Tourist Visa In South Korea

A travel visa to Korea can be obtained depending on your reason for coming to Korea. Each visa has its own unique requirements and moreover, each visa’s validity period is different. To maximize your Korea experience, you need to apply for the right one. Here’s a list of available South Korean visas and the information you need.

A tourist visa in South Korea is the golden ticket you need to visit this fascinating country. Follow our easy guide for what documents you need, how to prepare for your interview, and where to go.

When you’re planning to visit South Korea, you’ll need to get a tourist visa in order to enter the country.

South Korea offers multiple types of visas that allow foreign visitors to enter the country for various purposes. The most common type is the F-4 visa, which allows visitors to stay in South Korea for up to 90 days and includes multiple reentry options. If you want to stay longer than 90 days or want more flexibility in your travel plans, you can apply for an F-2 visa instead. This type of visa allows you to stay in South Korea for up to 180 days and requires an approved sponsor from within South Korea who agrees to cover all your expenses while there.

To apply for a tourist visa in South Korea, you’ll need to fill out an application form with your personal information and details about your trip. These forms are available online at most Korean embassies around the world; however, if one isn’t available near where you live then it’s best just contact them directly by phone or email instead (see link below). You’ll also need two passport photos and copies of both sides of both passports before submitting them along with your application form online or sending them via mail directly after receiving an “Approved”

South Korea visa requirements

When you apply for a South Korea visa, you have to submit several documents to support your application. The South Korea visa requirements change depending on the type of visa you need as well as the country in which you are applying. However, the standard set of documents everyone has to submit includes:

• South Korea Visa Application Form
• Your passport, which must be:
  • Valid for at least another six months
  • Have at least two blank pages
• Passport-size picture(s). The South Korea visa photo size has to be 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm and have the following specifications:
  • White background
  • Taken recently (in the last three months)
  • You must have a neutral facial expression, staring straight ahead
  • Your face and ears have to be fully visible
  • You must not be wearing glasses
• A return or onward flight ticket
• Proof of sufficient funds to cover the duration of your stay (such as through bank statements and income tax returns)
• Proof of accommodation in South Korea, such as hotel reservation
• Payment of the South Korea visa fee, as per the requirements of the Embassy/Consulate
• For South Korea Student Visa:
  • Reference Letter(s)
  • Letter of Acceptance into the school/university
• For South Korea Business Visa:
  • Letter from your employer
  • Letter of Invitation from the South Korean company
• For South Korea Work Visa: Employment contract
• You may also have to submit:
  • Cover Letter, introducing yourself and stating the reason for which you are traveling
  • Trip Itinerary, which details the activities you’ll be doing in South Korea on a daily basis
• Any other additional documents that the Embassy or Consulate request, depending on the purpose of your trip

South Korea Visa Application Form

Depending on the method through which you are applying, you can get hold of a South Korea Visa Application form in the following ways:

• Online, by downloading it from the website of the Embassy or Consulate through which you are applying, if it is available there.
• At the Embassy or Consulate itself, when you go to make an appointment or submit the documents
• At a visa application agency, if you are using the services of a private company to apply for your South Korea visa

You have to complete the application form completely and truthfully, with black or dark blue pen. The writing should be clear and legible.

South Korea Visa processing time

The processing time for a South Korea visa changes depending on which Embassy or Consulate you are applying in. However, you should submit a completed application at least 15 days before you intend to travel but no earlier than three months.

Procedures after you enter South Korea with a visa

Once you enter South Korea with a visa, and you intend to stay for longer than 90 days, you have to register your stay at a local Immigration Office in South Korea. You have to submit the relevant documents, such as:

• Your passport
• The completed application form (downloadable online)
• A passport-size picture with 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm dimensions
• Payment of the processing fee (KRW 30,000)
• Proof of residence (such as utility bills, a lease agreement, etc)
• Any other documents depending on the purpose of your stay

What is the duration of a South Korea visa?

The duration of the South Korea visa you receive depends on the purpose of your travel. So, if you are traveling for tourism purposes, then you will receive a visa for up to 90 days or less, usually for a single entry.

If you are traveling for a longer-term purpose, such as working or studying, then you will receive a visa with a longer duration.

Extending a South Korea Visa

If you want to stay in South Korea for longer than your visa allows, you can apply for a visa extension at the Immigration Office in South Korea. You have to apply for the South Korea visa extension at least four months before your current visa expires.

You have to submit the following documents:

• Your passport
• The completed application form for permission of extension of stay (downloadable online)
• Payment of the processing fee
• Your Foreign Registration Card (if you are extending a long-term visa)
• Any other documents depending on the specific visa

South Korea visa fees

The South Korea visa fees are as follows:

Visa Type	Fee
Single-entry visa (up to 90 days)	US$ 40
Single-entry visa (longer than 90 days)	US$ 60
Double-entry visa	US$ 70
Multiple-entry visa	US$ 90

Conclusion

Obtaining a tourist visa is not difficult in South Korea, especially if your citizenship confers automatic entry into Korea. The visa is typically valid for three months, although there are cases where it would last for one or two years.