Applying for a Korea visa for Filipinos?
Interested in how much the minimum bank balance for South Korea visa is?
Want to increase your chances of Korean Tourist Visa approval?
In this Korea Visa for Filipinos guide, we’ll talk about the requirements to get a Korea tourist visa for Filipinos. You’ll also know the top 5 tips to help you get one step closer to Seoul.
Tourist Visa Requirements for Korea
For Filipino employees, here are the Filipino tourist visa requirements for Korea:
C-3 (Short Term Visit) Visa Requirements for Employees
- Application Form
2. 1 piece of Passport size colored picture
3. Original Passport
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 only)
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 name, account number, account type, current balance, account opening date, 6 months average balance (ADB)]
8. Bank Statement (original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months)
9. Photocopy of ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316
10. Copy of PRC Card or IBP Card (If applicable only)
How much is Korea tourist visa for Filipinos?
The visa fee is free, if you’re staying 59 days and below in Korea. It costs ₱2,000 for 60 to 90 days stay in Korea.
South Korea Visa Requirements: Tips for Approval
Having applied for a Korea tourist visa application twice now, and being approved twice also, with a multiple-entry Korea tourist visa, I strongly believe that you can easily get approved for a tourist visa, as long as your requirements are complete and true, and you follow these five effective tips:
1. Korean visa appointment
Starting January 3, 2023, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea abolished its accreditation on the travel agencies, which exclusively authorizes the accredited agencies to submit visa applications to the Embassy on behalf of individual applicants.
What does this mean?
This means you can still use a travel agency to deliver and submit your applications to the embassy.
But Korean visa applications must be channeled only through the online visa appointment system.
Individual applicants and travel agencies are required to secure one appointment slot for one Korean tourist visa application.
Schedule of Online Visa Appointment
How can you secure a slot at the online visa appointment system? It will open every last Thursday of the month, starting at 9AM, so better be prepared before that for you to reserve a lot.
This is super important:
If you don’t have a printed copy or a soft copy of the confirmation of the visa appointment made through the online system, your visit to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea will be denied and you can’t continue your Korean tourist visa application.
2. First time? Ask for 5 days only
If it’s your first-time travelling to South Korea, don’t get too carried away in your Korea visa for Filipinos application. 🙂
Most people I’ve talked to who were approved said they only put 5 to 7 days in their Korean visa application form, to lessen the risk of them overstaying.
Also, the consul considers your budget stated in the form, and if it’s in sync with the budget in your bank certificate.
Yes, even if you think you can spend only ₱20,000 for a two-week vacation in Seoul because you’ll be doing budget travel, it’s still more prudent to think in terms of what the consul will think.
If you can’t afford to put in a lot of money in the bank, it’s safer to state you’ll be staying for less than 7 days only.
3. Show money for Korea visa application
Want to know about the show money for Korean tourist visa for in the Philippines?
If you’re applying for a Korean tourist visa on the 28th, putting a large amount of money on the 8th so that you’ll have a bigger amount is NOT suggested. It can be seen in your bank statements!
Don’t be concerned about “how much” your money should be.
Instead, be concerned about how long and how active…your bank account is.
It’s preferable that your bank account has been active for one year or more.
Most consuls would also give you plus points if they see that your bank account has frequent transactions. This means that you’re actually using your bank account, and it’s not just for show. Better if it’s a payroll account, so there’s consistent deposits every time you receive your salary.
Minimum Bank Balance for South Korea Visa
Another frequently asked question when applying for Korea visa for Filipinos is the pocket money dilemma.
A good guideline for pocket money is $100/day (₱5,000) you’re staying in Korea.
Add airfare (₱15,000), accommodation (₱3,000/day) and ₱2,000 (for buffer) so it’ll total to roughly ₱15,000 /day.
So here’s the minimum balance balance you can submit, depending on how long you’re staying in South Korea:
- 3-5 days: ₱50,000 to ₱70,000
- 5-7 days: ₱70,000 to ₱90,000
Keep in mind that the above refer to the minimum bank balance, based on my personal experience, and also based on people I’ve talked to.
At the end of the day, it depends on the consul’s decision.
Also, you’re staying for only 5 days and your bank certificate shows ₱500,000, that’s suspicious and may not get you an approval. Why so many money for so few days, my friend? 🙂
4. Take note of your travel history
If you’ve traveled to other countries before like Japan, Thailand, Singapore and others, this would really increase your chances of being approved for a Korean tourist visa.
Make sure to attach your old passport IF it contains stamps from your previous travels.
On another note, some travelers I’ve talked to have never been to any country before, so the final decision still depends on the consul.
I’m just saying this would help if the consul saw records of you leaving the country, and coming back with no problems.
Having enough travel history as a tourist can also help you avoid getting offloaded by the Philippine immigration at NAIA or Clark airport.
5. Have strong ties to the Philippines
What documents can prove that you’re coming back home? (2ne1 feels, anyone? Come back home~)
After staying in South Korea, what’ll make you come back home in the Philippines?
No, this is not a Miss Universe question. Saying “my family” or “my amazing life partner” just won’t cut it. 🙂
You need to provide strong, hard evidence that you’ll come back once vacation time is over, such as:
- Employee: Certificate of Employment, Income Tax Return
- Student: Certificate of Enrollment, School ID
- Business owner: DTI or SEC Registration, Business Permit
- OFW: Tax-exemption form from BIR
- Freelancers: You’ll be treated as self-employed, and self-employed people need to file and pay for taxes as well. Frequent traveler ka? If you’ve travelled as tourist to OECD member countries within 5 years, you’re exempted from submitting your ITR.
Are you applying for Korea visa for Filipinos?
Let me know if you have any comments below. I’ll do my best to answer them, based on my own experience.
Travelling to Korea soon? Our immigration officers usually ask for travel insurance. Here’s how I bought my own travel insurance plan online.
Make sure to follow Live Free With Lianne on Instagram for more adulting and travel tips!
Your Adulting + Travel Accomplice,
Live Free With Lianne