Frequently Asked Questions 103: South Korea Tourist Visa for Filipinos

1. Do I need a visa to go to South Korea?

Yes, Filipinos are required to have a visa when visiting South Korea.

2. What are the requirements?

For Filipino Employees, here are the requirements below.

1. Application Form
2. 1 piece of Passport size colored picture
3. Original Passport (should be valid for more than 6 months)
4. Photocopy of Passport Bio-page (page 2)
5. Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years (If applicable, and Korean Visas will not be counted)
6. Original Certificate of Employment (must include applicant's position, date hired, compensation, office address, HR landline number(cell-phone number is not allowed), HR e-mail address)
7. Original Personal Bank Certificate (must include account type, current balance, account opening date, ADB)
8. Bank Statement 
9. (original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months)
10. Photocopy of ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316

       *Frequent travellers who have travelled as tourist to OECD member countries within 5 years are exempt from submitting ITR.

3. What are the OECD member countries?

This includes but not limited to USA, Japan, Australia, UK, Canada, etc. To know the full list, please click here.

4. How much should I have in my Bank account?

The embassy does not tell specifically how much is the amount required. You need to show to the embassy that you have an adequate amount of funds to finance your travel. To increase the chance of your approval, one should have at least P 50,000.

5.  Fees and processing days?

Visa Fee: 59 days (or less) stay in Korea -- GRATIS

60 to 90 days stay in Korea -- PHP1,800.00

3 working days (for those who have been to OECD member countries within 5 years as tourist)

5 working days (for those who have not been to OECD member countries within 5 years)

If you are lucky, you can get a multiple entry visa valid up to 5 years! This depends on  your standing from several factors like balance amount in your bank account, stamps from several countries in your passport.

6.  Where to submit?

McKinley Town Center, 122 Upper McKinley Rd, Taguig, 1634 Metro Manila

7. How long can I stay?

For single-entry visa, you are only allowed to stay in Korea for up to fourteen (59) days valid three (3) months from the issued date. Example, you received your visa September 1, 2015, you can visit Korea anytime from September 1 until November 30, 2015. If you decided to go on November 25, you must leave Korea before November 30 since your visa has already expired.

8. What are the other things I should keep in mind?

• Starting July 1, 2015, all visa applicants who have travelled as tourist  to Korea at  least once within 5 years will be exempt  from submitting  ITR copy. Processing time will also be reduced  to 3 working days. They are still  required to apply at window 1 or 2.
• Those  who have travelled to korea once within 5 years with purpose other than tour such as business, church visti, family visit, are still required to submit ITR copy. They  are required to apply at window 1 or 2. Processing time is 5 working days.
• Those who have travelled to Korea more than twice within 4 years are exempt  from submitting  ITR copy  and may apply at window 3(frequent travellers).
• When filling out your application, answer all the requirements truthfully. When it is not applicable, please put N/A and don't leave it blank.

Leave a comment below in case you have questions but I can only share my personal experiences when I applied my visa last April 2015. To know more about Korean visa, please visit their website HERE.