South Korea, the Land of the Morning Calm, is definitely one of the dream tourist destinations for Filipinos. It’s no wonder that most Filipino tourists want to visit South Korea due to its rich culture, history, technology, and entertainment. Not to mention the fact, which is known to many, that Hallyu Wave is undeniably popular in the Philippines. It is undeniable that a lot of Filipinos are very much into K-Dramas, K-Pop, skincare, Korean cuisine, and soju, which makes them want to visit South Korea and experience the culture firsthand!
However, if you’re planning to visit South Korea, you need to apply for a South Korean tourist visa before entering the country. Personally, this is my third time applying for a South Korean tourist visa, and I’ll be honest with you, it’s my first time getting my tourist visa granted. Nevertheless, I’ve learned a lot from this experience, which I’d want to share with you.
With that, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to apply for a South Korean tourist visa with some essential tips on how to increase your chances of approval.
Table of Contents
How to Apply for a South Korean Tourist Visa for Filipinos
Determine the Visa Type
- C-3-9 (Tourist Visa): For individuals traveling for leisure, sightseeing, or visiting friends and relatives in South Korea, this is the type of visa that you need. However, if you are applying as a frequent traveler or for specific purposes (business or medical), check the appropriate visa category on the Korean Embassy website for accuracy.
Prepare the Required Documents
- Visa Application Form: Downloadable from the South Korean Embassy’s official website. Fill it out completely and honestly. The visa application form is downloadable in Word or PDF form.
- Privacy Consent Form: This can be downloadable from KVAC’s website.
- Passport: Must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in Korea. It must have at least two blank pages.
- 1 passport-sized photo: 35mm x 45mm, colored, and taken within the last six months.
- A photocopy of your passport’s bio page
- Original and photocopy of valid visas or arrival stamps in OECD-member countries for the past five years. You can see the full list of OECD-member countries here.
- Bank Certificate: It must be issued within the last three months, and it must have your account type, current balance, the opening date of your account, and your average daily balance (ADB).
- Bank Statement: Make sure to provide at least three months’ worth of transactions from your statement. This can prove your financial capability to support your stay in South Korea.
- Income Tax Return (ITR): Ensure to provide a photocopy of your latest ITR.
- Certificate of Employment (COE): If you’re a regular employee, providing a certificate of employment is a must. The COE must indicate your position, tenure, and salary and should be issued within the last month.
- A cover letter: You can provide a cover letter if you need to explain something about your application.
For Business Owners
- A photocopy of your business registration from SEC or DTI
- A photocopy of your business permit or mayor’s permit
For Students/Minors
- If your trip will be sponsored by a relative, provide an affidavit and supporting documents showing your relationship.
- School ID and Certificate of Enrollment: This is proof that you are currently enrolled.
For Freelancers
- A photocopy of your business registration.
- Income Tax Return (1701)
- Photocopy of your business transactions.
- Other supporting documents that can help support your application as a freelancer.
Visa-Free Program for BDO/BPI Cardholders
Filipino BDO and BPI credit cardholders may be eligible for visa-free entry to South Korea under certain conditions. Check with your bank or Korean Visa Application Center (KVAC) website for more details on the eligibility requirements for this special program.
In my case, I work as a freelancer; thus, I had to provide other supporting documents that would help me support my application and increase the chance of getting my tourist visa approved. With that, here are the documents that I submitted to the Korean embassy.
- Visa Application Form
- Privacy Consent Form
- Passport
- 1 passport-sized photo
- Original and photocopy of valid visas or arrival stamps in OECD-member countries. I had a photocopy of my used Japan tourist visa, Japan multiple-entry visa, and New Zealand tourist visa.
- Bank Certificate
- Bank Statement
- ITR (1701)
- Certificate of Registration
- Bank transactions with my US client.
Apparently, I didn’t add any other supporting documents in my South Korean visa application and just tried to simplify it as much as possible. Actually, I tried submitting a bank statement with six months’ worth of transactions, but the staff from KVAC said that a three-month bank statement would be enough.
I remember during my previous applications (which I also did through a travel agency), I tried to submit so many documents, which I later found somehow irrelevant. Haha.
Submit Your Application
Once you’ve gathered your documents, you can submit your application to the Korean Visa Processing Center (KVAC), located in Taguig. Walk-in applicants are all accepted.
On the other hand, you may also submit your application through a travel agency (which may cost you more).
Wait for the processing.
Now this is when the waiting game starts. Typically, it takes around 10–15 working days to get the results of your visa application. You can check your application status through your travel agency (if you did) or via the Korean visa portal.
Claim Your Passport
Once your visa is approved, the agency or KVAC will notify you of passport pick-up. Make sure to check the visa’s validity and ensure all details are correct.
Other than that, you may also request the delivery of your passport.
Tips to Increase Your Chances of Approval
- Double-check that all information across your documents matches (name spellings, dates, etc.). Make sure that your declared budget matches with your itinerary. For instance, your accommodation and how long you are staying in South Korea. I believe that this is one of the most important factors that you shouldn’t miss.
- Make sure to fill out the visa application form eligibly and accurately. Provide only factual information in the form. If not applicable, you can leave out the form as it is or write N/A.
- Ensure that the documents are all printed in A4 form.
- Provide a clear passport photo-sized.
- Make sure to provide a cover letter if there’s a needed explanation in your application.
Visa Fees
- The visa application is generally free for those who are only staying for 59 days or less.
- For stays beyond 60 days, a fee of around PHP 2,000 may apply. However, accredited agencies may charge processing fees on top of this.
- Just provide PHP 900 for the KVAC visa processing fee.
Tips on How to Fill Out the Visa Application Form
- Use Arial font style, Size 12 (for sections 1 & 2), all capital letters, bold
- Make sure that all entries are properly aligned and intended to the left.
- Use Arial font style, Size 12 (applicable for the rest of the sections in the form), all capital letters, bold
- Write N/A if the information being asked is not applicable. Or you may leave it blank.
- If you’re self-employed with ITR, make sure to fill in your trade name (indicated in your BIR COR).
- If you’re self-employed without an ITR, fill in your company information. Provide a cover letter to support why you are unable to provide an ITR.
Korean Visa Application Center
The Korean Visa Application Center (KVAC) is an official service center designated by the South Korean government to handle visa applications for Filipinos. It serves as the intermediary between visa applicants and the South Korean Embassy, ensuring the efficient submission, processing, and issuance of visas. All visa applications for South Korea, including tourist visas, are submitted to the KVAC instead of the embassy. KVAC assists applicants by accepting documents, collecting fees, and facilitating the overall visa application process. In addition, the visa also provides additional services like appointment scheduling, document tracking, and passport delivery.
Things to note after submitting your application through KVAC:
- The visa processing fee costs PHP 900.
- The visa center opens at 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- The passport issuance is from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM only. For the claiming of a passport, don’t forget to bring a valid ID and the original receipt issued upon the application.
- Strictly no pullout of passports and applications.
- All payments made are non-refundable.
- If you opt for courier services, prepare Php 300 (NCR) or PHP 400 (outside NCR) for the delivery fee.
- If denied, you can reapply after three months.
KVAC Address:
9/F, Brittany Hotel, Aura Complex, 6 McKinley Pkwy, Taguig, Metro Manila
South Korean Tourist Visa Checklist
Visiting South Korea is truly a dream for me as a traveler and a K-pop fan! I can’t wait to see what the country has to offer. If you’re traveling to South Korea soon, I hope that this visa guide helps! South Korea, here I comeeeeeee!
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Hey, my name is Ara Patria—a solo female traveler who is in her quest of traveling the world. I write and learn about life through the lenses of my camera, personal experiences, and adventures. Join me as I unravel the mystery of life through exploring the wanders of the world.
