exempted from submitting ITR.

To check other categories aside from Employees check out their VISA REQUIREMENTS 

Download the visa application form HERE.

In COMPLETING THE KOREAN VISA APPLICATION FORM please take note of the following instructions:

• You must fill out this form completely and correctly.
• You must write in block letters either in English or Korean.
• For multiple-choice questions, you must check [√] all that apply.
• If you select ‘Other’, please provide with more information in the given space.

TIPS: 

DO NOT LEAVE ANY ITEMS BLANK EXCEPT FOR THIS PART "공용란 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY".
Write N/A (not applicable) to fields that are not applicable to you.
Use black ink.

SECTION 1: PERSONAL DETAILS

Photo – This one should have white background.

1.1 Full English Name

1.2 한자성명 means Chinese-Korean name. – Usually for Chinese citizens who have Korean names. If you don’t have a Korean name, please write N/A.

1.3 Sex – Check your appropriate gender.

1.4 Birth-date – Format should be (yyyy/mm/dd) – example 1991/01/29.

1.5 Nationality – Write “Filipino”

1.6 Country of Birth – For Filipinos born in the Philippines, please write Philippines.

1.7 National Identity No. – Write N/A. This is not applicable to us since we do not have a national ID system.

1.8 Have you ever used any other names to enter or depart Korea? – For Filipinas, if you are now married and have traveled to Korea when you were still single, check Yes, and write your maiden name below. For Filipinos and for those who are still single, check No, and write N/A below.

1.9 Are you a citizen of more than one country ? – Checked NO and then write NA for “If Yes please write countries”

Section 2: DETAILS OF VISA ISSUANCE CONFIRMATION

This is only for those who possess confirmation of visa issuance issued by the Immigration Office of the Republic of Korea. Leave this part blank if you do not have a visa issuance confirmation.

Section 3: PASSPORT INFORMATION

3.1 Passport Type: If you have the maroon Philippine passport, please check Regular. I wrote N/A on “If Other please provide details”

3.2 Passport Number: Please write the number found on page 2 of your passport.

3.3 Country of Passport: Philippines

3.4 Place of Issue: This can be found on page 2 of your passport. It could be DFA MANILA if this is where your passport has been issued.

3.5 Date of Issue: See passport

3.6 Date of Expiry: See passport. Make sure you still have at least 6 months before date of expiry.

3.7 Do you have any other valid passport? – Checked No and then write N/A in the details part below it.

SECTION 4: CONTACT INFORMATION

4.1 – Address in your Home Country: It is safe to write the same address from your bank statement to show consistency.

4.2 (4.1 in the application form) – Current Residential Address: Write “Same address as above” if it is the same address as 4.1 otherwise enter where you currently reside.

4.3 – Cell Phone No. – Please provide a working one.

4.4 – Telephone No. – If you do not have a landline number write N/A.

4.5 – E-mail – Please write your email address.

4.6 – Emergency Contact Information – Just to be consistent, I wrote the same information I have at the back of my passport. For the telephone number, I wrote my sister’s mobile number and I still got approved.

SECTION 5: MARITAL STATUS DETAILS

5.1 – Current Marital Status – Checked Never married if you are single

5.2 A-F – N/A for all the items if Never Married.

SECTION 6: EDUCATION
6.1 – What is the highest degree or level of education you have completed ? – Checked whats applicable to you and write N/A for “If ‘Other’ please provide details ( )”

6.2 – Name of School – Write the name of the College/University you graduated from.

6.3 – Location of School(city/province/country) – Write the school's address by following the format (city/province/country) just to be sure.

SECTION 7: EMPLOYMENT

7.1 – What are your current personal circumstances ? – Checked Employed and write N/A for “If ‘Other’ please provide details ( )”

7.2 A-D – Employment details – Follow what is written in your Certificate of Employment.

SECTION 8: DETAILS OF SPONSOR

8.1 Do you have anyone sponsoring you for the visa ? – I don’t have any sponsor as I will be using my own money, so I checked No and wrote N/A for letters A-E.

SECTION 9: DETAILS OF VISIT

9.1 Purpose of Visit to Korea – Check what’s appropriate for your case. If traveling for vacation checked Tourism.

9.2 Intended Period of Stay – I already have a round-trip plane ticket so I have a definite answer for this one. Please make sure to be specific.

9.3 Intended Date of Entry – I already have a round-trip plane ticket so I have a definite answer for this one. Please make sure you be specific.

9.4 Address in Korea (including Hotels) – If you have booked a hotel/accommodation already write the address here.I haven't booked a hotel yet because I was waiting for my visa approval so I just wrote undecided.

9.5 Contact No. in Korea – This should be the contact number of your hotel or accommodation. But if you haven’t booked a hotel yet like me, you can write undecided.

9.6 Have you traveled to Korea in the last 5 years ? – If first time travelers checked No and write N/A for “If ‘Other’ please provide details ( )”.

9.7 Have you traveled outside your country of residence, excluding Korea, in the last 5 years ? – If first time travelers checked No and write N/A for each column.

9.8 Are you traveling to Korea with any family member ? – If you are traveling with friends take note that they are not family member so you can’t answer Yes. There is a note below on who is considered as family member (Definition of a Family Member: your spouse, father, mother, children, brothers and sisters. If you will be traveling with family, you may write their names below but all of your applications will still be treated individually.)

SECTION 10: FUNDING DETAILS

10.1 – Estimated travel costs(in US dollars) – Depends on the number of days that you will be staying in Korea.

10.2 Who will pay for your travel-related expenses? – Please note that it says “including yourself” so if you will be funding your own vacation you need to write your own details below.

    Name of Person – write your name if it is your own money
    Relationship to you - Write “myself”
    Type of support – Financial Support
    Contact No – I wrote my own number.

SECTION 11: ASSISTANCE WITH THIS FORM

11.1 – Did you receive assistance in completing this form? –Checked No and write N/A for each of the columns below.

SECTION 12: DECLARATION
Please keep in mind that you have to sign on the left side part where you have to write the date. Do not sign below “신청인 서명 SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT” that line is for guardians if you are below 17 years old.

PROCESSING TIME: 

3 working days (for those who have been to OECD member countries within 5 years as tourist)

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

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

After completing all the required documents,  applicants may file their applications at the Consular Office from 8:30-11 am only, every Monday to Friday. This is on a first come, first serve basis.  No appointment is needed. 

For family applications, documents for proof of relationship is a must. (eg. Marriage Contact, Birth Certificate)

Family applications should be filed together at the same window, at the same time. Representative may file the visa applications of all family members.

Validity of visa is only 3 months from the issue date. Do not apply more than 3 months prior to the date of travel.

Visa processing takes 5 working days for first time travelers, and 3 working days for frequent travelers. Releasing time is from 1:30-4 pm only.

Please note that food and drinks are not allowed inside the embassy. Taking photos inside is prohibited as well. 

If you do not have a good penmaship like me it is ok to fill out the editable pdf or word file and just print the application form. It is much easier and convenient. The embassy accepts that.


Please always refer to the Korean Embassy in the Philippines if you have questions.

Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of the Philippines
Website: http://embassy_philippines.mofa.go.kr/english
Address : 122 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City 1634, Philippines
Tel : (63-2) 856-9210, Fax : (63-2) 856-9008  |  Hours of Operation : 08:30~17:00 (Mon-Fri)