16/04/2015
[Visa]
Any visitors who enter Korea needs to have a visa whether his/her purpose of entry is to work, travel or study. A visa is affixed to the passport. Those who fall under one of the special cases specified in the Immigration Law are exempt from visa requirements. However, having a visa does not necessarily mean anyone with a visa can enter the Republic of Korea. In Korea, a visa indicates a consul’s recommended action for a foreigner’s entry. Thus, during the entry inspection, if immigration officers find a foreigner does not meet the requirements of entry, the foreigner’s entry can be rejected at discretion.
Types of visas
● Single visa
only one entry is allowed within the term (Single visa is valid for three months from the date of issue)
● Multiple visa
an individual can enter the country two or more times within the term.
Visa types according to status of stay
● Diplomacy/Official Mission Status
Diplomacy (A-1), Official Mission (A-2), Agreements (A-3)
● Employment Visa
Temporary Employment (C-4), Professor (E-1), Foreign Language Teaching (E-2), Research (E- 3), Technological Guidance (E-4), Profession (E- 5), Arts/Entertainment (E-6), Specially Designated Activities (E-7), Non-professional Employment (E-9), Labor Aboard (E-10), Working Holiday (H-1)
● Non-profit & Short-term Stay Visa
Temporary Press Coverage (C-1), Temporary Business (C-2), Temporary Visiting(C-3)
● Long-term Stay Visa
Culture/Arts (D-1), Study (D-2), Industrial Training (D-3), General Training (D-4), Press Coverage (D-5), Religious Works (D-6), Intra- Company Transfer (D-7), Treaty Investment (D- 8), Treaty Trade (D-9), Visit & Stay with Family (F-1), Residency (F-2), Family Dependency (F-3), Overseas Koreans (F-4), Permanent Residence(F-5), Others (G-1)
Visa issuance procedure
● The Place of Visa Application & Issuance
The embassy or consulate of the Republic of Korea
● Exceptions to Visa Issuance
Prior to visa issuance from a consulate overseas, if necessary, the competent Immigration Office or its branch office (only Ulsan/ Donghae Branch) can conduct preliminary inspection on applications of a foreigner entering Korea and a domestic inviter and issue a certificate for recognition of visa issuance. After receiving the certificate for recognition of visa issuance, the individual can apply for a visa. Valid term of the certificate is 3months. 여권
● Documents to Submit
- Passport
- Visa issuance application
- Required documents for each status of stay (The information is available on the Korea Immigration
- Servicewebsite:www.hikorea.go.kr[K,E])
● Visa Issuance Fee
- Single visa (90 days or less): amount(91 days ormore): amount equivalent to $50 equivalent to $30
- Multiple visa: amount equivalent to $80
- Passport
Visa-free entry
An individual who falls under one of the following conditions can enter the country without a visa
- An individual who is a national of a country with which the Republic of Korea has visa waiver agreements.
- Countries under visawaiver agreements
- Designated visa-free entry
- Frequent visitors
- Transit tourists bound for another country
- Japanese tourists
- Europe-bound Chinese transit tourists
- Those with special entry arrangements for Jeju island
- Re-entry permit holders
- APEC Business Travel Card holders
* Check applicable countries and free-entry qualifications on the following website:
www.hikorea.go.kr[K,E]