PSA: S.Korea to resume accepting visa applications on June 1
Start updating your Hallyu fangirl bucket list as South Korea is accepting visa applications from Filipino tourists starting June 1.
In an advisory published on Thursday, May 19, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines informed visa applicants that "application and issuance of all types visa, including tourist (C-3-9) will resume" on June 1.
With a C-3 visa, tourists can enter South Korea for tourism and similar purposes and stay there for up to 90 days.
According to the Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency, this type of visa has only been issued to diplomats or foreigners that have government-related affairs for the past two years since the issuance of South Korean visas was suspended due to the pandemic.
While the embassy did not provide details about the application procedure, it noted applicants don't have to submit a Consent for Isolation, which states that they are agreeing to quarantine at an isolation facility for seven days upon arrival.
The consulate said fully vaccinated Filipino tourists are allowed quarantine-free entry to the country, while those who are unvaccinated "will not be exempted from quarantine."
In addition, visa holders who are vaccinated against COVID-19 are required to register their vaccination information on the Q-CODE Application Portal before departure.
All tourists are also required to present a negative PCR test result issued within 48 hours or a negative RAT certificate issued within 24 hours prior to their flight.
Meanwhile, travelers who have non-expired multipe-entry visas issued before April 5, 2020, no longer need to renew their visas.
South Korea's justice ministry said that the move aims to bring in more tourists to the country which, in turn, will boost its various industries and "help create more jobs and attract foreign talent."
PhilSTAR L!fe reached out to the Embassy of Korea to confirm the country's reopening date, but the consulate said there are no details yet as of the moment.
