Korean Visa Application Requirements for Filipino Tourists in Manila, Philippines (Single / Multiple Entry)

1. Philippine Passport. Make sure that your passport is valid for more than 6 months prior to your intended travel date, it has your signature, filled out the emergency contact page, and has at least two (2) blank pages.
   .
2. Photocopy of current Philippine Passport bio page. This is found on page 2 (the part where your passport photo and other info are shown).
   .
3. If applicable, previous Philippine Passport(s). You only need to submit this if you have traveled abroad within the last 5 years.
   .
4. If applicable, original and photocopy of all your OECD visas for the past 5 years. If you have been to any of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development or OECD countries in the past 5 years as a tourist, make sure to submit the original and photocopy(ies) of the relevant visas and arrival stamps. (UPDATE: As of 2019, even if Japan is part of the OECD countries, it is NO longer considered as an example due to several cases of applicants passing fake Japan visas.)
   • Doing this will help expedite the processing time of your visa.
   • When I say ‘original’, this means that you will have to submit the passport(s) that contains the OECD visas and arrival stamps (no matter if they are your old or current passport[s]).
   • Only used visas are counted.
   • It is said that you are NO longer required to submit an ITR if you have traveled at least once to OECD member countries in the past 5 years — or have traveled to South Korea for more than two times within the last 4 years.
     .
5. If applicable, photocopies of your PRC or IBP card.
   • Both the IBP (Integrated Bar of the Philippines) and PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) cards are identification cards issued by professional regulatory bodies. The former is for lawyers and the latter is for certified professionals such as nurses or engineers who’ve passed their respective licensure exams.
     .
6. A duly accomplished South Korean Visa Application Form.
   • Download the application form here: PDF.
   • Before printing, properly fill the form on your computer and ensure that everything is in CAPITAL LETTERS (apparently, KVAC does not allow handwritten application forms). To do this, you can use websites like this: [click] to be able to accomplish the form digitally.
     • Print the application form on an A4-sized paper.
     • Do NOT write outside the boxes and do NOT handwrite your application form (except for your signature).
     • If anything is not applicable to you, just put N/A.
     • There is a part in Section 2 that asks for “Confirmation of Visa Issuance”. Just leave it blank or put N/A because this is basically info that’s only issued in Korea (most likely for Koreans only).
     • See here for a SAMPLE filled-out application form: [click] and click the tab that says “Visa Application Form Sample”.
   • There are sections here that ask for your address/hotel in South Korea as well as your intended date of entry and period of stay. Now regarding this..
     .

You are NOT required to present “booked” airline and hotels beforehand because the embassy does NOT require applicants to book it before approval. It might sometimes help to present a flight reservation though, and you can do this easily with One Way Fly with a fee that is as low as Php 900~ only.
.
Once your South Korean visa is approved, check Skyscanner to look for the best flight deals. As for hotel bookings, it’s best to do it with Booking.com or Agoda.com. With them, you can reserve a hotel with NO pre-payment and you can even cancel the booking a day before your arrival with NO cancellation charges at all.

7. 1 Passport-sized photo. This should be around 35mm x 45mm, colored, and against a white background. Paste this on your South Korea visa application form.
   .
8. Optional: cover letter and itinerary. These are NOT required, but it’s always good practice to prepare them, to see an example cover letter, you can check the letter I submitted for my Korean visa application before in this link.
   • However, if you are a freelancer or if you have missing documents that you can’t submit such as an ITR, a Certificate of Employment, etc. — it is, therefore, a MUST that you submit a cover letter to the embassy to explain your situation.
   • As for the itinerary, there have been some cases wherein some applicants were asked to submit a rough draft of their South Korea itinerary; so it’s best to prepare this just in case.
     .

9. Proof of income or financial stability. The requirements for this differ depending on your occupation. But if in case you are a student, a minor, or a person who has no income, refer to section (B).
   • For employed persons.
     • Original personal bank certificate: this must indicate your account type, current balance, account opening date, and 6 months average balance (ADB).
     • Original or certified true copy of your Bank Statement or passbook for the last 3 months.
     • Original Certificate of Employment: this must be printed on your company’s official letterhead and must contain details of your officer or employer’s address, HR landline number (cellphone number is not allowed), HR email address, your position, your hiring date, and your salary.
     • Photocopy of your ITR (or Form 2316)
     • If you do NOT have an ITR or any of the other requirements above, write a simple letter explaining why you’re unable to submit them (examples: you’re newly employed so you don’t have an ITR, etc.).
       .
   • For self-employed / business persons.
     • Original personal bank certificate: this must indicate your account type, current balance, account opening date, and 6 months’ average balance (ADB).
     • Original or certified true copy of your Bank Statement or passbook for the last 3 months.
     • If you own a business, submit photocopies of your Business Registration issued by DTI / SEC, the company ITR, and your Business Permit or Mayor’s Permit.
     • If you’re a freelancer, provide the latest photocopy of your ITR (or Form 1701A) with a corresponding payment receipt from a BIR-authorized bank and proof of work (examples: screenshots of your work, a letter from clients, proof of payments for your work, etc.).
     • If you do NOT have an ITR, write a simple letter explaining why you’re unable to submit it (examples: if you are a new business, a newly self-employed person, you are being taxed in another country, etc.)
       • It is said that the only time you are exempt from submitting an ITR is if you have traveled to OECD countries in the past 5 years.
       • Start filing your local taxes as early as NOW — after all, a lot of embassies (not only Korea) require an ITR. So if you’re looking for a hassle-free experience on Philippines tax compliance, I suggest registering with Taxumo because they can take care of literally everything for you: tax forms, payments, and submissions. I’ve been using them for years now and it has been such a time-saver. Come sign up with my code AILEEN and you can get a 10% discount on all their subscription plans!
         
   • For retirees.
     • Original personal bank certificate: this must indicate your account type, current balance, account opening date, and 6 months’ average balance (ADB).
     • Original or certified true copy of your Bank Statement or passbook for the last 3 months.
     • Photocopy of your senior citizen ID.
       .
   • For unemployed persons.
     • Given the way the Embassy of South Korea presents its requirements for visa applicants, it’s best that you acquire a guarantor/sponsor who can provide an ITR. Refer to section (B) below for this.
       .
   • For students, minors, housewives, ‘househusbands’, etc.
     • Refer to ‘Section (B)’ below.
       .
   • For elected politicians, government officials, and professional license holders
     • From February 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024, the following individuals do NOT need to submit bank certificates, bank statements, and ITR. HOWEVER, you will still need to submit an original certificate of employment OR certificate of appointment (take note that if you’re an immediate family member of these said individuals, you will need to provide proof of relationship).
       • ELECTED POLITICIANS: Members of the Senate, Members of the Congress, Governors, Provincial Board Members, and Mayors (City or Municipality) — along with their immediate family members only: their parents, spouse, minor children (applicable for adult children who can prove to be students through documents), and spouse’s parents
       • GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS: Persons with a rank higher or equal to Assistant Secretary of the Executive Branch of the Philippine Government, and Brigadier General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines/Philippine National Police (excluding those in acting duties) — along with their immediate family members only: their parents, spouse, minor children (applicable for adult children who can prove to be students through documents), and spouse’s parents
       • PROFESSIONAL LICENSE HOLDERS: Those holding a valid PRC license ID (IBP ID for lawyer) with a profession of physician, dentist, lawyer (including judge, prosecutor), certified public accountant, pharmacist, and veterinarian— along with their immediate family members only: their parents, spouse, minor children (applicable for adult children who can prove to be students through documents), and spouse’s parents.
         .
   • For individuals who hold a BDO Gold or BDO Elite credit card
     • From February 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024, BDO Gold and BDO Elite credit card holders, EXCLUDING supplementary card holders, do NOT need to submit bank certificates, bank statements, and ITR. The primary credit card holder’s immediate family members only — their parents, spouse, minor children (applicable for adult children who can prove to be students through documents), and spouse’s parents — can also enjoy this benefit as long as they provide proof of relationship to the primary credit card holder. The applicable credit cards are as follows:
       • Mastercard Gold Credit Card
       • Visa Gold Credit Card
       • JCB Gold Credit Card
       • UnionPay Gold Credit Card
       • Diners Club International
       • American Express Cashback Credit Card
       • American Express Explorer Credit Card
       • Mastercard Titanium, Platinum and World Elite Credit Card
       • Visa Platinum Credit Card
       • JCB Platinum Credit Card
       • UnionPay Diamond Credit Card
       • Diners Club Premiere Credit Card
       • American Express Platinum Credit Card
       • American Express International Dollar Charge Cards (platinum, gold, and green)
         .

10. (OPTIONAL) Letter of Attorney. This is only if you’re planning to course your application through a travel agency, you will need to sign this Letter of Attorney.

This kind of application is applicable for students, minors, unemployed persons, husband/wife (if one of you will be supporting the other), self-employed persons/freelancers (who can’t provide an ITR and have no strong reason why they can’t submit it) or just about any person who will take on a sponsor. This also applies to anyone who would have a company/agency to sponsor the trip.

For submitting the necessary requirements, simply submit the requirements listed in section (A), numbers #1 to #8. And when it comes to (#9) Proof of income or financial stability, you should ask these documents from your guarantor/sponsor as dependent on their profession or occupation — this could be your mom, dad, brother, sister, friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, relative, etc.

Take note though that there are no guarantees of approval if your guarantor is NOT a family member of yours. In fact, it is said that it’s a lot better to have family sponsoring you.

Moving on, you should also submit the following…

11. Sponsor/Guarantee letter. This is a simple letter written by your sponsor indicating and confirming how he/she will cover the costs of your South Korea trip.
    .
12. Photocopy of sponsor/guarantor’s passport. Provide a photocopy of the bio page only; if not, it can be a photocopy of any government-issued ID.
    • If your sponsor is a company in Korea, provide a photocopy of their Korean Company Business Permit
      .

TIP: If your sponsor is your brother/sister, you must also submit their birth certificate to the embassy.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• If you are personally invited by a South Korean…
  • …resident, you must submit an invitation letter and a photocopy of his/her passport or authentication ID
  • …national, you must submit an invitation letter and photocopy of his/her passport or ID card.
  • …company, you must submit an invitation letter and a photocopy of the Korean company’s business permit.
    .
• If you are married, submit a photocopy of your NSO Marriage Certificate.
  .
• If you are a student, submit the following:
  • Original school certificate.
  • Photocopy of your school ID.
  • Photocopy of your NSO-issued birth certificate.
  • Your parents’ or your sponsor’s supporting financial documents (depending on their occupation refer to the list in section (A) under #9.)
    • If your parents are your sponsor, provide a photocopy of an NSO-issued marriage certificate.
    • If your sponsor is other than your parents, explain your relationship with that person through a cover letter.

The South Korean Embassy only issues multiple-entry visas under certain conditions. Currently, there are 2 ways to avail this….

FIRST, by being a frequent South Korea traveler. Basically, it is said that if you have visited South Korea more than 4 times in the past 2 years OR if you have visited South Korea more than 10 times in total (with at least 1 of the visits done within the past 2 years), then you are suitable for a multiple-entry application.

SECOND, it is said that if you show or submit proof that you have OECD visas in the past 5 years, the embassy can automatically just issue you a multiple-entry tourist visa. (Yet to be fully confirmed but there have been cases in which this happens).