People, specially Filipinos, have been asking me how to get a tourist visa so they could visit Korea. Unfortunately, the Philippines doesn’t have a visa-waiver agreement with Korea (we used to have before 1994). Is it possible to enter and visit Korea without a visa? It is.
From Korea’s government website:
Frequent Visitors
- Applicable to all countries (save for China, Cuba, and Macedonia) that are not granted visa-free entry into Korea.
- Applicable to those who made more than 4 visits to Korea in the past two years, or more than 10 visits overall may enter Korea without a Korean visa as long as they have no Immigration offence or other criminal records.Tourists bound for another country.
- Applicable to those with a visa or a re-entry permit for US, Japan, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand (5 countries) and traveling to any one of those countries through Korea.
- Those traveling from any one of the five countries mentioned above, whose final destination is not Korea.
- Must have a confirmed onward flight ticket for departure within 30 days after entering Korea, in addition to having no record or criminal offence in the five countries mentioned above.Special entry arrangements for Jeju Island
- Eligible foreigners: nationals of all countries not allowed visa-free entry into Korea (except for Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Cuba, Syria, Macedonia, Palestine, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Ghana) that enters via Jeju airport for tourism or transit.
- Duration of stay: up to 30 days
- Permitted area/range: Jeju Island
- Conditions of entry: those that arrive directly into Jeju island by flights or shipsRe-entry permit holders
- Registered foreigners with re-entry permit that enters Korea within the given re-entry date are allowed to enter without a visa.APEC Business Travel Card
- Eligible countries: Australia, France, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Singapore, Papua New Guinea.
- Eligibility: APEC Business Travel Card holders are given Short Term Business (C-2) visa status, and are allowed to stay for up to 90 days.
One of my friends’ aunt (Pinay) has visited Korea as a tourist four times within two years. When she applied for a tourist visa again for the fifth time, she didn’t receive a visa on her passport but a stamped “Documents Accepted” (which usually means “Denied”). Her niece (my friend) called up the Korean Embassy in the Philippines and asked why she had been “denied.” She was told that her aunt doesn’t need a tourist (C-3) visa anymore to travel to Korea. They were skeptical at first but she booked a ticket anyway. She traveled to Korea a month later and told the Immigration office at Incheon Airport that she’s been to Korea four times and was allowed entry. On her second visa-free entry, she was asked to show her return ticket. She has one and was allowed entry again without a visa.
My mother is a Philippine passport holder and a US resident. I wanted her to visit us before she travel back to the US. I asked the Immigration office yesterday if it’s possible for her to travel without a visa under her circumstance. After several pauses and “wait a minute”s, I was told that she could come to Korea without a visa as long as her outbound ticket is for the US and she could stay up to 30 days.
For Pinoys who would like to visit Jeju Island, one travel agency I know that offers this tour is Horizon Travel (nope, I’m not connected in anyway and they don’t know that I’m posting this). You may visit their website or send an email at horizontravel@gmail.com
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to helena,
how’s your papers? nkapagfile kn b sa embassy? im really scared and nervous..di pa ko nkakapunta sa embassy pero kinakabahan na ko, what more kung andun na ung application ko and then mghihintay pa ng one week! OMG! one week akong tuliro at kabado..
how can I avail of a korean visa? I want to see bigbang and wonder girls in concert.. is that enough reason for the embassy to give me a visa? that’s all I want from your country.. If I wont be able to get a visa for korea, then I have no choice but watch them in thailand… what should I do?? thank you very much…
hi everyone…my concern s..want kind of visa application do i need if i just want to visit my students n korea..a month of two would do…pls email me soon.its lil_misbiatch@hotmail.com…hope to hear it from u all.thanks!!
hi shem! you need to apply for the C3 or tourist visa… you’ll need to provide your
- bank certificate
- employment certificate
- passport
- invitation letter (optional)
- latest ITR
- visa application
hello po. magtatanong lang po ako tungkol dito.
- Those traveling from any one of the five countries mentioned above, whose final destination is not Korea.
Kasi po, manggagaling po ako sa Pilipinas papunta po ng Japan (tourist visa). Kunwari po guto ko pong pumunta ng Seoul sa loob lang po ng ilang araw (3-5 days po kunwari). Tapos po balik Pilipinas na. Bale po Philippines>Japan>S.Korea>Philippines
Ibig po bang sabihin di ko na po kailangan ng visa papuntang South Korea galing Japan?
At tsaka po, paano po kung walang invitation letter, possible po bang makakuha ng visa?
Salamat po ng marami
Hello!
I have been searching for an answer to my query about Transit Visa to Korea to several websites and only in your blog that I got it finally.
We are going to U.S. this April via Korean Air that has stopover in Incheon. It would be so exciting to at least have a short transit visit in Korea since this would be our first time. We thought first that we must have a Korean Visa before we can sneak through Korea since our Travel Agent can not confirm it as well. I made a call directly to Korean Embassy in Manila about it and I got an answer just exactly what you wrote in here. But, the only thing that made me still doubtful since I have talked to a Korean Lady that her English was not that good and clear. But now I am completely confident for your answer.
I just want to ask from you what are the best places to visit Korea for only two days? We are thinking about Lotte World because we have our son with us. By the way, what budget hotel that you can recommend that is at least within the reach of Seoul Shopping Centers? Is New Boon Lin Hotel good? Please do let me know your suggestions.
Hope to hear from you soon.. April 15-17 by the way our sked.
Thank you.
Best Regards,
Mike
Davao, Philippines
gud pm
I want to obtain a tourist visa so that I could visit my husband. I have problem with him we are newly married and yet he is so cold to me thats why duda me my couple sya dun, ang sad pa dun he didnt give me allow as his wife dahil daw my work naman me. How could I enter there and get a tourus visa…
hello po, i was granted C3 visa last oct-dec 2008, tas ngayon pong march nag apply ulit aq kaso denied n aq.. so, pangalwa q lng p ito, unlike your friend’s aunt n pa 4times n niya..ang question q p ay pd q din kaya gawin yung ginawa ng aunt niya n bibili n lng aq ng tiket? sana p masagot nio question q kc i will assist my friend n ooperahan doon ngayong april( xa po ang nag invite s akin)
hi samantha… 4x within 2 years dapat na nakapag-travel ka sa korea before ka pwedeng pumasok ng wala ng visa…
tnx for the reply… eto p po question q, pano p kaya kung from philippines-vietnam-korea-vietnam p kya gawin q, mkapunta p kaya aq s korea without visa? salamat po ulit.
hi ms. betchay!possible ba na makapagapply ulit ng visa kahit ala pa 6mos?
Hindi possible kasi six months talaga ang sinusunod nila at may nakatatak na date sa passport kung kailan ka nag-apply. Yung kaso ko naman kasi, na-deny ako ng May tapos nag-decide nga hubby ko na magpakasal na sa Pinas, so nag-apply ako uli ng visa (F-2-1) noong late June after namin magpakasal.
miss Betchay,
so ok lang pala na apply aku ng dependent visa kasi hubby ku US army na naka base sa korea. na deny aku ng tourist visa noong May. so dapat November pa ulit aku makaka apply ng tourist visa. so ok lang pala na mag apply aku sa korean embassy with his supporting documents in July? kasi uuwi xa dito kasama ng visa issuance number at sasamahan nya akong mag aaply sa korean embassy. wala bang denied visa kung dependent?
ann, natry m n b magpunta -philjapan-korea…gusto q din sana maapunta ulit ng korea. il try din kung nagawa m… pls reply. tnx
ay hindi pa po. hindi ko po kasi alam kung pwede ng walang visa yung ganun. gusto ko po sanang malaman din. i’ll be leaving na po kasi papuntang japan before the end of the month. pasensya na po.
hello po.ask ko lang po sna if i can still use my tourist visa.nakuha ko po ang visa ko ng jan.19,2009 and mapapaso po ito ng apr.19,2009..ngyon apr.15 palang ako nkpagpabook ng tiket para makatravel ng korea..ndi po ba ako maquequestion ng immigration kung bkit ngyon ko lang ilalabas ang visa ko?
hello po! ano po b difference ng b2 visa sa c3 visa… b2 visa po kc ung nirequest ng naginvite skin pra makapunta sa korea. she is a us citezen and a us army base in korea… sna po msagot nyo un question ko… salamat po!
tanong ko lang po kc gusto ko po sana mamasyal sa korea kya lang wla me visa. pano po kaya ako makapunta dun ang passport ko po ay Philippine Passport at may asawa po akong japanese dito po ako manggagaling sa japan papuntang korea at japan din po ang balik ko. pwede po ba akong makapunta dun ng wlang visa at wlang invitation?
hi ezzy! pwede ka na pumunta dito kahit walang visa… basta may round-trip ticket ka at re-entry permit from japan
betchay, nabasa ko yung comment mo ke ezzy, parang pareho kasi kami. phil passport holder ako, pero ako naman manggaling ng australia, permanent resident ako dito, pero daan ako korea, tapos punta pinas, balik korea para mamamasyal tapos balik na ng australia dahil me work ako dito. kailangan ko pa ba ng visa para lang makapamasyal sa korea, one week lang sana ang gusto ko itagal sa korea, kasi korean bf ko at gusto lang ako mameet ng family niya. please help po… tuliro na ko kakaisip. me ticket na din ako, naisip ko na nga din sana na magapply na lang ng visa kasi kumpleto namn ako ng requirements, kaya lang kapos na sa oras dahil next week na ang lipad ko. di ko rin alam gaano katagal abutin kung magapply ako dito sa australia ng visa, please reply naman yung me alam diyan. salamat
hello po…i know it is not advisable to purchase ticket b4 applying a visa..but when i read the promo about the airtickets going to incheon, (u have to book from april 16-23 and can be used from jun-sept, kc po sept p aq pd mag apply ng visa, nadenied p kc aq nung march)i grabbed the opportunity..sobrang mura kc..
ngayon p ay nag iisip naman aq ng mga possible reasons kung bakit nadenied yung visa q (para p maiwasan q n next tym i’ll apply) . pd p b makakuha ng tips from u para maiwasan yon?? or meron b kayong alam n agency n nagpaproces ng denied visa?? tnx po…
hi clarrise! it’s not really advisable to purchase plane tickets in advanced… kasi pag na-deny ka uli eh sayang naman kung hindi mo ma-refund di ba?
possible reason kung bakit ka na-deny? depende talaga sa mga documents na ni-submit mo… kung may stable job ka na maganda sweldo or may business ka, mas malaki siguro chance mo to get a visa
kung mejo confidential p , pd nio aq email cjvillanoza@yahoo.com..
i emailed horizon travel, ndi n daw po allowed ngayon to go directly to jeju island, dadaan n din daw po ng airport, sayang naman….
Hi Betchay~ I just need to know how much show money will do for me to get a Korea tourist visa?
I am planning to go there by bext year~~
But I need to process papers now~~
Thanks in advance~^^
People have been asking show money and I really don’t have the answer for that. When I applied for a tourist visa I had more than 150,000 pesos in my bank account but I still got denied. I know someone who had 80,000 pesos and got a visa. So it could be that your job would weigh more than the money in your bank.
Thanks Betchay~^^
I just wanna know if miss_december told you the name or contact of the agency she mentioned in her post?
I’m kinda dying to go to Korea but I’m afraid of the expenses and hassle. TT.TT
Thanks in advance~^^
Tines last blog post..To the Numbest Person…
Hi,Ms. Betchay! I have been to Korea for 2 years with an exchange student visa and I am planning to visit again with a tourist visa to see my British fiance working there. However, since I am planning to stay for a month, I would be resigning from my present job. Now I am just a bit worried that I would not be granted a visa reading about your comment that it is the job that weighs more than the show money.
Any comments or tip for this situation? Thanks a lot.
Hi,
Just want to ask if do I need a visa for Korea if I will only stay for a day. I will be going to Canada via Korea. The overlay time for Korean Airlines going to Toronto is 15 hrs. I don’t want to sit in the airport for 15 long hours. Instead it would be nice to stay in a hotel and get a day tour around Seoul or whatever city Incheon airport is. I don’t want to line up for a visa when I will only be staying for a day in Korea. Thank you.
Hi Gladys! You don’t need a visa. My mother had a 12-hour layover here in November of last year on her way to LAX. We brought her to the filming location of “Full House” and “Sad Sonata”
hi betchay
i want apply for tourist visa, but am still a student here and my parents are working in outside the country. but i don’t know what documents are required.i would like to pls ask help from you if you have any information concerning my case.
thanks
hi ms. betchay.. ask ko lang sana, am going to Australia next month as a tourist. From Philippines, am planning to visit Korea for 5 days then at ska ako pupunta sa Australia. do i need visa pa? hope to hear from you. thanks
ask ko lang po kung need ko ng tour visa papunta korea?kc doon kami magmeet ng BF ko,galing california USA po cya tapos gusto nya sa korea kami meet kc punta cya korea for teaching..salamat po..
Hello! Can anyone comfirm the following for me? First off, I am living and working on Jeju Island (American). In August I want to have my Filipino friend come visit me here (only Jeju! We don’t plan to visit anywhere else in Korea! This is my home, and it’s already the best place in Korea anyway!). Can my friend fly here (via Philippines ~ Taiwan ~ Jeju, or Philippines ~ Japan ~ Jeju, and not need a visa???). This is supposed to be a “no visa zone”, but still, I am finding it hard to get straight answers. Again, my Filipino friend does not plan to leave this island – we just want to hang out here for a few weeks… Fly into Jeju, fly out of Jeju – can Filipinos do this without having to go through the headache of getting a Korean visa??? I very sincerely appreciate your responses!!!
hi po.. please answer my question.. what if im a fresh graduate.. wla pa kong job.. wla itr and employment.. i will just visit korea for 10-14 days.. will they give me a tourist visa?
hola soy peruano y resido en peru estoy proximo a viajar a corea- seul por turismo me pediran visa para entrar a corea o que requisitos mas me podrian pedir ya que voy por 1 mes y cuanto es el minimo de estadia por dia si podrian darme mas informacion al respecto muchas gracias
Shem..
Hi Shem, may I know the status of your visa application? Please please….. What are the things/steps that you did.. My student is also inviting me to visit him but I don’t know exactly what to do to acquire a visa. Hope to hear form you..tnxx
i haven’t been in korea.. i’m planning to go to Korea. do i have to get visa? i will stay there not more than 30 days.
please email me.. thanks
pa2long naman po magtanong ako sna f ano ang best reason para ma invite ko ang sis ko pls po reply nyo ako w8 q..thanks in advance…
pwede rin na gusto mong mag-tour ang ate mo rito… or kung preggy ka eh tutulungan ka niya…
pwede na po ba ang reason na gusto lang papuntahin ang sis ko kc miss ko na family ko kahit isa lang ate ko invite ko pwede na po bang reason yun para sab visa nya…
Hello, ms. Betchay. Yesterday, i called the embassy to confirm about about the free visa entry on my fifth visit to korea but i was given a different info. The filipino guy who answered the phone told me that i still need a visa on my fifth visit. He said that he thinks after my fifth visa, i will be granted free visa entry on my next visit. I think he also isn’t sure. Should i just ignore my call and do what your friend’s aunt did?
Thanking u in advance…
hi! just wanna ask if you can apply for a visa thru a representative? tnx
yes… as long as you have the complete documents
hello ms. betchay.
i heared people who succesfully got their visa but wasn’t able to enter korea beacause the emmigration in korea didn’t allow them.they call it A to A (airport to airport).How come this happend?Do you have any idea kung bkit ganon?
thanks
Hi! Ms betchay.
I am a Filipino citizen working & living here in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. I am holding a residence vis here in Abu Dhabi.
I am having a tourist visa going to Canada. I have plans na uwi muna ng Pinas then stop over sa Korea before proceding to Canada. Most likely ang ticket ko wud be – Abu Dhabi – Manila-Korea-Abu Dhabi – Toronto, Canada.
Do I need to apply for a vis or I can enter Korea even without having a Korean visa at hand. I just wanteed to visit my friends who is working at the US military base in SOuth Korea.
Many thanks for your advice.
hi ms. betchay
tanong ko lang po..katatapos ko lang po mga graduate and wala pa po work mag file sana ako ng tourist visa…a korean frien of mine promised me to help…kaso aside from invitation we ont know what else pa are the requiremnts…\
pwede po matanong wht else pa kailangan?
hi~~ms.betchay, i just want to ask on how to get korean visa..kasi my student wants me to go there..travel lang pi..by next year.How about po iyong show money>?is it ok to use other account?or sa akin talaga ?..
how about din po sa invitation?it it ok if through e mail lang then i have to print it.
Thanks po..ok lang po if sa e mail po kayo mag reply
hi! our family was planning to tour in korea. tpos sbi na important ang employment background. kc both of my parents are unemployed and i have a brother na student pa. do you think po ba, mhihirapan kming magpa-approve ng visa?
hi rhea! depende rin naman sa circumstance ninyo, like my mom is unemployed and yet she got a visa to visit here… pwede naman pensyonado parents mo di ba? or nakapag-travel na sa ibang bansa or may sapat na pera naman kayo para mag-travel or super rich kayo… basta importante is mapatunayan na pag-tour lang talaga ang intensyon ninyo…
hi po ms.betchay pa help naman po im plannning to go in korea.. in jeju island my visa poba papunta dn? im only 22 y.o no job i just want to go there to visit.. if theres a visa is it possible 4me to go there? hope to hear from u soon..
hi po,
am working in hongkong as dh,malapit na matapos kontrata ko,pwede bakong mag tourist dian sa korea bago umwi ng pinas! magagrant kaya ako ng tourist visa ftapos na un contrata ko dito.
thanks and panu if i want to work dian?pwede ba un under ngtourist visa tapos hahhanap ng work dian?
salamat po.
hi jean! pag tourist visa ka and naghanap ka ng work, kailangan mong umuwi ng pinas to apply for a working visa… kung hindi, illegal worker ka
as for kung maga-grant ka ng tourist visa, hindi ko alam…
hello betchay..saw all ur comments and reply for some people who questions about getting their visa…
i hope you can help me also…
me and my friends wants to visit korea this coming feb…
were wondering if we can get our visa even we don’t complete the requirements ‘coz.. she’s not currently working but she can afford to travel…like me im not currently working also but i started a business for almost a year now but i haven’t applied for business permit yet…
we had tour Hongkong and singapore already is it possible that they can give us a visa?… thank you hope you can send ur reply soon thanks..God bless
Hi rhose, as far as I know the Embassy doesn’t accept incomplete documents but they also have exceptions. The best thing for you to know is to go there and submit whatever documents you have. If they don’t accept your application then you really must complete their requirements. We don’t need visas to Hongkong and Singapore so they don’t usually count.
hi betchay,gusto namin pumunta dyan sa korea for 5 days lang,3 kmi ng mga friends, ko sa bahay ng friend ko rin kmi tutuloy sa seoul na may asawang us navy,kaylangan pb ng invitation nila at meron bang group visa o individual ang bigay ng visa nila?d ba mas my chance na bigyan nila ang group?nagtravel na rin kmi sa ibang bansa,thank you…
Frequent Visitors
- Applicable to those who made more than 4 visits to Korea in the past two years, or more than 10 visits overall may enter Korea without a Korean visa as long as they have no Immigration offence or other criminal records
Is this applicable to OFW’s who used to come and go here in Korea because they used to work here?
I have obtained a D-9 Korean visa, I have a ticket from manila to korea, do I have to go to POEA for exit?
just wanna ask, im a Filipino and permanent resident here in Australia, i bought a 2way ticket from Melbourne to Korea, Korean kasi bf ko and gusto niya ko ipakilala sa family niya.ang prob is, naka-book na ko, ngayon ko lang nalaman na kailangan pa pala ng visa.14 days lang ako kasi me work ako dito sa Australia.Actually 7 days lang kasi ang gawin ko lang pagdating ko ng Korea ng umaga, gabi me flight na ko, papunta ng pinas, 1week ako stay sa pinas. Tapos balik Korea for 1 week then balik na Australia. So From Australia to Korea, then Korea to Phils, then Phils to Korea and Korea to Australia.Ang gulo di ba? heheh! Kailangan ko pa ba ng visa kung ganito ang gawin ko.Balak ko lang din naman magtour sana dun. Ngayon, stressed na ko kasi next week na yung flight ko, nung binili naman namin yung ticket dito sa Australia sa Korean travel agency di naman nila sinabi na kailangan ko pa ng visa, eng eng din yung bf ko, di rin niya alam, Patulong naman. please. salamat. di ko na alam ano gawin ko. sayang naman kasi, gusto ko din talaga mag-tour sa Korea.
hi, im a nurse here in the phil. tanung ko lng po kasi ng apply ako ng tourist visa to korea. ng pass ako ng requirements like bank account na maliit lang yung savings ko, certificate of employment stating ng current salary ko na nasa 12k lng, passport, pictures, invitation letter from my korean bf and his passport. both are just printed out lang po. my only purpose is to meet his parents lang nman kaso yung invitation letter na ginawa ng boyofriend ko nilagay niya na tutor niya ako dati dito sa philippines pero yung work ko naman ngayon e about sa medical. my possibility ba na madeny application ko sa visa? thx
ano ang the best reason para ma-approved yung visa sa s.korea gusto ko lang mag-tourist? pwede po ba wala appearance? mahirap po ba mag-apply ng visa sa s.korea?
hi peachy! pwede walang personal appearance… para makakuha ka ng visa, dapat magpakatotoo
i mean kung gusto mo lang mag-tour then lagay mo yun sa reason kung bakit gusto mo magpunta ng korea… mahirap mag-apply ng visa kasi kailangan mo patunayan ang intention mo sa pagpunta sa korea
hi MS. Betch,
Dati po nagwork ako sa korea as entertainer for like 3 years balik lang ako sa korea pinas korea, tapos po nag change ako ng status. Naging F2-1 ako(married sa koreana). Ayun tapos na divorce ako di ko na pinag laban, anyway po tapos umuwi ako sa pinas after divorce. Ngayon almost 1 year na ako sa pinas. work na ako ulit pero di na ako kanta, sa office na ako work. Gusto ko mag tour sa korea kahit 10 days lang tapos may friend ako na mag bibigay sakin ng invitation. Mabigyan kaya ako ng tourist visa? What do you think po? Thank you.
Hello Ms. Betchay,
Will I be qualified na makapunta ng korea ng walang visa? meron akong re-entry visa for Canada and work permit…balak ko sanang mag stop-over ng korea on my way back to Canada for 5 days….papayagan kaya ako sa immigration ng korea? thank you po.
iniinvite po ako ng friend ko n pumunta ng korea..gusto lang naman niya ipakita sakin kung ganu kaganda ang korea. pero di naman siya makabigay ng invitation letter dahil d daw ganun kadali kumuha ng invitation letter,, so panu kaya ako maka visit ng korea kung ganun? ibig bang sabihin wala ng pag asang makapunta ako ng korea?
I didn’t provide an invitation letter but was approved a visa just this month. Merong pag-asa.
hi everyone..i want to go SK on jan.15 for a 5days tour…..sana approve,ill be sending my docs to embassy nxt week..Bless everyone sana approve visa natin lahat..hehehe:)
Hello po, iniinvite po ako ng student ko sa korea this winter. padadalhan po nya ako ng invitation letter, pero she was asking me kung ano ang isusulat nya. nakapagwork po ako last 2005 as a sales clerk, I wonder if meron akong ITR. may business po ako pero wala pa po akong business permit. kasi sinubukan ko lang po muna kung magki click. Ma’am, I’m afraid na wala po akong ITR. Kailangan ko din po bang magdeposit ng malaking saving sa isang account ko, kasi pero iba-iba po yung gamit kung account. kaya po hindi ganon kalaki yung sa isang account ko. I can’t provide Employment Certificate and ITR. Ano po bang pwede kong gawin.
Please reply po Ma’am Betchay. God bless po
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