TIPS: What you'll need to apply for a South Korean visa

Want to experience wandering around South Korea?   

Hallyu fan or not, South Korea is a must-see country with its tourist attractions, cultural heritage, great food, and impact on pop culture. What K-pop or K-drama fan would want to miss out on visiting the spots their idols and fave actors have visited?

In just a few easy steps, you can get a Korean visa to get the chance to explore South Korea.

To get you started, identify what type of visa you are applying for. A visa depends on the duration and purpose of visitation: a single-entry visa with a 90-day validation from the date it was issued, a multiple entry visa, and a double entry visa.

Ahead are the documents that you will need before processing your tourist visa: 

• A valid Philippine passport with a 6-month validity beyond your scheduled trip and should have at least two blank pages.  
• Photocopy of Passport bio page – page two of your passport which contains your photo and details.  
• If you have crossed the Philippine borders for the last five years, you must also present your previous passport. 
• If you have applied for visas in OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries for the last five years, you will also be required to present the original and photocopies of these visas.  
• PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) or IBP (Integrated Bar of the Philippines) card if you have one.  
• Proof of income
  • For employed applicants, present your account type, bank statements, and current balance for the last six months; and passbook for the last three months.  
  • For business owners, present a photocopy of the Business or Mayor’s permit, Business registration, and Income Tax Return (ITR). 
  • For freelancers, present a copy of your ITR and receipts from a BIR-authorized bank. Also, your proof of work, like photos of work and payment transactions from clients.  

• A passport sized photo ID with a measurement of 35mm x 45mm on a white background
• Completed South Korea visa application form that you can access here.   

For students, minors, unemployed, self-employed, and applicants with sponsors, you will need your sponsor to present a proof of income. You will also need to submit a letter from the sponsor confirming that they are shouldering expenses of your trip as well as a photocopy of their passport.

For multiple entry visas, an applicant must have traveled more than four times to South Korea in the past two years and have acquired OECD visas in the past five years to be eligible.