Manual of Visa issuance for all visas

VISA

What is Visa? Visa Issuance Procedure Manual of Visa issuance for all visas Visa Issuance FeeSample of Republic of Korea VISA

  

Main contents

• If you click the link below, you can see the detailed instructions regarding eligible applicants for each visa type, electronic visas, visas issued at a Korean diplomatic mission abroad/immigration (branch office) and required application documents.

☞ The Visa Instruction Guide. Click Here →

< posted : 01/01,2014 >

Visa Issuance Location

VISA

What is Visa? Visa Issuance Procedure Manual of Visa issuance for all visas Visa Issuance FeeSample of Republic of Korea VISA

  

Visa Issuance Location

• R.O.K. Embassy or Consulate
  • Visa is issued by the R.O.K Embassy or Consulate under the assignment given by the Minister of Justice. (Immigration Act Article 8, Section 2, Regulations Articles 11 and 9)
  ※ In special cases, you may apply for the visa after receiving certificate of visa issuance approval from the Immigration Office (Immigration Control Act Article 9, Regulations Article 17)

Required Documents

• Passport
• Visa Issuance Application
• Other documents as required by the applied visa status → Click here and check.
  ※ Submit with the certificate of visa issuance recognition if necessary

Note

• Head of Embassy/Consulate may issue visa at their discretion for the issuance-approved visa only.
• For those visa that the Head of Embassy/Consulate is not cleared to issue on discretion, he/she must request for the approval to Minster of Justice (According to Regulations Article 8, Section 1 of the Immigration Control Act )
• If the applicant applies for a visa without submitting the certificate of approval for visa issuance, the head of Embassy/Consulate may issue the visa with the permission of Minster of Justice in accordance with the visa issuance permission request procedure.

Notice

• Should a visa applicant enter Korea prior to the actual issuance of the visa, it will be assumed that the applicant is withdrawing their application, and the issuance will be canceled
• Visa applicant must claim their visa within 3 months after:
  -the date of application or
  -the notification date of Minister of Justice's approval(applicable only if one is needed)
• Otherwise, the applicant must apply for a new visa.

General Visa Issuance Flow

• Upon visa application, applicants must submit all required documents the status of stay, which must suit the purpose of their visit.
  
  
  • Head of Embassy/Consulate may issue visa at their discretion for the issuance-approved visa only.
  • For visas that the Head of Embassy/Consulate is not cleared to issue on discretion, applicants must request fo
    r the approval to Minster of Justice (According to Regulations Article 8, Section 1 of the Immigration Control Act )
  • R.O.K. visa, which lists applicants' status of stay and its expiration date, is attached to the passport and returned to the applicant.
  ※ Please check to see if all of the information on the visa is correct prior to entry.

< posted : 02/01,2008 >

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What is VISA?

VISA

What is Visa? Visa Issuance Procedure Manual of Visa issuance for all visas Visa Issuance FeeSample of Republic of Korea VISA

  

What is VISA?

• VISA is a kind of endorsement or acknowledgment, whose specific meaning differs from country to country. Generally speaking, however, it is used to mean one of the following two things; One being the 'permission to enter' a given country, and the other being the 'consul's recommendation for a foreigner's entry request.'
• In case of Republic of Korea, the latter definition is used. Therefore, even if one were to have a Korean visa, one can still be denied entry to Korean soil should an immigration officer find some requirements unsatisfactory after inspection.

Visa free Entry (Visa waiver)

• Visa is a basic requirement for entry and in principle, a foreigner wishing to enter Korea must have a visa.
• However, a person meeting any one of the following qualification may enter Korean without a visa. (Article 7, Section 2 of the Immigration Act)
• * Those granted permission or immunity for reentry that enters before the expiration date.
• * Nationals of a country that signed visa waiver agreements with Republic of Korea and are thereby subject of exemption.
• * Those entering for the interest of international goodwill, travel, or purpose beneficial to Korea who have been granted permitted to enter by presidential decree.
• * Those that departed with a refugee travel certification and entering prior to the expiration date.
• For detailed information on a foreigner's entry without a visa, please click here.

VISA Types

Single Entry Visa

• Only a single-entry is permitted for the duration of the visa.
• Valid for 3 months from the date it had been issued.

multiple-entry visa

• Multiple entries are permitted for as long as visa remains valid.
• Valid for:
  - Diplomacy (A-1) / Conventions/Agreements (A-3) visa status: 3 years from date of issue.
  - Visa provided under multiple-entry visa Agreement: duration specified by an agreement.
  - Visa provided for national benefit: duration specified by the Minister of Justice

Notes

• Should a visa applicant enter Korea prior to the actual issuance of the visa, it will be assumed that the applicant is withdrawing their application, and the issuance will be canceled
• Visa applicant must claim their visa within 3 months after:
  -the date of application or
  -the notification date of Minister of Justice's approval(applicable only if one is needed)
• Otherwise, the applicant must apply for a new visa.

Others C1, C2

Others

Less than 90 days More than 91 days

  

status of stay	Qualifications	Entry	Staying in Korea	Depature
Temporary Press Coverage (C-1)	Those seeking participation in temporary news coverage or reporting activities. ELIGIBILITY/PROCEDURE/DOCUMENT	Passport + Visa + Disembarkation Card	EXTENSION OF STAY CHANGE OF STATUS	Passport
Temporary Visit (C-3)	Those seeking short term stay for travel/transit, medical treatment, visiting relatives, a major sporting event, attending conferences, various cultural or artistic events, religious ceremony, or other similar reasons (For non-profit purposes only) ELIGIBILITY/PROCEDURE/DOCUMENT		EXTENSION OF STAY

< posted : 02/01,2008 >

Work C4

Work

Less than 90 days More than 91 days

  

status of stay	Qualifications	Entry	Staying in Korea	Depature
Temporary employment (C-4)	Those seeking temporary employment such as short-term entertainment, advertisement, fashion model, lecture, research or technical training, etc. ELIGIBILITY/PROCEDURE/DOCUMENT	Passport + Visa + Disembarkation Card	EXTENSION OF STAY	Passport

< posted : 02/01,2008 >

Education C3

Education

Less than 90 days More than 91 days

  

status of stay	Qualifications	Entry	Staying in Korea	Depature
Temporary Visit (C-3)	Those seeking short term stay for short study / training session, academic research, or other similar reasons. ELIGIBILITY/PROCEDURE/DOCUMENT	Passport + Visa + Disembarkation Card	EXTENSION OF STAY	Passport

< posted : 02/01,2008 >

Business C3,4

Business

Less than 90 days More than 91 days

  

status of stay	Qualifications	Entry	Staying in Korea	Depature
Temporary Business (C-3-4)	Those seeking short-term stay for market research, liaison, observation, consultation, contract, installation / repair/ inspection / operation of machinery for import / export, or any such similar purpose. ELIGIBILITY/PROCEDURE/REQUIRED DOCUMENTS	Passport + Visa + Disembarkation Card	EXTENSION OF STAY	Passport

< posted : 02/01,2008 >