Being a KPOP and K-drama fan, it has always been my dream to visit South Korea. And so, when our friend Anne asked me and my sister if we wanted to join her Korea trip, I immediately said yes, without hesitations. :)
Here are the process we went through in applying for a Korean Visa. All the information below is from Korean Embassy Website here in the Philippines. Link : http://overseas.mofa.go.kr/ph-en/index.do
IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
Please be reminded that from July 1, 2018, all temporary visitors' visa application will be processed through designated travel agencies. Click here for the list of designated travel agencies.
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 time. One member of the family may file the visa applications of all family members.
Old passports with previous travels within the last 5 years should be submitted together with the latest passport when applying for visa.
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.
Express visa processing takes 2 working days. Apply for visa prior to purchasing your airline tickets since visa issuance is subject for approval of the consul in charge.
REQUIREMENTS:
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 inviter'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 OECD member countries within 5 years are exempted from submitting ITR.
Tourist/Business Visa Requirements for Businessmen
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 6 months) 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. Photocopy of Business Registration from SEC or DTI 7. Photocopy of Business Permit or Mayor's Permit 8. Original Personal Bank Certificate (must include account type, current balance, account opening date, ADB) 9. Bank Statement (original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months) 10. Photocopy of ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316 with corresponding payment receipt from BIR authorized bank 11. Copy of PRC Card or IBP Card (If applicable only)
* If personally invited by Korean . Invitation Letter . Photocopy of invitee'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 OECD member countries within 5 years are exempted from submitting ITR.
For Korean's Parents in Law
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 6. Inviters'(Korean/Filipino) Korean Certificate of Marriage History (issued within 3months) 7. Inviters'(Korean/Filipino) NSO Marriage Certificate 8. Invitation letter from the Korean National 9. Copy of Korean & Filipino's Passport First page (or valid ID) *If Filipino in Korea changed name to Korean name, additional Basic Certificate(기본증명서) should be submitted
For Korean's Sister/Brother in Law
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. NSO Birth Certificate of Applicant 7. 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] 8. Bank Certificate [must include account type, current balance, account opening date, 6 months average balance (ADB)] 9. Bank Statement (original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months) 10. ITR(Income Tax Return) or Form 2316 Copy 11. Inviters'(Korean/Filipino) Korean Certificate of Marrige History (within 3months) 12. Inviters'(Korean/Filipino) NSO Marriage Certificate 13. Copy of Inviters'(Korean/Filipino) Passport First page or Valid ID card 14. Invitation letter from the Korean National *If Filipino in Korea changed name to Korean name, additional Basic Certificate(기본증명서) should be submitted *If Filipino in Korea has children born between Korean, additional Korean's Family Register Certificate(가족관계증명서) should be submitted
Tourist/Business Visa Requirements for Students
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. School Certificate (Original) 7. Copy of School ID 8. Copy of Birth Certificate 9. Parents' Documents - If employed: Employment Certificate Original [must include position, date hired, compensation, office address, HR landline number(cell-phone number is not allowed), HR e-mail address] Photocopy of ITR(Income Tax Return) or Form 2316 Copy - If Self-employed: Business Registration from SEC or DTI (Copy), Business Permit or Mayor's Permit(Copy), Photocopy of ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316 with corresponding payment receipt from BIR authorized bank - Original Bank Certificate [must include account type, current balance, account opening date, 6 months average balance (ADB)] - Bank Statement (original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months) - Copy of Nso Marriage Certificate
* If personally invited by Korean . Invitation Letter. Photocopy of inviter'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 OECD member countries within 5 years are exempted from submitting ITR. *If parents already have a valid visa, attach photocopy of parents' valid visa. If not travelling together with parents, attach photocopy of passport or valid ID of parents.
Tourist/Business Visa Requirements for Religious Worker
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. Copy of Church SEC in the Philippines 7. Certification from Church Original - If Employed: Employment Certificate Original [must include applicant's position, date hired, compensation, office address, HR landline number(cell-phone number is not allowed), HR e-mail address], Photocopy of ITR(Income Tax Return) or Form 2316 Copy - If Businessmen: Business Registration from SEC or DTI (Copy), Business Permit or Mayor's Permit(Copy), Photocopy of ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316 with corresponding payment receipt from BIR authorized bank 8. Personal Bank Certificate Original [must include account type, current balance, account opening date, 6 months average balance (ADB)] 9. Personal Bank Statement (original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months) 10. Invitation from Korea - Copy of business permit of Korean church - Invitation Letter - Copy of invitee's ID
Tourist/Business Visa Requirements for Housewives
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. Additional documents - If husband is employed : Husband's Employment Certificate Original [must include position, date hired, compensation, office address, HR landline number(cell-phone number is not allowed), HR e-mail address], Copy of ITR(Income Tax Return) or Form 2316 Copy - If husband is self-employed : Business Registration from SEC or DTI (Copy), Business Permit or Mayor's Permit(Copy), Photocopy of ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316 with corresponding payment receipt from BIR authorized bank - Original Personal or Husband's Bank Certificate [must include account type, current balance, account opening date, 6 months average balance (ADB)] - Personal or Husband's Bank Statement (original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months) 7. Copy of NSO Marriage Certificate
* If personally invited by Korean . Invitation Letter. Photocopy of inviter'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 OECD member countries within 5 years are exempted from submitting ITR.
WHAT ARE OECD VISAS?
These are visas granted by countries that are part of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development).
These are the member countries:
Australia Austria Belgium Canada Chile Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel ItalyJapan Korea Latvia Luxembourg Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Norway Poland Portugal Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey United Kingdom United States
PROCEDURE:
1. Prepare and complete all the requirements.
2. Choose a designated Travel Agency who will assist you in the application. Link for the list is available above.
- You don't need to pay Korean Embassy if you are planning to stay shorter than 59 days, but since the embassy employed travel agencies, they are collecting assistance fee. Prices differs from one agency to another. It usually ranges from Php 700 to Php 1500.
3. Submit your requirements to your chosen Travel Agency.
4. Claim your passport with Visa
- This usually takes 5 to 7 working days. Your Travel agency will advise you once your visa is already available.
TIPS and FAQs:
You can apply even though you don’t have plane tickets and hotel reservations yet. But, there's still a need to mention details like date of departure, arrival, and hotel address and number in the application form- if you haven't booked a ticket and accommodation you can place your target date and hotel details of the accommodation your planning to book.
Make sure to complete all the requirements based from the list above. You can arranged them based on the numbering above.
Korean Visa last for 59 days. Applying for a visa is preferably 1 to 2 months before your trip. This will ensure that you have enough time if ever the embassy will ask for more requirements. And, or re-amply if your visa got denied. This isn't sure but there are some applicants who got denied in Manila and re-applied and got approved in Cebu. No need to show your self just contact a travel agency in Cebu for assistance. This isn't a guarantee but I'm still sharing just in case you know...you encountered a worst case scenario.
Those who have OECD Visas doen't guarantee an approval. But there's a greater chance and a faster processing time.
You can check the status of your application using this LINK.
By the way before ending this blog, here's the Travel Agency who assisted us on our application. They are based in Cebu. They are very kind. They even assisted us in filling up our application forms. Find them in Facebook and message them. :)
Good-luck on your Korean Visa Application!
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