Korea Visa from Philippines
- Filipino passport holders need a C-3-9 tourist visa for mainland Korea.
- For Filipino applicants: stays of 59 days or less have no visa issuance fee; stays of 60–90 days cost PHP 2,000. KVAC charges are separate; an agency may add a service fee.
- Effective 2026-10-01: ordinary C-3 processing is 12 working days; express applications remain 5 working days. Check express eligibility separately.
- The current tourist checklist lists a bank certificate, rather than a separate bank-statement item for ordinary employees. This is not a blanket exemption from financial evidence: follow your category and any additional request.
Visa, K-ETA and arrival declaration are different
Ordinary passports that require a tourist visa are not eligible for K-ETA for that visit. If your passport requires a visa for a normal mainland visit, K-ETA is not an alternative or an extra application after your visa. K-ETA age exemptions do not waive the visa requirement. Special group and Jeju programs have separate conditions.
Short-term visa visitors must complete the e-Arrival Card unless a separate exemption applies. For group visa-free entry, check the official navigator and your designated organizer; do not assume the group approval replaces the arrival declaration.
· K-ETA ↗
Filipino passport holders need a C-3-9 tourist visa for mainland Korea.
Submit through KVAC in the Philippines. Check the current KVAC instructions before visiting; the Embassy does not receive ordinary applications directly.
For Filipino applicants: stays of 59 days or less have no visa issuance fee; stays of 60–90 days cost PHP 2,000. KVAC charges are separate; an agency may add a service fee.
Effective 2026-10-01: ordinary C-3 processing is 12 working days; express applications remain 5 working days. Check express eligibility separately.
- Visa fees and separate service chargesFor Filipino applicants: stays of 59 days or less have no visa issuance fee; stays of 60–90 days cost PHP 2,000. KVAC charges are separate; an agency may add a service fee.
- Current processing noticeEffective 2026-10-01: ordinary C-3 processing is 12 working days; express applications remain 5 working days. Check express eligibility separately.
- Where do I apply?Submit through KVAC in the Philippines. Check the current KVAC instructions before visiting; the Embassy does not receive ordinary applications directly.
ⓘ This is a summary, not a complete checklist. Students, freelancers, retirees, sponsored applicants and other categories must use their own section of the official checklist. Approval and entry are not guaranteed. Additional documents may be requested; the processing period may be recalculated after submission.
The application, step by step
- 1
Prepare your documents
This is a summary, not a complete checklist. Students, freelancers, retirees, sponsored applicants and other categories must use their own section of the official checklist. — Official requirements
- 2
KVAC
Submit through KVAC in the Philippines. Check the current KVAC instructions before visiting; the Embassy does not receive ordinary applications directly. If using an agency, choose from the Embassy’s current designated-agency list and confirm its submission arrangements. — Official agencies
- 3
Current processing notice
Effective 2026-10-01: ordinary C-3 processing is 12 working days; express applications remain 5 working days. Check express eligibility separately. Approval and entry are not guaranteed. Additional documents may be requested; the processing period may be recalculated after submission. — Official processing notice
- 4
Collect your passport
Visit KVAC on the next working day after receiving its SMS notification. For personal collection, bring your valid government ID and the application receipt with barcode. A third-party collector needs additional authorization documents; check KVAC instructions.
Document checklist — with where & how to get each
This is a summary, not a complete checklist. Students, freelancers, retirees, sponsored applicants and other categories must use their own section of the official checklist.
Original passport and copy of the passport bio-page.
Use the visa application form attached to the Embassy’s official tourist-visa requirements. Follow the form instructions.
Recent passport-style photo, white background.
Bank certificate: issued in your name within the last 3 months, showing account name, number, type, opening date, current balance and 6-month average daily balance (ADB).
Employees: COE on company letterhead with position, salary, hired date, company address and HR phone/email, issued within the last 3 months; ITR (BIR Form 2316 or 1701).
Sole proprietors: DTI certificate, business/mayor’s permit and ITR (BIR Form 1701). Corporate applicants: SEC registration first page and GIS, mayor’s permit and ITR (BIR Form 1701 or 1702).
Philippines → Korea visa FAQ
Do Filipinos need a visa for Korea?
Filipino passport holders need a C-3-9 tourist visa for mainland Korea.
How much is the visa fee?
For Filipino applicants: stays of 59 days or less have no visa issuance fee; stays of 60–90 days cost PHP 2,000. KVAC charges are separate; an agency may add a service fee.
Do I need bank statements?
The current tourist checklist lists a bank certificate, rather than a separate bank-statement item for ordinary employees. This is not a blanket exemption from financial evidence: follow your category and any additional request. Bank certificate: issued in your name within the last 3 months, showing account name, number, type, opening date, current balance and 6-month average daily balance (ADB).
How long does it take?
Effective 2026-10-01: ordinary C-3 processing is 12 working days; express applications remain 5 working days. Check express eligibility separately. Approval and entry are not guaranteed. Additional documents may be requested; the processing period may be recalculated after submission.
Where do I apply?
Submit through KVAC in the Philippines. Check the current KVAC instructions before visiting; the Embassy does not receive ordinary applications directly. If using an agency, choose from the Embassy’s current designated-agency list and confirm its submission arrangements.
What is the separate KVAC service fee?
KVAC charges PHP 1,000 per applicant, effective 2026-08-25. Pay in cash; this is separate from any Embassy visa issuance fee and optional agency or delivery charges. Fees are non-refundable, regardless of the decision.
Source: Korea Visa Application Center Manila · · KVAC service fees and payment · KVAC FAQ
When can I collect my passport?
Visit KVAC on the next working day after receiving its SMS notification. For personal collection, bring your valid government ID and the application receipt with barcode. A third-party collector needs additional authorization documents; check KVAC instructions.
Source: Korea Visa Application Center Manila · · KVAC passport collection requirements
Must I buy flights and book a hotel before applying?
No. KVAC says a tentative flight date and hotel name are sufficient; confirmed flight tickets and hotel reservations are not required for the application.
Source: Korea Visa Application Center Manila ·
Is there a fixed minimum bank balance?
KVAC does not set a fixed minimum balance. Your funds must cover your intended stay. This does not remove the financial-document requirements for your application category.
Source: Korea Visa Application Center Manila ·
Official sources
This is a summary, not a complete checklist. Students, freelancers, retirees, sponsored applicants and other categories must use their own section of the official checklist.
Official sources
C-3-2
Eligible C-3-2 group visas for China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, India and Cambodia have the USD 15 visa issuance fee waived through 2026-12-31. This is not visa-free entry or a waiver of individual visa fees, agency fees or service charges.
· C-3-2 ↗
Passport-photo spec for your visa
Korea's visa photo rules are strict — getting them wrong is a common reason applications are delayed or rejected:
- 35 × 45 mm, plain white background (a software-replaced background is not accepted).
- Face 70–80% of the photo height, front view, neutral expression.
- Taken within the last 6 months; no hat, generally no glasses, no retouching.
- Online upload (Korea Visa Portal): JPEG under 200 KB, at least 413 × 531 px.
Based on the Korea Visa Portal (visa.go.kr) and consulate rules — confirm your own consulate's exact requirements.
Live indicative rate — actual booth and card rates vary.
- Address
- 80 Hoenamu-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
- Phone
- +82-2-788-2100
For emergencies after you arrive (a lost passport, for example). Confirm current details at the official site.
Visa sorted? Now plan the rest of your trip
Arrival, getting around, where to stay, and what to do — the rest of your Korea trip, all here.
Travel facts are checked against official sources with a verification date. Prices, schedules and visa rules change — always confirm at the linked official source before you travel.