JEREMYSDRWORLD: Jeremy Sees d' Real WORLD: May 2018

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Visa Guide: South Korean Visa Application Through Designated Travel Agencies

By Jeremy - Thursday, May 31, 2018

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filipino

Visa Guide: South Korean Tourist Visa for Philippine Passport Holders

By Jeremy - Saturday, May 26, 2018

NOTE: Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, there may be some changes on the VISA processing. Please refer to Korean Embassy to the Philippines website for updated details.

jeremysdrWORLD: Guide - South Korean Tourist Visa for Philippine Passport Holders

South Korea is the dream destination for most of Korean pop culture fans in the Philippines. The Korean invasion in the Philippines particularly the K-pop, K-drama, Kimchi, Bbimbap, the pisturesque places and endless cosmetic products that only South Korea can offer.

As a Filipino citizen with Philippine passport, we are required to secure a Korean visa in order to visit South Korea (but Jeju Island trip doesn't require a visa). This guide aims to help you secure a Korean visa and experience the best Korean culture on your next vacation.

Please take note that South Korea offers different types of visa. This guide is focusing only for tourist visa application. For more information about the other types of visa that South Korea offers, refer to the South Korea embassy website.

Embassy of Republic of Korea in the Republic of the Philippines

STEP 1: Complete the Requirements

For Employees

1. Application Form
2. 1 piece of Passport size colored picture (Please attach on the application form)
3. Original Passport (should be valid for more than 6 months)
4. Photocopy of Passport Bio-page
5. Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years (If applicable only)
6. Original Certificate of Employment (must include applicant's position, date hired, compensation, office address, HR landline number(cell-phone number is not allowed), HR e-mail address)
7. Original Personal Bank Certificate (must include account type, current balance, account opening date, ADB)
8. Bank Statement (original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months)
9. ITR(Income Tax Return) or Form 2316 Copy and Company Alphalist (Form 1604 CF with BIR received stamp / please highlight your name)
10. Copy of PRC Card or IBP Card (If applicable only)

* If personally invited by Korean
**Invitation Letter
**Photocopy of invitor's Passport or Identification Card (authentication not required)

* If invited by Company in Korea
**Invitation Letter
**Photocopy of Korean Company Business Permit (authentication not required)

* Frequent travellers who have travelled as tourist to OECD member countries within 5 years are exempted from submitting ITR.

For Businessmen

1. Application Form
2. 1 piece of Passport size colored picture (Please attach on the application form)
3. Original Passport (should be valid for more than 6 months)
4. Photocopy of Passport Bio-page
5. Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years (If applicable only)
6. Photocopy of Business Registration from SEC or DTI
7. Photocopy of Business Permit or Mayor's Permit
8. Original Personal Bank Certificate (must include account type, current balance, account opening date, ADB)
9. Bank Statement (original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months)
10. Photocopy of ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316 with corresponding payment receipt from BIR authorized bank
11. Copy of PRC Card or IBP Card (If applicable only)

* If personally invited by Korean
**Invitation Letter
**Photocopy of invitor's Passport or Identification Card (authentication not required)

* If invited by Company in Korea
**Invitation Letter
**Photocopy of Korean Company Business Permit (authentication not required)

* Frequent travellers who have travelled as tourist to OECD member countries within 5 years are exempted from submitting ITR.

STEP 2: Go to South Korean Embassy and apply personally for your South Korean Visa (ONLY UNTIL June 30, 2018)

You are required to do a walk-in process for your South Korean visa. The South Korea embassy are accepting applicants between 8:30AM to 11:00AM, Monday to Friday only (excluding Philippine holidays). It is a first come, first serve basis and expect a long line of applicants.

The security guard on duty will check all of your requirements and will ask you to jot down your name on their logbook. They will give you a number that will be called by the designated window.

The staff on the window will check again your documents and when they are satisfied, they will hand you a slip indicating the date of release of your visa (if granted).

Starting July 1, 2018, Korean Embassy will no longer accept walk-in applicants but only for special cases. See the updates here.

STEP 3: Fast forward to the release date, claim your visa results at the South Korea embassy.

The releasing of visa is available only from 1:30PM to 4:00PM, Mondays to Fridays.

The guard on duty will give you a number that will be called by the designated window.

As a first-time visa applicant for South Korea, I was granted a Single Entry visa with maximum stay of 59 days.

Starting July 1, 2018, Korean Embassy will no longer accept walk-in applicants but only for special cases. See the updates here.

Multiple-entry visas are not given automatically but if you are a frequent South Korean visa applicant or visitor, chances are you will be given a multiple visa. But again, it is a case-to-case basis.

BDO Credit Card holders will be granted a multiple-visa without submitting ITR and it is available until December 31, 2019. Read here for details.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions:

- Where is the South Korean Embassy office?

The South Korean Embassy is located at the following addresses:

Manila Office: 122 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Town Center,
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City
Telephone: (63) 02 856-9210
Cebu Office: 12th Floor Chinabank Corporate Center, Lot 2,
Samar Loop Cor. Road 5,
Cebu Business Park, Cebu
Telephone: (63) 32 231-1516 to 19

- How much is the cost of applying for visa?

The South Korean visa is free of charge for visitors planning to stay for 59 days and below. For visitors wants to stay for 60 to 90 days, the fee is PHP 1,800.00

- How long will it takes to process the visa?

It's important to plan accordingly for your visa application to avoid conflicts. The processing of visa varies from different circumstances:

Applicants with OECD visas usually take 3 days.
Applicants without OECD visas usually take 5 days.
First-time travelers will take more than 5 days.

- How much do I need to secure for my bank statement?

It depends on the desired length of stay. Make sure you have a reasonable amount in your bank statement when you apply for a visa. For a ballpark figure, mine is within PHP 45,000 mark for an 8-day visit.

- Is it require to have a plane ticket before applying for visa?

The embassy will not check for the plane ticket but you have to indicate to the application letter your intended date of stay in South Korea.

- Is there an interview?

Usually the embassy does NOT require an interview but on some special cases that needs more information about the applicant, it does.

- Do they have online application?

No. You have to apply personally and bring all the requirements.

- Do they issue multiple-entry visa?

Yes but they are not automatically issued. For eligibility, refer to this link.

UPDATE: Korean Embassy will assign travel agencies for those tourist who want to apply for visa. This is due to the increased number of applicants and soon, walk-in applicants will no longer be accepted. We will keep you posted regarding this development. For more information and the list of the possible travel agencies, click here.

We visited South Korea last November 2017 and my journey is here:

Annyeonghaseyo South Korea