Going to South Korea for leisure or visiting family or frineds and need to know the latest Korean tourist visa requirements, Korean tourist visa processing time or need to make a South Korea visa appointment? Browse this South Korea visa website to learn more.
South Korea Visa Types
There are several types of Korean visas available and the visa type for South Korea you need to apply depends on the purpose of your trip to South Korea.
Finding out what type of South Korea visa you need to apply for is actually a pretty easy process. You can apply for Korean visa if you are traveling for one of the following purposes:
- Korean Tourist Visa - South Korea visa is issued to foreigners that wish to visit South Korea, for a shorter period like 30 days within a 3-month period
- Korean Visitor Visa - Make it possible for non-Korean family members and friends that live outside of South Korea to come to South Korea and meet their parents, children, spouse or friends.
- Korean Business Visa - To participate in business related activities including attending or conducting meetings or conferences or training, installing equipment or performing other temporary services for a client, local affiliate or branch office in South Korea.
- Korean Transit Visa - To transit through the airport or port in South Korea
Other Korean Visa Types
There are other types of Korean visas available for non-Korean citizens to apply:
- Student Visa
- Journalist Visa
- Retirement Visa
- Permantent Resident Visa
- Work Visa
- Official Visit Visa
- Cultural, Film Crew & Sports Visa
- Merchant Seaman Visa
Korean Entry Visa Types
Single Entry visa for South Korea: A single-entry visa allows its holder to enter South Korea only once, within the given period of time, as mentioned in the visa sticker affixed to their passport. Once the visa holder exits the territory of South Korea or visa region associated with South Korea, he or she can no longer go back, even if they have not spend in South Korea the number of days as permitted by the embassy that issued them the visa.
Double Entry visa for South Korea: In general, a double-entry visa applies the same way as the single-entry visa explained above. The sole difference between a single-entry and a double-entry visa is that the second gives you the chance to go once more back to South Korea
Multiple Entry visa for South Korea: This type of visa allows the holder of the visa to enter South Korea mutiple times with visa validity period.
Steps to Applying for Korean visa To apply for a Korean visa follow the steps given below:
- Check if you need to apply for a Korean Visa.
- Know when is the right time to apply!
- Figure out what type of Korean visa you need.
- Find out where you should lodge your application.
- Fill in the right Korean visa form.
- Collect the documents required for Korean visa.
- Make a visa appointment.
- Attend the visa interview.
- Submit your biometrics.
- Pay the visa fee.
Please Note: Please consult Korean embassy in your country as visa regulations for South Korea can and often change overnight. In individual cases, additional documents required for Korean visa. We accept no responsibility as we have no affiliation with the embassy of South Korea or their visa section.
Going for a visa interview at the embassy? The visa officer at the Korean consulate will look over your application and ask you questions if they wish to clarify anything. It is best to answer these questions honestly.
Typical questions asked at the South Korea visa interview include:
- What is your purpose of your trip to South Korea?
- Do you know anyone living in South Korea?
- What is your current occupation?
- How long have you been in your current occupation?
- If you are a student, when will the studies finsh?
- How will you suuport yourself whilst in South Korea?
- Have you ever travelled to other countries?
- Who will pay for your trip to South Korea?
- What are your plans when you return from your trip?
- What will you do if your visa application is rejected?
- What is your marital status?
- Will you be involved in business in South Korea?
Common reasons why your Korean visa application got rejected include:
- Lack of funds – you must be able to afford your trip South Korea and you must provide documents to show that you can.
- Proof of accommodation not provided – you must be able to show where you will be staying in South Korea and you can easily do this by providing a hotel reservation in South Korea.
- The visa officer thinks you will not return to your home country – you must make it clear that you intend to leave South Korea and return to your home country before the expiry of your visa. You can do this by providing documents that show you have ties where you live, such as an employment letter or proof that you own your home etc.
- No proof of residence – you must be able to prove that you can live in the country of your residence legally, so you must provide proof of residence.