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 Ms. Lilliane, your blog is really helpful. I will just ask your recommendation for first time Visa Applicant. What’s better po? Get an agency to help us in fixing our requirements or wag na lang po? Thank you po ang Hoping for your kin assistance. :)
hi.ask lang.i was issued multiple entry korean visa.. should i used it within 3 months or is it ok to use it on june next year?my visa was issued last august
Hello miss…. Pued bang ako lang mag apply for my two daughters, both students ppa, 21 and 16 years old . Ive been checking for comments na same inquiries ko, kaya wala akong nakita. Hope u can answer
hi good pm… do u know if sometimes the visa processing is exceeding for more than 5days? thanks
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Can i ask po if i need to get a tourist visa ,because i plan to stay in korea for only 1 week salamat po
Hi good day po.am a foreign student here in manila and pls how is my chances of getting a korean tourist visa since i dont have a sponsor here.I just submitted it 2days ago po
Hi Ms. Lilliane, I’m not sure what “valid visa(s) and arrival stamps to OECD member countries” mean. I went to Korea last September 2015 and it’s only valid until December 2015 (single entry visa). Does that mean I can’t present it to the embassy again to be considered a frequent traveler because it’s technically expired?
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.
I think going through a travel agency for Korean visa is more efficient. I had the same case with my brother, they didn’t even check his documents thoroughly, they just told him that his ITR is missing even though he presented them with his student certificate. When I asked him to go to the travel agency and let them process it, he receive the visa in less than 1 week.
If you can afford and are willing to pay for service, then you get service. That is the benefit of using a travel agency. But self applying is free, so that’s why some people opt for that.
Hello po Ms. Lilliane. Ask ko lang po, I am currently living in the US. I am a green card holder and planning to visit Philippines in May. While at Phil gusto ko po sanang mag apply ng tourist visa to Korea and go there for a couple of weeks bago bumalik ng US. I am not working and my husband is retired. All my banking transactions po are here sa US and my husband is the main holder of the account. You think they can still approved me a visa kung sa Pilipinas ako mag aaply? Thank you po. Have a great day!
Yes. Submit marriage certificate and husband financial statement