Travel to South Korea
South Korea has become a popular travel destination for Filipinos. I believe this is due to cheap flights are available all year round with increasing number of budget airlines. It also helps that South Korea have eased up their visa policy to attract more tourists.
My whole family visited Seoul in April, 2014. And because we wanted to avoid paying sizable service fees to travel agency who charges per head, we decided to do it ourselves. So here it is, your guide on
How to apply Korean Tourist Visa in the Philippines
To apply South Korean tourist visa in the Philippines is very easy and straight forward. That is, if you have fund to show and complete requirement. It is even easier if you are considered a frequent traveler.
FREQUENT TRAVELERS are defined as persons who have traveled to any OECD member countries within the last 5 years. Note that unused visa doesn’t count. The OECD member countries are US and Canada, Japan, Schengen member states, and the United Kingdom. There is a fast track window dedicated for such applicants.
Those who have traveled to South Korea 3x or more within the last 4 years are also considered frequent travelers.
As with all my visa application for Philippine passport holders posts, I’ll only be focusing on TOURIST VISA. If you are working, studying, or marrying, this post will not be useful. You can find the requirements in the consular section of the South Korean Embassy’s official website.
Tourist Visa Requirements for First Time Applicants
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- Application Form – [download]
- One (1) Passport size colored picture (34mm x 45mm)
- Original Passport (6 months valid)
- Photocopy of Passport Bio-page
- Original Certificate of Employment, if employed
- Photocopy of Business Registration and Business Permit, if self-employed
- Original Personal Bank Certificate issued by bank (NOT Bank Statement, NOT Passbook)
- Photocopy of ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316
- [optional] Invitation Letter & Copy of inviter’s Passport, if invited by Korean resident.
- [optional] Invitation Letter & Copy of Korean Company Business Permit, if invited by Korean company.
Tourist Visa Requirements for Frequent Travelers
- Application Form – [download]
- One (1) Passport size colored picture (34mm x 45mm)
- Original Passport (6 months valid)
- Photocopy of Passport Bio-page
- Original & Copy of valid visas and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years
- Original Certificate of Employment, if employed
- Photocopy of Business Registration and Business Permit, if self-employed
- Original Personal Bank Certificate issued by bank (NOT Bank Statement, NOT Passbook)
Where to Apply Korean Tourist Visa in the Philippines?
Address : 122 Upper McKinley Road
McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio
Taguig city 1634, Philippines
Applications are accepted, no need to schedule
Monday~Friday 08:30~12:00nn
First Time Applicants: Windows 1 & 2
Frequent Travelers: Window 3
How long is it to Apply Korean Tourist Visa in the Philippines?
First Time Applicants: 5 working days
Frequent Travelers: 3-4 working days
How much is the visa fee of Korean Tourist Visa?
59 days (or less) stay in Korea — FREE (Walang bayad, Libre Lang)
60 to 90 days stay in Korea — PHP1,800.00
Apparently they also issue 3-year, multiple entries visas.
Korean Embassy’s issue with yayas and caregivers
It is almost impossible to secure a Korean visa for your yaya, caregiver, or nurse.
When we applied for the whole family in April, we included my father’s caregiver who have traveled with us to China, Taiwan, and other Southeast Asian countries. Her passport is filled with travel stamps, yet despite writing guarantee and letter of financial support for her, they still wouldn’t issue her visa.
It took 5 trips to the embassy (2 hours drive away during rush hour, not to mention wasting gasoline), each time presenting new required document, for us to realize they are not going to issue her visa.
In the end I got a Korean friend to guarantee for the caregiver. And so I learned that the Koreans have issue with the Filipino traveling with yaya or caregiver. They find it arrogant. The consul said that “if my father can’t walk, he should just stayed home.” He said it in a joking manner but obviously I know for sure it was 100% meant. What an a$$hole. I don’t know if this is an acceptable attitude of a Korean country representative abroad. But he issued me the visa anyway. So I let it pass.
Hello may I ask if I can pass COE that was filed on May then I will pass y Appication on August? Thanks.
It’s better to submit the latest COE.
May regulation sila na dapat all documents must be issued within 3 months from the date of application.
Tnx for this chances, may I ask if I have to bring may dep ed permit to travel coz I’m public school teacher
Hi! I haven’t been to Korea but I’ve been to Japan and UAE. I’m also a public school teacher. The Ph Immigration officer asked for my travel permit when I went to Japan but not when I went to UAE. Good thing I prepared a letter signed by our principal (Not an official travel permit since it’s not easy to get one)
Could you please recommend a reliable travel agency to process my Visa? I live in Mindanao, and it’s impossible for me to personally apply for a visa in either Manila or Cebu. I hope you could help. One more thing too, I noticed that most of the reasons of the denied visas are regarding the purpose of visit. If I’m just going to go there as a tourist, what should I write under the purpose of visit? Thanks!
Hi! Me and my friends will be travelling to SK this July, problem is, one of my friend tried applying for a visa in Abu Dhabi branch since she’s an OFW, but she was denied. Can she still apply for a visa here? She’ll be going back here in Phil for a vacation.
Hi Lala, ask ko po nagtry mag apply ng visa sa Pinas ang friend niyo? Naapproved po ba cya? Thank you
Hi! Is it possible for me to apply for a multiple-entry visa? This will be my second time to apply a korean visa, my first one was last year – Oct 2015. Thanks.
Hi! I would like to ask. I have a friend who is unemployed and married, but her husband is unemployed as well. Can she use her parents documents to apply for a korean visa? Thank you. :)
hi.ask ko lng kung ok lng ba gamitin ko itr ng asawa ko,shes a government employee at ako ay contractual lng same company din..ok lng ba na ung itr nia gamitin ko in applying tourist visa?thanks for replying
Hi, good day. We plan to travel to Korea next year with my family (my wife and 2 kids). Since my kids are still having school during the application period, is it possible for my me and wife to just submit their application together with ours or do they really have to also appear personally?
Good morning po sa lahat. Ask po sana ako, Im a Philippine passport holder, a freelance photographer, and have a student visa for Germany. Gusto ko po sana vacation sa Korea this September with my Boyfriend. BF ko po mag shoulder lahat ng gastos sa travel namin. san po ako na category na belong at anu-ano po mga requirements na need ko i provide?
Hi!! Your blog helped me a lot, thank you so much… pero may question pa po ako.. Me and my friends are planning to visit korea next year.. Lahat nmn po kmi 18 and above ang kaso po lahat din kmi students and unemployed kasi parents nmn po namin magbabayad.. tsaka po some of us are first time lang din lalabas ng pilipinas.. mahirap po ba silang makakuha ng korean visa kung ganun??