Korean Visa Application Requirements for Filipinos [Updated]

[Update: March 1, 2015- The Korean Embassy announced new visa requirements for tourists, effective March 1, 2015. Please take note of the updated list in the Infographic below]

Seoul, South Korea is a favorite destination for a lot of people especially Filipinos. Aside from being the home of our favorite Korean drama stars,  it is also the place of origin of Korean hairstyle and clothing – which is such a hit in our country ( hair with Korean bangs, digiperm, and Korean artsy fartsy clothes). I’ve personally experienced having a vacation in this beautiful country already several times, and will be coming back over and over again.

(Korea Budget Travel experience (Busan) – Nov 2012, and Korea Budget Travel experience (Seoul) – Feb 2014).

I’m happy to share with you our family’s personal experience in applying Korean Tourist Visa. The long list of requirements might seem difficult to accomplish at first, but I tell you that it is doable and easy! Just remember the golden rule in all visa applications- Submit COMPLETE and VALID documents. Do not dare at any cost to submit a fake or even invalid/expired document for it will just be detected and you’ll suffer in the end.

The good news about Korean Visa is that it is FREE ( or “Gratis”) ! Also, you don’t need to search for an agency or tours company to apply for Korean Visa. All you need to do is prepare the requirements and proceed to the Korean Embassy in the Philippines -Mckinley, Taguig ( no need for an appointment, but the processing time is from 9:00AM- 11:00AM only) to submit your documents. So, here are the list of requirements you need (as of October 2014, based from Korean embassy website:

Korean Tourist Visa Requirements for Filipino Employees

1. Application Form–  (sign your form completely, and don’t leave blanks- instead, just put N/A or not applicable)
2. 1 pc of passport sized colored picture
3. Original passport (should be valid for more than 6 months from the time that you will enter Korea).
4. Photocopy of Passport bio-page (page 2 of passport)
5. Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years (If applicable, and Korean Visas will not be counted) *only if you have/optional
6. Original Certificate of Employment –must include applicant’s position, date hired, compensation, address, office landline number(cell-phone number is not allowed), e-mail address.
7. Original Personal Bank Certificate –must include account type, current balance, account opening date, 6 months average balance (ADB)
8. Bank Statement -original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months
9. Photocopy of ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316-with personal tin number

•If personally invited by Korean : Invitation Letter & Copy of invitor’s Passport
•If invited by Company in Korea: Invitation Letter & Copy of Korean Company Business Permit

■ Processing Time: 3 working days (for those who have visas of OECD member countries)
5 working days (for those who do not have visas of OECD member
countries)
■ Visa Fee: 59 days (or less) stay in Korea — GRATIS ( meaning- FREE of charge)
60 to 90 days stay in Korea — PHP1,800.00

Korean Tourist Visa Requirements for Businessmen

1. Application Form (sign your form completely, and don’t leave blanks- instead, just put N/A or not applicable)
2. 1piece of Passport size colored picture
3. Original Passport (should be valid for more than 6 months from the time that you will enter Korea).
4. Photocopy of Passport Bio-page (page 2)
5. Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years (If applicable, and Korean Visas will not be counted) *only if you have/optional
6. Photocopy of Business Registration from SEC or DTI
7. Photocopy of Business Permit or Mayor’s Permit
8. Original Personal Bank Certificate (NOT Bank Statement)
9. Photocopy of ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316

•If personally invited by Korean : Invitation Letter & Copy of invitor’s Passport
•If invited by Company in Korea: Invitation Letter & Copy of Korean Company Business Permit■ Processing Time: 3 working days (for those who have visas of OECD member countries)
5 working days (for those who do not have visas of OECD member
countries)
■ Visa Fee: 59 days (or less) stay in Korea — GRATIS (Free of charge)
60 to 90 days stay in Korea — PHP1,800.00

Korean Tourist Visa Requirements for Students

1. Application Form  (sign your form completely, and don’t leave blanks- instead, just put N/A or not applicable)
2. 1piece of Passport size colored picture
3. Original Passport (should be valid for more than 6 months from the time that you will enter Korea).
4. Photocopy of Passport Bio-page (page 2)
5. Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years (If applicable, and Korean Visas will not be counted) *only if you have/optional
6. Original School Certificate
7. Photocopy of School ID
8. Photocopy of NSO Birth Certificate of an applicant
9. Parents’ Financial Support Document
   – Original Certificate of Employment (or DTI or Sec and Mayor’s Permit)
   – Original Bank Certificate
   – Photocopy of ITR or Form 2316•If personally invited by Korean : Invitation Letter & Copy of invitor’s Passport■ Processing Time: 3 working days (for those who have visas of OECD member countries)
   5 working days (for those who do not have visas of OECD member
   countries)
   ■ Visa Fee: 59 days (or less) stay in Korea — GRATIS
   60 to 90 days stay in Korea — PHP1,800.00

What will happen after you submit your application is that the Korean embassy will give you a claim slip with control number that contains the releasing date. Release time is from 2:00PM- 4:00PM, Monday-Friday. Normal application will take 5 days. If you have a visa from an OECD Country ( i.e US Visa), it will only take 3 days.

 List of OECD Countries (If you have been to one or more of these countries, visa processing time will be reduced from 5 days to 3 days)

1. Australia
2. Austria
3. Belgium
4. Canada
5. Chile
6. Czech Republic
7. Denmark
8. Estonia
9. Finland
10. France
11. Germany
12. Greece
13. Hungary
14. Iceland
15. Ireland
16. Israel
17. Italy
18. Japan
19. Korea
20. Luxembourg
21. Mexico
22. Netherlands
23. New Zealand
24. Norway
25. Poland
26. Portugal
27. Sloval Republic
28. Slovenia
29. Spain
30. Sweden
31. Switzerland
32. Turkey
33. United Kingdom
34. United States

 Korean Visa Application Tips and Reminders!

• Line for Applications start as early as 7:30 AM. Make sure to be there early- if you can go there by 7 AM, then better, to avoid the long lines. You can only submit applications between 9AM – 11AM , Monday-Friday. The embassy is closed during Korean National Holidays.
• If you’re applying for the whole family, a family member can submit the application in behalf of the rest.
• No need for additional documentations (i.e. plane ticket, printed hotel reservation, etc). This means that it’s ok to apply even though you don’t have plane tickets yet and hotel reservations. BUT, you still need to mention details like date of departure, arrival, and hotel address and number in the application form- so you can place your target date and hotel details in this questions if ever.
• Make sure that you have complete set of requirements based from the list I mentioned above.
• Once you are inside the Korean embassy, one of their staff will check your documents before you can get a number and pass the application. This will help you determine firsthand if you missed anything.
• Apply for Korean visa preferably 1 month-2 months before your trip. This will ensure that you have enough time if ever the embassy will ask for more requirements.
• Bring a valid ID since they will ask for it before you can enter the Korean embassy.

The Madaldal Kid’s personal experience in applying for Korean Tourist Visa

My family and I have been to Korea thrice. Our first travel is in Busan, way back November 2012, second budget travel is in Seoul, last February 2014, and third budget travel is in Seoul, last December 2014. We’ve had different experiences regarding our visa applications , nonetheless, both were approved. I’ll be sharing with you our experience.

Korean Visa Application Part 1-for travel date of November 2012

We submitted our application 2 weeks before our travel date (for our family of 4). After 5 days, during the claiming date, we were asked to provide additional document- my Diploma and TOR (transcript of records) as a supporting document. Of course, we felt scared because we don’t know the reason why we were asked of those requirements. The reason wasn’t given, but when we tried to analyze it, we think that it’s because of the fact that I’m the declared head of the family (since my dad is retired, and my mother is a housewife), and even though I showed my employment documents, they might have probably wanted to see my college degree proof. After 5 days, our visa was approved and all of us were given single entry visa. Yehey!

Korean Visa Application Part 2-for travel date of February 2014 and December 2014

We submitted our application 1 month before our travel date (for our family of 4). After 5 days, during the claiming date, our visa was approved. A bonus point is that we were given a 1-year multiple entry visa! Yehey!

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1. How much should my bank certificate be for my visa to be approved?

A1. There’s no specific value declared in the Korean embassy website. But as a rule of thumb, the money in your account should be enough to cover the expenses of your trip. Personally, when I applied for my visa, my account only contains money of around 50k.

Q2. I am retired/unemployed and/or someone from my family is retired/unemployed. Where would he/she fall in the criteria and his/her requirements be?

A2. My father is retired when we applied. What we did is for him to provide his bank certificate, then I was declared as the head of the family ( since I’m the only one working, and my sister is still a student). I provided my certificate of employment and bank certificate. Now, if that person retired in your family doesn’t have bank certificate, then the family provider should include an affidavit of support as a proof that he/she is supporting the retired/unemployed member of the family.

That’s it! Goodluck on your Korean Visa Application!  If you have any questions, feel free to comment below so I can help in answering it!

Korean Embassy in the Philippines

• Address : 122 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig city 1634, Philippines
• Tel : (63-2) 856-9210
• Fax : (63-2) 856-9008
• E-mail : 
  
• Hours of Operation : Monday~Friday 08:30~17:30
• Website: Click here

If you are too busy and still want to have a Budget Travel Experience, you can ask me to create a customized budget travel itinerary for you or even hire The Madaldal Kid as your budget travel tour guide! >>click here.

Also, if you need hassle free and affordable tours (if you hate walking and trains, and want to travel via tour bus) in Seoul (transportation only), you can check the Funtastic Korea Services (Madaldal Kid Recommended!) >> click here

For Budget Hostel in Korea, you can try Seoul Mansion in Hongdae.

For other posts, you can refer to my Budget Travel in Korea series.

BUSAN:

• Korean Visa Requirements and How to Apply?
• What to do in Busan, South Korea

SEOUL:

• Korean Visa Requirements and How to Apply?
• Part 1 – Seoul Korea Budget Travel – DIY Guide
• Part 2 – Seoul Korea Budget Travel – Itinerary and Budget
• Part 3 – Seoul, Korea Budget Travel – Day 1 – Changdeokgung Palace, Samcheong-dong, Bukchon Hanok Village, Namsan Tower, Dongdaemun Market
• Part 4- Seoul, Korea Budget Travel – Day 2 – Nami Island, Namdaemun Market, Myeongdong Cat Café
• Part 5 – Seoul, Korea Budget Travel-Day 3 -Self Bar, Everland
• Part 6 – Seoul, Korea Budget Travel-Day 4 –Namdaemun Market and Incheon International Airport
• Part 7- Seoul, Korea Budget Travel – Cat Café in Myeongdong
• Part 8-Seoul, Korea Budget Travel – Myeongdong Gyoza Food Experience!
• Part 9- Seoul, Korea Budget Travel-Notes and Personal Learnings about South Korea
• Myeongdong Wonder Dogs Cafe
• Funtastic Tours Korea- Affordable tours and Nami Island + Petite France experience
• Hongdae Foodtrip -Must try Restaurants and Coffee Shops
• Gangchon Rail Bike experience and Eel Grilling in Ungilsan