Visa for Korea

e-Visa Application via the Visa Portal

1. Application Process

Select “Application” >> “E-Visa(Individual)” on the Visa Portal (www.visa.go.kr)

2. Applicant

Application must be submitted by a foreigner or the sponsor on behalf of the foreigner

3. Applicable Status of Stay (as of Dec.8.2014)

• Professor (E-1), Researcher (E-3), Technical Instructor/Technician (E-4), and Professional (E-5) Visa for the applicant and Dependent Family (F-3) Visa for his/her accompanying family members.
• Foreign Notional of Special Ability (E-7) visa for the applicant and Dependent Family (F-3) Visa for his/her accompanying family members.
  - Qualification : the applicant must be an expert in advanced science and technology and have an official employment recommendation letter (a.k.a. GOLD CARD)
• Short-term General (C-3-1) Visa for a prospective investor invited by a promotion agency of the Immigrant Investor Scheme for Public Business and his/her accompanying family members
• Short-term Group Tourist (C-3-2) Visa for Chinese group tourists who can apply for their Visa through a designated travel agency
• Short-term Medical Tourist (C-3-3) or Recuperation & Treatment (G-1-10) Visa for foreign patients and their caregivers who are invited by an ‘outstanding medical facilitator’ designated as e-Visa agency.
• Business Visitor (General) (C-3-4) visa for an invitee of a domestic company

  - Qualifications : A foreigner who has entered Korea 3 times or more with a Short-term (C-3) Visa since the implementation of the fingerprint confirmation system for foreigner on Jan. 1, 2012, and who has no history of illegal stay or criminal cases

※ Please refer to the Visa Navigator for more details.

4. Required Documents

• Visa Application Form (electronic form on the Visa Portal)
• Scanned image files of passport pages
• Digital Photograph (in natural color, size: 3.5cm x 4.5cm)
• Fee (credit card for e-Payment)
• Required documents for respective status of stay (soft copy)

  - Please refer to the guide on required documents for each type of visa on the Visa Navigator or to the Visa Information on the website of a respective diplomatic office.

5. Procedure

• Application by the applicant

  

• Application by the sponsor (inviter)

  

Confirmation of Visa Issuance Application via the Visa Portal

1. Application process

Select “Application" >> "Confirmation of Visa Issuance” on Visa Portal (www.visa.go.kr)

2. Applicant

Application must be filed by the inviter (sponsor)

3. Applicable status of stay (as of Dec.8.2014)

• Professor (E-1), Foreign Language Instructor (E-2), Researcher (E-3), Technical Instructor/Technician (E-4) Professional (E-5) for the applicant and Dependent Family (F-3) Visa for his/her accompanying family members.
• Foreign National of Special Ability (E-7) Visa for the applicant and Dependent Family (F-3) Visa for his/her accompanying family members.
  - Qualification : the applicant must have an occupation under category 1 (executives) or 2 (professionals or related) of the Standard Classification of Occupation announced by the National Statistical Office
• Short-term Medical Tourist (C-3-3) or Recuperation & Treatment (G-1-10) Visa for foreign patients and their caregivers who are invited by an ‘outstanding medical facilitator’
• Business Visitor (C-3-6) visa for an invitee of a VIP corporation
• Student (D-2) and Korean Language Trainee (D-4-1) visa
• Non-professional(E-9) and Maritime Crew (E-10) visa

※ Please refer to the Visa Navigator for more detail.

4. Required Documents

• Application form for Confirmation of Visa Issuance (electronic form on the Visa Portal)
• Scanned image files of passport pages
• Digital Photograph (in natural color, size: 3.5cm x 4.5cm)
• Fee (credit card for e-Payment)
• Required documents for respective status of stay (soft copy)

  - Please refer to the guide on required documents for each type of Visa on the Visa Navigator, or to the Visa information on the board of the respective website of the Diplomatic Office.

5. Procedure

6. Check the Result of Your Confirmation of Visa Issuance Application

You can check the result of your application – through “Application Status” via the Visa Portal, ARS (02-2650-6363), text message or e-mail address you gave us.

7. Visa Application

• The sponsor (inviter) must download Visa application form (for the applicant) from “Application Status” on the Visa Portal, and send it to the applicant via email, or inform him/her of the number and expiry date of the confirmation of visa issuance.
• The applicant must receive Visa application form for the confirmation of visa issuance or its number (expiry date) from the sponsor in Korea in order to apply for his/her visa at the Korean Embassy or Consulate General.

Confirmation of Visa issuance is valid for 3 months, and is effective for visa issuance just for once.
For any other inquiries, please contact the Immigration Contact center (+1345 without an area code or +82+1345 if you are calling from abroad).

Visa Application via Korean Diplomatic Missions Abroad

1. Location of Application

Korean Embassy or Consulate in the applicant’s country (or area) of residence.

2. Applicant

Application must be submitted by a foreigner or a visa agency on behalf of the foreigner

3. Applicable Status of Stay (as of Dec.8.2014)

• A single-entry or multiple-entry visa for eligible applicants of Diplomat(A-1), Government Official(A-2) Visa
• A single-entry visa (with 90 days of duration of stay or less), for eligible applicants of - Short-term News Coverage (C-1), Short-term General (C-3) and Short-term Employee (C-4)
• A multiple-entry visa (with 90 days of duration of stay or less) for eligible applicants of Short-term News Coverage (C-1) and Short-term General (C-3) Visa who are citizens of countries that have multiple-entry visa agreements with Korea.
• Visas issued at the discretion of the head of a Korean diplomatic mission abroad, such as single-entry visa (with 90 days of duration of stay or less) for eligible applicants of Korean Arts and Culture (D-1) Visa who are planning to engage in cultural arts activities upon invitation of the Korea Foundation or from Korean Culture and Arts Committee

※ Please refer to the Visa Navigator for more details

4. Required Documents

• Visa Application Form (application form No.17, or please click the ‘Application’ menu on the Visa Portal >> Fill out the electronic form)
• Passport
• Photo (natural color, 3.5cm x 4.5cm)
• Fee (in U.S. dollars)

  - You can pay the fee in the currency of your own country only if you receive permission from the head of the Korean diplomatic mission in your country.

• Required documents for corresponding status of stay

  The required documents mentioned on the Visa Navigator are of the minimum requirements.
  Depending on the circumstances of one’s country, the head of the Korean diplomatic mission may request/exempt additional documents for further evaluation.
  Therefore, in the case that required documents on the Visa Navigator do not match with those of the diplomatic mission, please follow the instructions and requirements provided by the respective diplomatic mission.

5. Procedure

※ For any other inquiries, please contact the consular affair Korean diplomatic missions in your country of residence.

Confirmation of Visa Issuance Application via Korean Immigration Offices

1. Location of Application

Korean Immigration Office that has jurisdiction over the area of inviter’s residence

2. Applicants

Application must be submitted by a foreigner or the sponsor/agency (E-9, E-10) on behalf of the foreigner

3. Applicable Status of Stay(as of Dec.8.2014)

• Long-term Korean Arts and Culture (D-1), Student (D-2), Industrial trainee (D-3), General trainee (D-4), Long-term News Coverage (D-5), Religious Worker (D-6), Intra-company Transferee (D-7), Corporate/Foreign investor (D-8), International Trade (D-9), Professor (E-1), Foreign Language Instructor (E-2), Researcher (E-3), Technical Instructor/Technician (E-4), Professional (E-5), Artists/Athlete (E-6), Foreign National of Special Ability (E-7), Non-professional (E-9), Maritime Crew (E-10), Family Visitor (F-1), Dependent Family (F-3), Miscellaneous (G-1), and Work and Visit (H-2) Visa for eligible applicants
• Long-term Visa for citizens of countries with no formal diplomatic relations with Korea, or just specific countries (i.e. Cuba, Syria, and Macedonia) designated by the Korean government.
• Other people recognized by the Minister of Justice as needed

※ Please refer to the Visa Navigator for more details.

4. Required Documents

• Confirmation of Visa Issuance Application Form (Form No.21)
• Photocopy of passport pages
• Photograph (in natural color, size: 3.5cm x 4.5cm)
• Required documents for the corresponding status of stay

  - The required documents mentioned on the Visa Navigator are of the minimum requirements. The head of the immigration office may request/exempt additional documents for further evaluation.

• The employment certificate and a copy of the representative’s ID, and a letter of attorney are required if the representative applies on behalf of the applicant. (Representative’s application may be restricted when further evaluation is required)

5. Procedures

6. Notification of evaluation results

You can check the result of your application – through “Application Status” via the Visa Portal, ARS (02-2650-6363), text message or e-mail address you gave us.

7. Visa Issuance

• The sponsor (inviter) must download Visa application form (for the applicant) from “Application Status” on the Visa Portal, and send it to the applicant via email, or inform him/her of the number and expiry date of the confirmation of visa issuance.
• The applicant must receive Visa application form for the confirmation of visa issuance or its number (expiry date) from the sponsor in Korea in order to apply for his/her visa at the Korean Embassy or Consulate General.

Confirmation of Visa issuance is valid for 3 months, and is effective for visa issuance just for once.
For any other inquiries, please contact the Immigration Contact center (+1345 without an area code or +82+1345 if you are calling from abroad).

https://contactkorea.kotra.or.kr/jsp/en/info/info4_0_1_en.jsp