🇰🇷 South Korea.

Getting the South Korea visa.

South Korea has no visa-free entry for Philippine passport holders, so we need a C-3-9 short-term tourist visa. As of early 2026, KVAC simplified the requirements (the old 3 months of bank statements are no longer required). Here's the full checklist we're working from. Always confirm against the official KVAC and Korean Embassy pages before you submit, because the rules change often.

Lodge the application by mid-January 2026 for a mid-February trip.

1. Step 01

   Sort your passport (do this first)

   If it's expiring or full, renew at the DFA now. Renewals take time.

   • Passport valid at least 6 months beyond the trip, with 2 or more blank pages.
   • Set aside any old passports that carry past travel stamps.
2. Step 02

   Get your passport photos

   • Two photos, 3.5 x 4.5 cm, colored, white background, taken within the last 6 months.
3. Step 03

   Order your PSA documents

   Order early; PSA delivery takes a few days.

   • PSA birth certificate.
   • PSA marriage certificate, if you're married.
4. Step 04

   Request your employment papers

   These come from your HR, so request them early.

   • Certificate of Employment on company letterhead with your position, date hired, salary, office address, and HR landline plus email.
   • Approved leave of absence covering the travel dates.
   • Latest Income Tax Return (ITR) or BIR Form 2316.
5. Step 05

   Get your bank certificate

   As of 2026, the old 3 months of bank statements are no longer required.

   • Bank certificate showing a 6-month Average Daily Balance.
6. Step 06

   Collect the trip bookings (from the sponsor)

   Because the trip is sponsored, the sponsor usually books these. You just need copies. Nothing has to be paid in full; held or refundable reservations are accepted.

   • Round-trip flight reservation (a booking, not a paid ticket).
   • Hotel or accommodation booking covering the whole stay.
   • Detailed day-by-day itinerary that matches the flight and hotel dates.
7. Step 07

   Gather the sponsor's documents

   When someone else covers the trip, the consulate wants to see who they are and that they can fund it.

   • Invitation or sponsorship letter in English, stating the relationship and that the sponsor is covering the trip.
   • Copy of the sponsor's passport or valid government ID.
   • Sponsor's proof of funds: bank certificate, ITR, and COE or business papers.
   • Proof of relationship to the sponsor, if there is one.
   • Travelling as a group? Shared documents like the invitation letter can be submitted once, attached to the lead applicant's file.
8. Step 08

   Fill out the form & ready the fee

   • Complete and sign the Korean visa application form.
   • Photocopy of your passport bio page.
   • Visa fee: free for stays up to 59 days; PHP 2,000 for 60 to 90 days. KVAC adds a service fee of about PHP 400.
9. Step 09

   Submit at KVAC (last step)

   Filipinos can't lodge a tourist application directly at the embassy.

   • Submit everything at the Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC) in Manila, or the Embassy in Makati / Consulate in Cebu.
   • Apply at least 3 to 4 weeks ahead. Processing usually takes 7 to 15 working days.
   • Self-employed instead of employed? Swap the COE for DTI or SEC registration, a business permit, and your ITR. Students: school certificate or a copy of the student ID.