July 15th, 2023 at 05:31 am
Korean Visa Requirements and Application Process for Filipinos
A lot of adjustments have recently been made to the revised visa application procedures at the Korean Embassy in Manila. The selection of travel agents, via whom applications must be submitted, was the first significant revision. The standards remain the same, however, applicants must now submit their applications through one of the authorized travel agents recognized by the embassy.
The embassy has contracted with travel businesses to take applications to accommodate more applicants. With limited exclusions, walk-in applicants will no longer be able to submit a straight application for a tourist visa at the Manila consulate. More adjustments have been put into place during the past 12 months. from a new application form to a longer processing period.
Here is a fast walk-through on how to use a travel agency to apply for a South Korean tourist visa.
Korean Visa Requirements
- Properly filled up application
- 1 passport photo: color, white backdrop, passport-size
- Current passport (original): This document must be valid for at least six months after the intended date of travel.
- Previous passports (Original): Only if you’ve recently visited abroad.
- Passport bio page photocopied: The bio page is the passport’s information page (Page 2). Ensure you have a copy of it on paper.
- All of your OECD visas, in photocopy only (only if you have them)
- If received from a Korean: a copy of the inviter’s passport, along with an invitation letter.
Additional Requirements
You will also need to demonstrate your ability to afford the trip. These are the supplementary paperwork that, depending on your working situation, you must obtain.
For Workers
- Statement of Employment
- Personal Bank Certificate in Original
- An original or certified true copy of the last three months’ worth of bank statements or your passport.
- Form 2316, Income Tax Return; ideally with BIR stamp.
- A copy of either an IBP card or PRC card, if applicable
Regarding Independent-Workers (Self-employed)
- First, a photocopy of the DTI or SEC business registration form.
- Also, a photocopy of the mayor’s or business permit
- Next, a photocopy of the net income and total revenue pages from the ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316, along with the accompanying payment receipt from a BIR-recognized bank.
- Additionally, Personal Bank Certificate in Original
- Likewise, Original or certified true copies of the last three months’ worth of bank statements or your passport.
- Lastly, a copy of either an IBP card or PRC card, if applicable
For housewives or househusbands
- Original bank certificate that belongs to you or your spouse.
- Statement of your or your spouse’s finances
- NSO Marriage Certificate Photocopy
For students
- original school transcript
- Copy of the applicant’s NSO birth certificate, a photocopy of their school identification, and a copy of their parent’s marriage license.
Retired Seniors
- Personal Bank Certificate in Original
- Original or certified true copies of the last three months’ worth of bank statements or your passport.
- a duplicate of the senior citizen identification card
However, for candidates who have visited South Korea more than twice in the previous four years and for applicants who have visited any OECD nation at least once in the previous five years, the submission of an ITR is waived. According to Constellation Travels, a recognized travel operator by the embassy, this is the case.
You need to submit supporting documentation for family-related applications. Marriage licenses and birth certificates are accepted. The entire family may file through a representative.
How to Apply for a Korean Visa
1. Check the processing time and most recent release date
You should check to see if the release date is convenient for you beforehand. Spending a lot of time and effort on the prerequisites only to learn that you won’t receive your visa in time is the very last thing you want to do.
2. Complete every need
Verify that you have obtained each of the above-mentioned prerequisites. There is a certain order to the list. Initial requirements, copies of OECD visas, financial and job documentation, and, if applicable, an invitation letter or cover letter should be submitted in that order.
When you enter the embassy, you will also be given the list, allowing you to prepare the documents right away.
3. Send the paperwork to the authorized travel company
Finding a travel agency that has been authorized by the government is now necessary since you have all the necessary paperwork. The 35 organizations where you can submit your application are accredited by the embassy. It functions largely in the same way as the application process for a Japan visa.
4. Await the outcome
Processing period: 10 to 15 business days
5. Get your passport and visa
When your travel company notifies you, pick up your passport (preferably with a visa attached). Most agencies will require you to return and pick it up from their office, while some will arrange to mail it to you if you want.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. When should I submit my South Korean visa application?
You have three months (90 days) from the date of issuing to go to Korea at any time. Therefore, you have up to three months (90 days) before your departure date to apply. Make sure to submit your application, nevertheless, at least 30 working days before the date you plan to depart from Manila.
2. How much time would I be able to spend in Korea?
59 days, if you are given a standard tourist visa. You can request a longer stay, but you must have a good reason for it.
3. Do I need to make travel and lodging arrangements before applying?
No. They are not necessary.
4. Is a travel agency really necessary for this?
YES. The Korean Embassy mandates that all applications for tourist visas be processed through one of their authorized travel companies. However, you may apply directly on your own if you’re applying at the Korean Consulate in Cebu.
5. How long does it take to complete a visa application?
According to the embassy, 24-36 working days.
6. What does Section 2 of the application form’s “Visa Issuance Confirmation” mean?
Details of the Visa Issuance Confirmation are requested in Section 2 of the application form. Only individuals having a “Confirmation of Visa Issuance” document are permitted to access this section. Many people believe that it pertains to earlier Korean visas, but this is false.
An entirely distinct document called the “Visa Issuance Confirmation” is typically issued in Korea.
7. Should the application form be handwritten or typewritten using a computer?
Use computers for safety reasons.
8. Should I enter N/A or just leave the field empty if the question does not relate to me?
Just leave it empty to be safe. The majority of legitimate travel agents demand it left empty. To be safe, just leave them blank when you apply, and when you arrive, ask the agency what to do.
9. How do OECD visas work?
These are OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) member state-issued visas. The participating nations are as follows:
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Canada
- Chile
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea
- Latvia
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
- United States
10. I possess an OECD visa. Will my application be accepted, then?
No, not always. But your chances of acceptance are better.
11. I have electronic visas from the OECD. Do you accept it?
Yes. Australia is one of the OECD nations that issues electronic visas. You can print it out and deliver it.
12. Will only the bank certificate do?
No. A needed document is a bank statement with transactions going back three months. Therefore, you MUST provide BOTH a bank statement AND a bank certificate.
13. Is it possible to apply as a group?
Families and groups of friends can apply simultaneously for a trip, but each application undergoes a separate review. The preceding technique and requirement list still hold.
14. Applying with my family, Do each of us have to submit a copy of our bank statements or certificates?
If you are simultaneously applying at the same agency, then just one copy will do. Affidavits of Support and Proof of Relationship are necessary if the sponsoring family member is not a close relative (not a parent, sibling, or child).
15. Do I still need to provide my bank records if I have a sponsor?
YES. If you have a sponsor, you must submit BOTH their financial and job records as well as YOUR OWN.
16. Can my significant other pay for my travel expenses?
No guarantees, but you can try. It is best to have a member of your immediate family sponsor you if you desire higher approval rates. The best candidates are parents or siblings. If unmarried to your sponsor or a member of their immediate family, you will need to provide documentation of your relationship, often challenging to do.
Remember that even if someone else is paying for your vacation, you still need to give your own bank and work records on top of those from your sponsor.
17. Do I have to be present to turn in the paperwork?
NO. With complete REQUIREMENTS, you can ask another person to do it for you.
18. I have a clarification to make. Will a cover letter be accepted?
Yes. It’s approved.
19. Can I apply for a visa with numerous entries?
ONLY IF YOU ARE QUALIFIED, then YES.
20. Do I still need to submit a Certificate of Employment if I take advantage of the credit card promotion for the multiple entry visa?
YES. You are exempt from submitting the ITR and bank paperwork via the credit card promotion. The rest of the regulations still apply, including the need for employment verification (a Certificate of Employment or business registration).
21. A credit card that belongs to my parent qualifies for a multiple-entrance visa. I have an additional or extension card. Can I also submit a multiple-entry visa application?
Yes. As long as both you and your parent submit applications at the same time, you are also eligible. To demonstrate your relationship, you must submit copies of her valid/eligible credit card, your most recent original credit card statement, and your birth certificate.
22. I don’t pay taxes. Should I submit an ITR?
Even if you are exempt from paying taxes, you should still have an ITR.
23. What are the typical grounds for rejection of Korean visa applications?
The following are typical explanations:
- You cannot demonstrate that you have the means to support yourself throughout this journey.
- You can’t demonstrate that you plan to come back.
- It’s unclear what you hope to accomplish in Korea.
24. Where can I find out what’s happening with my visa application?
Click HERE to see the status of your application. Specify your information and select Search.
25. Can I reapply if my initial application is turned down?
Yes, but only if the Korean Embassy in Manila is still processing it after six months.
Visit Newsnowgh.com for the most up-to-date information on changes to visa criteria, prospective paths to obtaining legal residency, and others.