A South Korea tourist visa is required for all nationalities that are not visa-exempt. The official code for the ordinary tourist visa is C-3-9. You can start the visa application online but you must visit a South Korean embassy in person to submit the documents.
Quick summary:
Applications are reviewed by the specific embassy, hence the requirements, costs, and processing time differ significantly between countries.
Read the South Korea Visa Guide for general information on various visa options for tourists, requirements, eligibility and application process.
The single-entry tourist visa is valid for 3 months from the date of issue.
The double-entry tourist visa is valid for 6 months.
The multiple-entry tourist visa can be valid for up to 5 years but has additional requirements including prior travel history to South Korea and as such isn’t an option for first-time travelers.
Single-entry visas allow up to 90 days but double-entry visas only up to 30 days at a time.
There are three types of South Korean tourist visas – single-entry, double-entry and multiple-entry.
You can enter South Korea from any international airport or seaport with a tourist visa.
The processing time varies greatly between South Korean embassies. In general, allow at least a few weeks for the issuance of a tourist visa after your first visit to the embassy.
Extensions to the tourist visa are possible but not easily granted. You must apply in person at the Seoul Immigration office. Extensions are approved only on a case-by-case basis.
South Korean tourist visa also offers VISA-FREE travel to 7 other countries. Read the VISA-FREE countries for South Korea visa for more details.
All non-visa-exempt nationalities require a tourist visa for South Korea.
If you are visa-exempt, you do not require a tourist visa instead you require a K-ETA to travel to South Korea.
The following documents are required for the tourist visa.
Depending on the nationality and the embassy where you apply, you may be required to submit additional documents such as the below.
The photo for the tourist visa must meet the following requirements.
The visa fee varies significantly depending on the type of visa, the location where you apply and your nationality.
In most general cases, the single-entry visa fee is 40 USD, double-entry is 70 USD and multiple-entry is 90 USD. The fee is payable in local currency in cash.
In some countries, South Korea has outsourced visa processing to Visa Application Centers such as VFS Global. Visa Application Centers charge their own service fee for handling the visa applications.
The fee is higher, lower, or exempted for certain nationalities. You can find the complete list on the Korea Visa Portal.
Applications are reviewed by a particular embassy so processing time is not universal. Some embassies process tourist visas in 4 days, others in 7 days, some in 14 days or more.
The official guidance is to apply at least 3 weeks in advance of traveling to allow sufficient time for the issuance of your tourist visa.
In countries where the application process is outsourced to Visa Application Centers, express processing is available for an additional fee.
South Korea’s tourist visa application process is partially online. You will have to fill out an online form but you will have to visit the embassy in person after to submit your documents.
Below is the general process of applying for a South Korean tourist visa at the embassy.
Follow the below steps to fill out the e-form online.
After you complete the form, print the file with the barcode on it. You will receive an email with your application number. If you displace the barcode file, you can find it by entering your details on the Check Application Status page.
Prepare the printed visa application form (the one with the barcode) and attach copies of the other required documents.
Visit the South Korean embassy or consulate that you picked during the application.
Formally submit your application in person at the embassy. Pay the visa fee in cash.
Check your email regularly in case the embassy requests additional documents. The visa process can take anywhere from 4 to 14 working days depending on the embassy.
Receive Confirmation of Visa Issuance or Visa Grant Notice. Retrieve it online and print it before traveling to South Korea.
If the embassy or consulate of South Korea still issues visa stickers in your country, you will have to collect your passport or request to mail it to you.
NOTE
South Korean embassies no longer issue visa stickers inside passports. Stickers are still being issued in countries where visa application centers handle the process but this is going to be phased out soon.
Before going to the immigration counters, make sure to complete the paper Arrival Card. The airline staff will give you one onboard or you can grab one from the immigration.
Present your passport along with the Visa Grant Notice and the Arrival Card to the immigration officer. Get stamped in and enter South Korea.
There is no official statement regarding the minimum bank balance by South Korean immigration. It will depend on your circumstances and nationality.
That being said, anything less than 2,500 USD may be considered too low to sustain a trip to South Korea.
You can begin the application process online by filling out the application form (form #17). However, the next steps require you to visit a South Korean embassy in person. Applications completely online are not possible.
A cover letter is not required for the South Korea tourist visa. But you can still submit one if you need to explain your circumstances in detail.
WRITTEN BY THIRUMAL MOTATI
Thirumal Motati is an expert in tourist visa matters. He has been traveling the world on tourist visas for more than a decade. With his expertise, he has obtained several tourist visas, including the most strenuous ones such as the US, UK, Canada, and Schengen, some of which were granted multiple times. He has also set foot inside US consulates on numerous occasions. Mr. Motati has uncovered the secrets to successful visa applications. His guidance has enabled countless individuals to obtain their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. His statements have been mentioned in publications like Yahoo, BBC, The Hindu, and Travel Zoo.
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