Getting a tourist visa to Korea for Pinoys

by Betchay on April 15, 2008









I still get emails about this. I guess the previous one is too tedious for people to read. HiKorea Portal site has a list of required documents, for those who’d like to visit Korea for a short time, depending on their purpose. I’ve also listed the basic requirements if you would just like to tour Korea. The short-term or C-3 visa is given for the purpose of tourism, transit, visiting relative, conference, religious ceremony.

Applications if of course done at the Korean Embassy in the Philippines located at the Pacific Star Building in Makati and Buendia Avenues. AFAIK, they only accept visa applications in the morning. They return the passports in the afternoon. The visa processing takes about a week. “Documents received” on your passport means you have been denied. If you were, you might need to wait for six months before you could apply again. The C-3 or short term visa is free for up to 59 days of stay. A Philippine passport holder can only get a tourist visa for up to 90 days (for a fee).

If you are a spouse of an English teacher or a professional Filipino worker, you could apply for the dependent or F-3 visa.

Here is the list of requirements for the tourist visa:

VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR BUSINESSMAN (as posted by visitor Joshua on May 12, 2008)
-Application form (typewritten)
-One passport size colored picture
-Old and new passport
-Passport (Original and photocopy of first page)
-(Must be at least 6 months valid)
-Business Registration Permit for SEC or DTI (photocopy)
-Business Permit or Mayor’s Permit(photocopy)
-PERSONAL Bank Certificate (original)
-Individual Income Tax Return – ITR (photocopy)
-If invited to Korea: Original Invitation Letter notarized in Korea & photocopy of the Invitor’s Passport (first page only)

VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYEE

1. Application form (typewritten)
2. One passport size colored picture
3. Passport Original (Old and New)
4. Passport photocopy of First Page (6 months valid)
5. Copy of U.S., New Zealand, Japan, Australia, Korea, and Canada Visa (if there is)
6. Employement Certificate (Original)
7. Personal Bank Certificate(Original)
8. ITR (Income Tax Return) (photocopy)

* If Personally invited to Korea: Original Invitation Letter in Korea & photocopy of the Invitor’s Passport

* If invited by Company to Korea: Original Invitation Letter in Korea & photocopy of the Korean Company Business Permit

Document requirements according to the status

Overseas Koreans over 60 years old
- Documents that prove that they are overseas Koreans, as well as those that prove their age(a copy of family register, a certificate of incumbency, household register, identity verification document)

Minors whose either biological parent is Korean national with domestic address
- Document which states the reason of invitation
- Documents related with Inviting parties (a copy of family register, a copy of resident registration, a front and back copy of a certificate of residence, etc)
- Document which proves that he/she is a biological child
- Documents related with the invitees(I.D card, family registry specified all family members, etc)

Those that had come into Korea more than 2 times without record of illegal stay
- Document which proves the purpose of entry
- Documents related with the invitees(I.D card)

Those proven to have had Korean nationality at birth through registration in Korean family register
- A copy of family register(removal) and family registry
- Identity verification document (ex ID card)

Men of merit and their direct relative
- A certificate of a men of merit of national independence or national
- A medal certificate
- A conferment certificate
- A copy of family register and family registry
- Identity verification document (ex ID card)

Those employed under industrial training, training employment or employment license system, that have no record of desertion, and had previously returned to their own country before their period of stay had expired.
- Documents that proves their previous employment.
- Family registry
- Identity verification document (ex. ID card)

Those that are invited by the spouse or cousin of those that have domestic address
- Documents related with Inviting parties(a copy of family register, a copy of the resident registration, a front and back copy of a national identity card)
- Document which proves their relation(Family registry, Genealogical table, old photo, letters communicated for a long-time or KBS-dispersed family certificate, etc)
- Document which proves the financial capability of inviting parties or their spouse(a certificate of incumbency, a copy of business registration, a certificate of bank balance, etc)
- Documents related with the invitees (I.D card, a certificate of holding office, etc.)

Attendance of various Events · Meetings
- Documents proving purpose of stay
- Documents proving · introducing the Meeting
- Documents related with establishment of the institute opening the meeting (a copy of business certificate, a copy of corporation certificate, etc.)
- Documents related with the invitee (ID Card, a certificate of incumbency)

Those that are going to take part in wedding
- Documents related with Inviting parties(a copy of family register, a copy of the resident registration, a front and back copy of a national identity card)
- An invitation card, confirmation of reservation, etc.
- Document which proves their relation
- Documents related with the invitees (I.D card, census registry specified all family members, etc)


{ 2 trackbacks }

KOREA « Times of Lucidity
October 20, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Tourist visa to Korea for Pinoys
January 6, 2010 at 1:24 am

{ 544 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Emma San Miguel February 19, 2010 at 10:09 am

hello! mag bday kasi friend ko this march eh gusto ko sanang i suprise siya by giving him a gift may alam ba kayong website or how to send? Thanks

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2 Shane February 19, 2010 at 11:33 pm

my reason was just for tour… we applied through a travel agency named pan pacific, i think they are located in manila… i happen to have a friend who has a cousin working for that travel agency ;)

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3 Barz February 23, 2010 at 9:16 pm

thanks ms. Betchay!!,

I have another inquiry..

do you happen to know a web link /web posting or news stating or saying that S. Korea is giving work-visa for pinoy IT professionals like me? coz as of i know, they only issue working visa to those that they don’t have.. like a 3d workers, English teachers, Engineers, and so.

thank you again

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4 Louie February 23, 2010 at 9:50 pm

Miss Betchay,
Hello po, i just want to ask po if malaki ang chance po namin ng parents ko mbgyan ni visa? Ang father ko po ay nagka visa na din ng US visa at nagpunta na din sa ibang bansa, like japan etc po. i asked my father po kasi na mamasyal po sa korea with my mom. pero si mama po, wla din pong visa pa, same po kami na wala pang experience sa pag iibang bansa. gsto lang po namin mamasyal ng buong family. Salamat po Miss Betchay. :)

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5 Elv`z February 27, 2010 at 4:46 pm

Hello Ms.Betchay!
Nabigyan po ako ako ng C-3 visa last Nov. 16, 2009.I went there last Dec.01, 2009 then i extended for 2 months.Umuwi ako dito sa Pinas last Feb. 09, 2010.Employed po ako nung nag-apply ako ng visa.
I just wanna ask, me and my husband want to visit Korea this May.My chance po ba akong makakuha uli ng visa , hindi na po ako employed pero as businesswoman yong requirements na isubmit ko.
Possible po ba na makakuha kami ng husband ko.He had Japan and Taiwan visa and he`s working dito sa Pinas as Japanese Interpreter.This time i dont want to have invitation letter.
Possible po ba? Thanks Ms.Betchay and More Power!!!

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6 Betchay February 27, 2010 at 11:13 pm

hi Elv’z… try mo lang, ganun mo lang naman malalaman kung makakakuha ka or hindi di ba? good luck sa ‘yo

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7 nikki February 27, 2010 at 11:32 pm

hello miss betchay!
just wanna extend my sincerest thanks to you. I’ve been reading your blogs since mid last year. It’s truly informative.

I got a lot of infos from your site especially on getting a tourist visa to korea. Just few hours back, i got my passport back with a visa stamped on it. Just had mine processed by an agency since i’m from cebu. Thanks much for all the infos and to all the people who shared their experiences (esp to “aneng”- for replying my email).

Thanks again miss Betchay!

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8 Elv`z February 28, 2010 at 6:27 pm

Hello Nikki!
Congrats! Enjoy your stay in Korea…Could you please give me the agency`s name,address and contact number.Last time kasi nong nag apply ako I went to Manila personally.So this time I wanna try through agency dahil taga cebu din ako.
Thanks..I`ll wait for your reply..Goodluck!

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9 nikki March 1, 2010 at 12:53 am

hello elv’z..
i had my visa processed by “destination specialists” –sm city cebu branch.

Good luck din sayo!

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10 Elv`z March 1, 2010 at 1:31 pm

Hello Nik!
Thanks for the info.Wish you luck..at iready mo na rin other things mo like company ID and LOA as what you have declared in your application together with the photocopy of your requirements dahil baka hanapan ka sa immigration.Bring also dollar and won coin with you..para cgurado pag tanungin ka sa immigration.
GoodLuck sa iyo..Enjoy mo pag stay mo dun..

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11 joyce March 4, 2010 at 9:47 pm

Hellow miss betchay!

i just want to ask kung pano po mkakuha ng student tourist VISA going to koREA for almost 20 days gus2 po xe aq ipakilala ng bf q s parents nia kea aq pupunta ng KOREA … korean po xa…blak po namen punta dis march 25, 2010…kung aabot p po b aq kung naun q lang aasiksuhin? thanks alot

wait ur reply

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12 Betchay March 5, 2010 at 10:35 am

hi joyce! what do you mean by student tourist visa? if you’re a student and you want to get a tourist visa, then you’ll need additional documents from your school like your registration papers and TOR… or do you mean you want to get a student visa to Korea?

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13 Crissy March 5, 2010 at 8:31 am

Ms. Bechay ,
I just want to ask an advise .Nandito na ako sa korea holding a tourist visa .I have a korean Boyfriend four years na kami .After he introduced me to his parents ayaw na ako pauwiin ng nanay nya magpakasal na daw kami .posible po ba na magpakasal kami dito ?if yes ano po ba ang mga papers na kailangan..
please help me ..

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14 Betchay March 5, 2010 at 10:30 am

Hi Crissy! You need to go to the Philippine Embassy and get a “Certification of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage”. These are the documents that you’ll need:

- CENOMAR (NSO copy)
- birth certificate (NSO copy)
- valid passport (with valid visa)
- if you’re 18-20 years old, a notarized Parental Consent for Marriage from your parents
- if you’re 21-25, a notarized Parental Advice from your parents
- affidavit of singleness from your parents

Your birth certificate and the certification to contract marriage should be translated to Korean. Ask your boyfriend about the other requirements from the local city hall.

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15 annie12 March 5, 2010 at 6:11 pm

ms betchay ung Parental Advice from parents at affidavit of singleness eh gawa lang mismo ng parents ko or kukunin sa munispyo then ipapanotarize?

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16 lan March 5, 2010 at 9:44 am

Hi Ms. Betchay, just want to ask if i am allowed to get a visit tour to southkorea coz my fiance asked me to visit him on his birthday this coming march 31…its my 1st time to visit southkorea so i don’t know what to do..he is a us army, and we’re getting married this year…need your help..

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17 Betchay March 5, 2010 at 10:33 am

hi Ian! you’ll need to apply for a tourist visa… just check the requirements above and bring them to the embassy…

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18 mrmp March 5, 2010 at 11:31 am

thank you ms. betchay your blog is really informative.
take care and god bless.

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19 Ice March 6, 2010 at 10:28 pm

Hi Ms. Betchay,

Is it possible to apply as a group in the Korean Embassy? 6 of us will be applying personally this May, in time for our June trip.

Individual evaluation pa rin naman yun kahit sabay sabay ipasa ang documents, diba? I’m hoping all of us would be granted visas. We’ve all been outside of the country and most of us are full time employees and grad students.

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20 3sam March 8, 2010 at 12:49 pm

hello po! tanong ko Lang po Kung 10 days Lang kami sa korea kelngan parin po ba ng visa o hnd na?

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21 unicahija March 11, 2010 at 5:39 pm

I’ll assume you’re a Philippine passport holder no? Kailangan pa rin dear.

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22 joyce March 9, 2010 at 10:07 pm

Hi Ms. Betchay,

its me again JOYCE ask aq lng po ul8 if need paren po namen ng VISA kh8 20days lang po kame mag iistay sa korea? tska po kung tot0o bng may interview p pag kumuha ng visa kh8 20days nga lng po kame mag iistay dun? and sbi po ng friends q need din dw po ng savings account? kh8 200,000? tska kailang p din po b namen ng invitaion kh8 ksama namen papunta s korea ung may ari ng house?

un lng po thanks ang marami
await ur reply
take care

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23 Betchay March 10, 2010 at 12:55 am

hi joyce, sorry ha pero hindi ko naintindihan…

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24 Sujin March 10, 2010 at 3:30 pm

Hi! Ms. Betchay,
I’ve been reading your blog about living in Korea, when I came acroos this post.
I just wanna ask if meron kang kakilala na nakapaginvite ng family members nila not using a tourist visa. Yung brother in law ko kasi ay may malaking poultry, so he suggested na iinvite ung mga brothers ko to help him. So hindi ko alam if ano bang klaseng visa ang aaplyan nila. Kung sa EPS ba sila dadaan sure na dito sa amin sila mkkpagtrabaho? Kung visiting visa naman applyan nila, masyadong maiksi..so naguguluhan ako..
More than 4 years na ako dito, and a Korean citizen, while ung mother ko is staying with us, and more than 3 years na rin sya sa amin. So balak ko naman ung iba kong kapatid iinvite…
Thanks po in advance and more power!!!

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25 gie March 10, 2010 at 6:16 pm

Dear Ms. Betchay,

I come across this site, because I’m researching regarding my visa application. Yesterday, I received my VISA for Korea C3.
So suprising co’z I just declared 10 days but they gave me 59 days. I don’t have ITR,bank account, nor credit card even monthly salary declaration/proof, no business at all. I declared freelancer status. And yet, I was approved. Therefore, money doesn’t matter. But, most of all prayers is the most powerful requirement. kkkkkkkkkk

gie

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26 Eva Ponce March 13, 2010 at 5:48 pm

Hello Gie,
Congrats! Swerte mo naman.Just want to ask how about the address ano nilagay mo at reason mo to go there?Pleasure or visit? So meaning wala kang requirements idineclare?Pano yon tinanggap lang nang embassy without any supporting docs?? Thanks and GOOd luck.

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27 kay March 11, 2010 at 1:06 am

hi. i would like to ask kung yung certification of enrollment (since im a student na magaapply for c-3 visa) kanino naka address?? yung sch ko po kasi nilagay nila “bureau of immigration”. ok na po ba yun or kelangan may specific na kung kanino naka address? thank you po!

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28 unicahija March 11, 2010 at 5:37 pm

Hhmmm… It’s a certificate so walang inside address. Mine read something like: CERTIFICATION / This is to certify that blah blah is blah blah… signed by the head of registrar’s office with dry seal.

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29 kay March 11, 2010 at 6:39 pm

thank you!!! :)

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30 jane March 11, 2010 at 10:24 am

Mam,magtatanong po uli ako pasensya na po sa abala.
mam isa po sa requirements ng nanay at pamangkin ko ay yung ITR,kaya lng mam wala po kaming makukuhang ITR kc hindi pa nmn po nakakapagtrabaho ang pamangkin ko ano pong pwedeng ipalit na document kung wla pong ITR?
pra po mam pagbalik uli nila sa embassy dala na po nila yung iba pang mga posibleng kakailanganin kc po province pa po sila magmumula.
slamat po ng marami!

more power po!
jane´s last blog ..곰 세마리 My ComLuv Profile

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31 Phoebe March 11, 2010 at 2:41 pm

Hi Ms. Betchay,

Phoebe here again. Just want to ask, pano po yun kung typewritten yung application form? so pagpunta ko dun s embassy, kuha muna ako form then uwi para itype infos? di po b pwede n handwritten, ung tipong fill-up lang pagdating ko dun s embassy?

Also, ano po b mas ok, may invitation letter o wala? iniisip kasi ng husband ko hingi sia ng invitation letter from his korean supervisor. bka kasi di ako maapprove dahil dun coz I’m not related naman s korean n ng-invite? what do u think po? should i present or not? anyway, may ITR nmn ako, bank cert, and cert of employment..thanks in advance for your advice.

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32 rogie enarsao March 12, 2010 at 12:00 am

maam,good day ask ko lng po my sister in law sa korea kasama ang husband nya americano.dun kc ang work ng husband nya.gusto ako mag tourist ng sister in law ko sa korea,pero dito ako sa jeddah nag wowork anu po ba ang mga kkailanganin ko para maka pag tourist ako.my korean embassy ba rito sa jeddah.maraming salamat po

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33 Cecille March 12, 2010 at 9:16 am

Hi Ms. Betchay!
I have been reading this site since August 2008. It was then when I first applied for a C-3 visa to Korea. Luckily, I got my third one just last March 5. Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing important infos. More power!

Hi Phoebe!
The application need not be typewritten. Prepare all the requirements and get to the Embassy before 7am. You will be given the application form there and you can fill it up there while u wait for your turn.

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34 Phoebe March 13, 2010 at 9:47 am

@cecille thanks very much for your reply regarding kung pwede n handwritten yung application form…as for my other question, ung s invitation letter, ano kaya mas ok, magsubmit or not? baka kasi madeny pa ako ng dahil diyan..my friends and I are also going to singapore and malaysia on august..so, I was thinking, baka mas ok n wala n lng n invitation letter since makikita s passport n parang nagto-tour nga lang ako s asia..thanks in advance for the reply on this follow-up question. :D

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35 Cecille March 13, 2010 at 10:02 am

You’re welcome Phoebe! I honestly do not know much about the invitation letter and its bearing on the application. It is for a fact an optional requirement. I didn’t submit one in any of my applications and was given the visa on all occasions.

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