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As international travel gains popularity, especially to South Korea, securing a South Korean tourist visa becomes essential. Mytour provides insights into the process of applying for an independent South Korean tourist visa.
Independent South Korean Visa Application
I. Is Obtaining a South Korean Tourist Visa Easy or Challenging?
As shared by many, acquiring a South Korean visa is deemed easier than obtaining a Japanese visa but more challenging compared to Taiwan. Presently, Vietnam stands as a nation and a tourism market contributing significantly to the development of South Korean tourism. When applying for a South Korean visa with a clean and well-prepared application, the process is remarkably straightforward.
An objective issue beyond our control is the increasing number of independent travelers who might overstay, as seen in the recent case of 152 tourists mysteriously disappearing during a Taiwan tour. Consequently, consular staff scrutinize and review tourist visa applications meticulously and cautiously.
For individuals residing in provinces such as Nghệ An, Thanh Hóa, Quảng Ninh, Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Bình, Hải Phòng, being on Hanoi's South Korea travel blacklist makes the visa application process challenging and often affects the application outcome.
II. Address of the South Korean Consulate General in Vietnam
* Hanoi
- Embassy of South Korea: 28th Floor, Lottee Center Hanoi Building, 54 Lieu Giai, Cau Giay, Hanoi
- Consulate General of South Korea: 7th Floor, Charmvit Building, 117 Tran Duy Hung, Cau Giay, Hanoi
- Website: overseas.mofa.go.kr
- Hotline: 024.3771.0404 (press 715 for Visa)
* Ho Chi Minh City (TPHCM)
- Address: 107 Nguyen Du, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Hotline: 028.3824.8531 (press 4)
- Website: overseas.mofa.go.kr
- Office hours: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 01:30 PM - 05:00 PM (Monday - Friday)
- The visa application submission time is from 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 01:30 PM - 02:00 PM. However, during peak visa application periods, the consulate may stop issuing numbers early.
- Result collection time is from 03:00 PM - 05:00 PM
* Applicants submitting documents at the consulate office
Applicants submitting documents at the consulate office depend on their household registration and place of birth. If you are from one of the provinces from Quang Nam to the South, you submit your documents at the Korean Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. If you are from a province in the area from Da Nang to the North, you submit your documents at the consulate office in Hanoi at the updated address.
III. Characteristics of Self-Guided Korean Tourist Visa
Procedures for Applying for a Korean Visa 2019
1. Types of Tourist Visas
There are various types of tourist visas, depending on the individual. For instance, the C-3 Visa is standard, with a validity period of 3 months and stay duration in Korea determined by the consulate, usually up to 15 days, suitable for first-time self-guided Korean tourist visa applicants.
As for the multiple-entry visa, it has a validity period of up to 5 years, with a maximum stay of 30 days per entry, designed for individuals who have traveled to Korea multiple times. According to Korean regulations, individuals who have entered the country at least 4 times in the past 2 years with a clean record are eligible for the multiple-entry visa.
2. Visa Application Fees for Traveling to Korea
Starting from August 16, 2017, the visa application fees for traveling to Korea have been updated. The Korean consulate only accepts visa fees in Vietnamese Dong. For a C-3 Visa, the fee is 20 USD, equivalent to 462,000 VND. The visa fee may vary depending on the exchange rate.
3. Processing Time for Korean Visa Approval
The processing time for Korean visa approval is 8 working days, excluding the days of document submission and holidays. However, the processing time may extend if your application coincides with the peak period or requires additional documents. Typically, peak visa application periods are in March, April, May, September, October, and November.
4. Cases Eligible for Proxy Visa Application Submission
As per regulations, visa applicants are required to submit their applications in person, except for the following cases:
- Parents who, due to special circumstances, cannot submit their applications in person, can have their children submit on their behalf.
- Minors: The applicant's parents will act as proxies for visa application submission.
IV. Procedures for Applying for Independent Travel Visa to South Korea
1. Required Documents for South Korea Visa Application
To have your visa application accepted and reviewed by the consulate, ensure you submit the following documents:
* Original Passport: It must be valid for at least 6 months from the intended date of entry into South Korea.
* Visa Application Form
For the visa application form, obtain the form from the South Korean consulate, either by visiting the consulate or downloading it online. Fill in all the required information, attach a 3.5 x 4.5cm photo taken within the last 3 months with a white background. For children under 16, parents will sign on their behalf.
Note when filling out the Visa Application Form: You can type or handwrite the information, but ensure the details are in either Korean or English.
2. Proof of Financial Means
For international travel requiring a visa, financial proof is necessary. For obtaining a self-guided South Korean tourist visa, the financial proof includes:
- Possession of a savings account with a minimum balance of 100 million VND (or 5000 USD). The deposit period is not strictly defined, but to expedite consular scrutiny, it is recommended to have a minimum duration of 3 months. The deposit should ideally be made at least 1 week before submitting the visa application. Remember to submit both the original and a photocopy for verification.
- Original bilingual (English-Vietnamese) balance confirmation of the savings account. This confirmation should not exceed 2 weeks from the time of issuance to the visa application submission.
- One savings account proof is sufficient for the entire family's travel.
- For students with parents as sponsors, the savings account must be in the name of the parents. If the sponsorship is from a married couple, the savings account can be in the name of either spouse.
According to recent information, South Korea will issue a 5-year visa for individuals with registered residences in HCMC, Da Nang, and Hanoi. Therefore, if you have a registered residence in one of these cities, you are exempt from providing financial proof when applying for a Korean visa.
3. Other Financial Capability Documents
(This documentation is not mandatory)
The required documents include:
- Pension account statements or pension income certificates (for retirees)
- Personal income tax returns for the last 3 months.
- Personal salary account statements for the last 3 months.
- Certificate of participation in social insurance for the last 3 months.
- Pink or red book, property ownership certificate, apartment purchase contract.
4. Documents proving employment
* Students
Students need parental sponsorship.
- Copy of student ID card, along with confirmation of student status.
- Under 18: Personal birth certificate, parental consent, photocopy of parents' ID card.
Optional but recommended documents for a higher success rate and avoiding verification:
- Mother's or father's employment contract.
- Leave request if traveling to Korea during non-vacation period.
* Employees and salaried individuals
- Submit a copy of the probationary contract, labor contract, or appointment decision.
- Leave request must state the reason for leave as travel. In case of overlapping with holidays, no leave request is required. It is advisable to submit the leave request in English to avoid translation and notarization efforts.
* Unemployed/homemaker
For homemakers and unemployed individuals to increase the visa approval rate, a sponsor with stable employment (spouse) is necessary.
- Personal history/ documents from the local authorities confirming current occupation.
- Documentation proving the spouse's job and marriage registration to certify the marital relationship.
* Self-employed individuals
For individuals in the working age without income, a specific sponsor must be the spouse. If unmarried and self-employed, follow the instructions. However, obtaining a visa for travel to South Korea is challenging in this case.
- Documents explaining the current job.
- The more documents and images showcasing your current job and income, including past roles, the better.
- When reviewing applications, consular officers may request additional documents.
* Retirees
- Have a retirement decision or pension book. If the documents are not clear, additional copies of the pension account statement or pension payment slips for the last 3 months may be required.
* Individual business owners, business owners
- Business registration certificate.
- Tax payment documents or tax returns for one of the last 3 months with the company's stamp.
5. Itinerary, travel plan in Korea
When traveling to Korea, it's essential to have a detailed travel itinerary, including information such as departure and return dates, destination, accommodation details, etc. The more specific the information, the higher the chances of approval.
6. Confirmation of round-trip flight booking
You can book the ticket and choose the payment method later. The travel agency or airline will send a confirmation email. Print it out and submit it to the consulate along with other documents.
7. Confirmation of hotel reservation
Similar to flight booking, confirming hotel reservations doesn't require immediate payment. You can reserve a hotel room, select the 'pay later' option, receive a confirmation email, and print it out to submit to the consulate.
8. Other types of consular documents that may be required
- Notarized translated household registration book.
- ID card/citizen identification card of the visa applicant. Prepare a photocopy and bring the original along.
- Temporary residence permit or notarized translated temporary residence book. For those residing in one of the six provinces such as Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, a temporary residence book is required.
Sharing insights on the process of obtaining a Korean tourist visa independently, we hope you secure your visa easily and quickly, ensuring your trip unfolds according to the planned schedule. Due to the time-consuming nature of visa applications, it's advisable to apply for a visa 2 to 3 months before your intended travel date to avoid any delays.
Additionally, Mytour provides guidance on the process of obtaining a tourist visa to Japan independently, assisting readers intending to travel to Japan in understanding the steps for a swift Japanese tourist visa application.
