UPDATE: You might want to read this simpler entry for the REQUIREMENTS IN APPLYING FOR A TOURIST VISA (C-3) TO KOREA.
If you’re a Filipino and you want to go to Korea, the first thing that you must do is to acquire a visa… and it isn’t easy!
More than a decade ago, visas are not required for Pinoys. They can come and go as much as they wanted but things changed in 1994 when the Philippine government requested to the Korean government to require visas for Filipinos travelling to their country. That’s what I learned from watching “Magandang Gabi Bayan” three or four years ago.
Let me talk about the individual tourist visa. I had applied for a tourist visa almost three years ago but I was turned down for some reason. I wasn’t disheartened but my hubby (then fiance) was… I remember reading an article where DOLE secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said that it’s harder to get a Korean tourist visa than to get a US visa. It’s probably true…
Unlike a US visa application, there is no interview conducted when applying for a Korean tourist visa. They also don’t require additional documents like land titles or car registration, and the likes. What you will need to provide them are… (1) bank certificate stating your savings, (2) certificate of employment showing your salary and position, (3) latest ITR (income tax return), (4) your passport and a copy, plus the (5) visa application form and (6) 2×2 pictures and if you have been invited, (7) a notarized invitation letter.
You have to go to the embassy really early! They open at 9AM but you have to line up outside before they let you in. Where do you have to go? The Korean Embassy is located at Pacific Star Building at the corners of Gil Puyat Ave. and Makati Ave. Right in front of a gas station, you can’t miss it!
When I applied for my tourist visa, I was there as early as 7AM and the line was already long… After arriving at the place, just follow the queue outside. At around 10 minutes before 9AM, the guard will let people in. You have to get a Visitor’s Pass by providing an ID. It doesn’t have to be a fancy ID, the one issued by the postal office will do. You’ll have to ride the elevator and get off on the 18th floor. There will be another line before entering the main office. The guard (who’s really friendly and nice) will ask you if it’s your first time to apply for a visa (in general) or not. If it is then he will give you a number for Window 3. If not, then you’ll be provided a number for Window 4. You’ll have to sit down and wait until it is your turn. The Korean lady on Window 3 is Ms. Park Ok (at least, the last time I was there)…
When your number is shown on the LCD display, you’ll have to go to Window 3 and present your documents. Like I told you, there’s no need for an interview. If your documents are complete, she’ll staple them and give you a claim stub for your passport. If you have submitted an incomplete set of documents, she’ll ask you to come back and complete your documents. If you’re planning to stay in Korea for more than 59 days, you’ll have to pay 1,500 pesos as visa fee. A stay of less than 59 days is free. Paying doesn’t guarantee an approval.
Application usually ends at 12PM. If your number is not called at that time, you’ll have to come back another day and fall in line, and get another number! Hehe…
Waiting time is usually 7 days. To claim your passport, you’ll have to come in the afternoon of the designated date in your claim stub. Again, you’ll have to queue outside and wait for the embassy to open. I really hate waiting because it makes me all nervous and excited!
If you get a visa, congratulations! If not, then try again later… after 6 months!
My mother applied for a tourist visa two weeks ago and got hers last Tuesday. She’s been here last year for our wedding and it just took her three days to get her visa. We sent her a notarized invitation last year but not for this year. She has a US resident visa so that probably helped her. Anyway, she’s planning to come here on the 7th of August via Asiana Airlines (whose unionized pilots are currently on strike) from the Clark International Airport. The airport is a 15-minute drive from our residence in Angeles City (we live about 200 meters from the gates of Clark).
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hello po!! kukuha po ako ng visa, invite po ako ng sis ko, problem ko po, magkaiba po un spelling ng surname nmin!! 2 letters po un nagkapalit samin!! nde n po b ma question un sa embassy? sana po masagot nio to!!! salamat po and more power!!!
hello there, your info.really helped me a lot. Thank You. But I just want to clear this out. Do I need to have my own bank statement even if I have a sponsor in Korea? My Korean friend is here in manila. and we are planning to go there on July 2.I’m planning to stay there for 59 days. Is it possible for me to go there? Hope to here from you. Thank you.
hello there,
my mom and i are planning to go to Korea this September. I will apply for a tourist visa for sure. i would just like to ask what papers or supporting papers should i present when i apply for visa. thanks and kind regards.
Hello,
Your info was really helpful to a lot of people. I am also planning to go to Korea but doesn’t know about invitation letter so if you don’t mind I just like to ask a sample from you and with regards to bank statement is there a certain amount for that? Hope you can help me out asap..^^
Hello,
Hi i will apply tourist visa,i would just like to ask what papers should i present when i apply for visa… Because my boy friend has a korean and i have a baby from him… He want i visit there in korea… please give me some idea what should i do.. thank u…
To the Experts,
Good day! I received an invitation from Korean Nationals. The purpose of invitation is Religious gathering. My husband is working in Korea right now with E-9-3. My question is, will my husbands status affect my application or would be better if this will remain secret. Thank you so much and hope you can advise me about my problem.
hi!
I’m just planning to go to korea this oct..
just asking for what documents i need to prepare and with regards to bank statement, same question with cathy is there’s a certain amount? How much do i need. Thank you so much hope to hear from you soon.
hello. i have a Korean boyfriend and he wants me to come and visit him in Korea even for just under a month. I read from another website that if I stay in Korea for 30 days or less, I don’t need to get a Visa. Is that true? I also would like to know the specific amount needed in the bank statement that we have to pass to the Embassy.
please answer my questions. thank you
Korean embassy has been moved to The Fort. I dont know where exactly. The personnel in Pacific Star building was the one who informed me. Would you know where exactly is their buidling there?
hi!!
is it true ba na i dont need to apply for a korean visa if my plan is only 25 days lng nmn??? then going back here na rin s pinas kami’ng dalawa ( me & my norwegian fiancee nka-base s korea kc work nya )….ive been in SK last year ..stayed for 6 mos. i had working visa there before, but then umuwi nko And now i know its hard to please these korean jan s embassy kc para’ng my topak sila ,kahit valid lhat ang papers mo,,pag type nila i-reject ka- kawawa ka… .so im asking if its true kung 25 days lng ang plan ko n mg stay dun ,,no need n kumuha pko ng visa? please reply nmn poh oh,, dying for this info ( hehe ) thanks and more power!!
hi jin! it’s not true… kailangan mo pa rin kumuha ng visa… kahit 3 days lang eh kailangan kung philippine passport holder ka
hello,
Good day! I just wanna ask some information about Korea visa. My fiance is an army based in Korea he is an American National, and he want me to go there this coming Dec. What type of visa do i need to get tourist or a marriage visa para maka stay ako longer, pwede po ba longer than 3 months?
Hope to hear from you. Thanks! God bless…
hi jc! since walang fiance visa sa korea… ang kukunin mong visa ay tourist visa at pinakamatagal na ang 3 months… after that, uwi ka ng pinas at apply ka uli ng visa… hindi nagbibigay ang korea ng tourist visa sa mga filipino (at iba pang nationals) na mas mahaba sa tatlong buwan
hi betchay! thank you so much this site is very informative…naka limutan ko nga pala itanong, required po ba mag aral ng Korean Language sa mga tourist?
If you and your bf are planning on getting married, the best plan for you two is…….have him fly there, get married. Have him bring your passports back with him. He can take the marriage certificate with him to the military base along with your passport. The base will stamp the passport with a sofa stamp visa, which will allow you to come to korea as a american military dependant, even though you have a philippines passport. That is the simplest way, and very easy….seen it done many times. hope that helps…….
hi! just want to ask if it’s possible for me to get a visa even if im not working? how much ba required nila sa bank statement? im planning to visit s. korea for leisure mga 1-2 weeks lang siguro but im thinking kung ok lng ba wala work kasi wala ako ma provide na ITR.. thanks in adv..
hi mis betchay,were aplying tourist visa by sept coz my passport release pa by end of aug.ok kyang mag pa visa this sept wla kyang hassle sa pag kuha ng visa ngyn …i read some comments na strick dw cla ngyn…hoping ma sagot po ung question ko..thanks po GODBLESS
Gud am. Is it possible for me to get an korean visa application form through the net? Meron po bang site na pwede idownload lang ung form? Thanks.
guys! mahirap kumuha ng visa ngayon mahgpit ang korea, dahl sa gaganapin na G-20 summit. goodluck nlng guys!
As an American living in korea am I able to Sponsor my Philipino friend on a tourist visa?
good evening i have question what i need to get some tourist visa go ako ng korea how long it takes.regards
Ilang days or weeks po ba valid ung documents for visa application such as bank cert and cert of employment from the date of its issuance para maisubmit sa embassy? Mine is 3 weeks na po and hindi ko pa po nasusubmit. ok lang po ba? thanks
hello…i want to apply tourist visa in korea for 1 week..? i had a problem it is ok even though i work there before but i did not finish my contract visa because of majors problem and i back home (philippines). last 2 monts ago it is ok if i apply now as a tourist visa though i encountered problems before and i did not finish my working contract visa? i really want to go to korea because my boyfriend want me to stay there for only one week? thanks.. god bless more power hoping for your response
good day!!!kapag naapprove na ang visa, pwede bang ipakuha sa ibang tao ang visa, basta’t may proxy letter lang or authrization letter? thanks
hi there!
what if i don’t have a certificate of employment?
do i need visa for 6 days tour in Korea?
hello po, just wanna ask about empolyment certificates and bank accounts since i am an overseas worker and on a six months vacation, i dont have an employment certificate but i do hav a contract, i have been invited by my american fiance who is now based in korea can i stiill apply for a visa if i dont have these papers? thank you so much for all the informations you are giving it helps a lot. more power.
hi pls answer my qustion pls.. im planning to go to korea for only 1 month, mgkano po b ang bank cert n kelngan? wla kc akong savings sa bank pano po un..hat will i do
Good afternoon, Miss Betchay, ask ko lang about sa visit visa, plan ko kasi pumuntang korea this december to visit my korean friend, mga 1 month or 50 days stay. ano pa ba magandang ilagay sa application, nakasulat kasi “who will pay the trip?” Sa akin po ba, sa kanya or both? . I would like also to know the specific amount needed in the bank statement that we have to pass to the Embassy. Thank you and God Bless :]
im planning to visit my relatives in korea for a family reunion. I just would like to ask if is it okey to apply for a visa even if can’t present an ITR and employment certificate? Is it possible to still apply for it? hope to hear from you.. thank you very much and GOD bless!!!
How much money do I have to maintain in my account for me to have my tourist visa?
Hi Ms. Betchay..,
Good morning po! My aunt is inviting me to Korea, Unfortunately I dont have an ITR and Employment certificate to present. Can I still apply for a visa even if i don’t have those two requirements stated above.
Hope to hear from you soon!!
Thank you very much and GOD Bless!!!
Hello,pls.give me some information about regarding this matter.Im getting married with my korean fiancee this year,ang problema my mom wont allow it us to get married as long as di ko pa nachecheck kung magugustuhan ko ang korea at kung mabait ba ang mga magiging in laws ko.Now,my korean fiancee is asking me what papers does he need to bring in korean embassy for me to be able to get a korean tourist visa just for 25 days.Please help me asap,he will be here at the end of this month.I dont have have this ITR and Certificate of Employment.Thnx!!
Hello,
we have concern regarding our application nag sbmit naman kami ng complete requirement with ITR and invitation from korea how come hindi nila kami binigyan ng VISA is it possible to go back sa kanila and explain that we have an EVENT to attend with Company Invitation from Korea.Please send me some point of understanding about there sysytem or we still have chance? Thank you really appreciate you reply.
Did you submit the invitation from the company when you applied for the visa? Ganun talaga, minsan hindi natin maintindihan kung bakit hindi nagbibigay ng visa. Ako rin eh hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi nila ako binigyan ng visa noon.
Hi Ms Betchay, great to know that you are also from Pampanga!
I’m from here too! 
Des´s last blog ..♥Preschoolville-where remarkable passion for learning begins ♥
hello…
ung pinsan ko po nakapag asawa ng korean tpos po invite nya ung tatay nya pra mag tour….ngaun nman po ung kapatid nya ksama ung asawa nung kpatid nya……magkamukha lng po ba ng requirments un? gnun po ba ung requirments khit couple po sila punta dun? same din po ba ung invitation?
hi marivic! oo pareho din ang requirements… kung ang yun pinsan mo ang magso-shoulder ng expenses eh kailangan din niya i-submit bank certificate niya na kaya niyang suportahan mag-tour yung kapatid niya
hi, i just want to ask, i am student, and my wife work in SK as EPS worker, I want to visit my wife with my child (elementary student), but the embassy said (through phone call) that visiting by any family members is restricted and they wont give the c3 visa.
I have red the Rules and regulation on EPS worker stating that: Foreign Worker can work in SK for 3 years but accompanying their family is restricted. WE will not stay, we just want a tour, accompanying is different from visiting or touring.
I have a Korean friend and he is willing to help me, to issue an invitation letter and stay to her house for the period of our vacation. I have all the requirements needed: bank cert., registration from the school,(the 2 most important according to the embassy because i am student, but i am a freelancer, tutorial, computer repair so I earned money by myself).
We just want to tour the beautiful country of Korea, and this is for my child exposure.
is it possible that they will issue me a c3 visa? I don’t want to lie about my wife’s work in SK. Is there any interview or i just submit my complete documents so they wont ask me. 15 days of touring is enough for us.
Hope you could give me advise.. It really matters to me,,,
send me your advise trough my email..
thank you very much
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