A : Official Duties
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A-1 : Diplomacy
- A-1 : Diplomacy
- Diplomacy
You are eligible to apply for an A-1 Diplomat visa if you
Are a member of a foreign government's diplomatic corps or consulate general. For example,
you are
1) a member of the diplomatic corps, such as the ambassador, minister, counselor, secretary and
others accredited by the government of the Republic of Korea
2) a staff member of the consulate general, such as the consul-general, consul, consul-agents and
others accredited by the government of the Republic of Korea
Have diplomatic immunity and privileges equivalent to the diplomatic corps, in accordance
with international agreements or customs. For example, you are
1) the secretary-general and the deputy secretary-general of the United Nations (UN), the heads
of the UN-affiliated organizations and agencies, and others.
2) the head of state, cabinet member, the head of legislature (including both upper and lower
houses in bicameral system), a member of foreign delegation to a meeting hosted
by the government of the Republic of Korea
1) spouse, child, or a parent of your family member who is a diplomat stationed in the Republic
of Korea.
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A-2 : Official Business
-
A-3 : Conventions
B : Short-term Stays without Visa
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B-1 : Visa-exempt
- B-1 : Visa-exemptions
- Visa-exemptions
In principle, B-1 status holders can only engage in permissible activities on C-3 Short-Term
General visa and by the visa wavier agreement of their country with Korea. If applicants want
to engage in activities other than those allowed by the agreement, they must get a visa
appropriate to their intents.
* For example, if a Malaysian national wants to come to Korea in order to watch a friendly
sporting match, he/she is required to obtain a visa.
[Activities Allowed by Each Country]
Allowed Activities Countries
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All permissible activities on C-3 visa
(hereinafter referred to as 'C-3 activities')
except academic and employment activities Russia, Lithuania
All C-3 activities except academic
and profit-making activities Dominican Republic
All C-3 activities except entertainment activities
including sports and employment activities Malaysia
All C-3 activities except employment activities Liberia, Bangladesh, Singapore,
Thailand, Turkey, Pakistan,
Barbados, Chile, Columbia, Peru, Norway, Denmark, Sweden,
Iceland, England, Portugal, Lesotho
All C-3 activities except employment activities Greece, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland,
Spain, France, Hungary, Tunisia
All C-3 activities except profit-making, employment
and medical activities New Zealand
All C-3 activities except profit-making and
employment activities Israel, Grenada, Nicaragua, Commonwealth of Dominica,
Bahamas, Venezuela, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Haiti, Antigua Barbuda,
ElSalvador, Uruguay, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Trinidad and
Tobago, Panama, Latvia, Rumania, Malta, Bulgaria, Slovakia,
Ireland, Czech, Poland, Morocco
C-3-4 Business Visit only Brazil
All C-3 activities* Mexico, Surinam, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium,
Estonia, Austria, Italy, Finland
*Nationals of the above countries can engage in short-term
language training, medical activities, etc. except for
employment and profit-making activities.
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B-2 : Tour & transit
C : Short-term Stays
-
: Temporary broadcasting
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C-3 : Short-term visit
- C-3-1 : General short-term
- Except C-3-2 ~ C-3-9
A. Eligible Candidates
You are eligible to apply if you are participating in TV and Radio shows, friendly sporting
matches, events or conferences in the ROK, including sports competitions (golf, soccer, etc.)
with set cash prizes for finalists*.
* Even if the host party provides you with flight tickets and living expenses for your trip, you
are still considered eligible applicants for C-3-1 visas. Nevertheless, if you receive monetary
compensation separate from the cash prizes, exceeding the flight and living expenses, you will
not be eligible to apply for the C-3-1 visa.
※ For friendly matches, KIS will look at a contract and review whether the contract exceeds
the average living expenses.
You intend to stay in Korea for a short period of time in order to build technological or
functional capabilities at a government agency, company, etc.
※ You fall under this category if you are paid the amount not exceeding living expenses,
however, if you are paid an official salary for your work during the technical/functional
training period, you fall under Industrial Trainee (D-3-1) status.
You are a Korean citizen whose living base is located abroad and need to enter Korea, being
accompanied by a locally hired domestic worker (household helper) for humanitarian causes*
and stay for a short period of time (less than 90 days)
※ Humanitarian causes include domestic workers giving hands to parenting, nursing, funeral
procedure and other activities of a Korean national who recently gave a birth.
In accordance with Article 37 of the Refugee Act, a visa with a maximum period of stay
for 90 days will be issued to spouses and children of those with refugees status for the
purpose of family unification. (KIS will confirm whether the applicant has been recognized
as refugees, documents that were submitted to prove their family relations, their desire to be
reunited as a family, and etc.)
You are entering Korea for the purpose of engaging in all C-3 activities except permissible
activities on C-3-2 Group Tourist through C-3-9 Ordinary Tourist visas.
- C-3-2 : Group tour etc.
- Group tour etc.
You want to enter Korea to engage in small coastal trade activities, travel or others. Please
note that if a group tourist visa/guaranteed-individual visa holder overstays in Korea, his/her
agent (travel agency) will be liable for his/her actions.
- C-3-3 : Medical tour
- Medical tour
- C-3-4 : General commercial use
- General commercial use
You are eligible to apply if you are seeking for short-term stay in the ROK for the purposes
of market research, official business, consulting, contract, or installing, fixing, and running
imported/exported machinery or other similar reasons
※ Those who will get paid less than the amount of living expenses during his/her stay in the
ROK are eligible to apply for C-3 visa. However, those coming to the ROK for mainly
profit-making must apply for a C-4 Short-Term Employee visa.
- C-3-5 : Short-term commercial use under agreement
- Short-term commercial use under agreement
① (Eligible Applicants under the CEPA between Korea and India) You are an employee of an
Indian company and want to visit Korea for preparing an establishment of an investment
company, negotiating for sales of products&services or others.
② (Eligible Applicants under the Rok-Chile FTA) Those who want to work in research and
construction, manufacturing and production, marketing, sales, distribution, after-services,
general services and others
- C-3-6 : Short-term commercial use
- Short-term commercial use under invitation of preferential companies
- C-3-7 : Arrival tour
- Arrival tour
- C-3-8 : Foreign nationality Koreans visit
- Foreign nationality Koreans entering and leaving Korea multiple times within 90 days for 3 years
- C-3-9 : General tours
- General tours that are not included in C-3-2 or C-3-3
You are an ordinary traveller who cannot be categorized under the eligible applicant for the
C-3-2 visa.
※ In order to attract more foreign tourists, KIS would increase the number of visas issued to
the nationals of South East Asian countries if the rates of illegal staying by these people are
low.
- C-3-91 : Metropolitan residents
- Multi-visa subdivided from C-3-91, c-3-9
- C-3-10 : Pure transfer
- People transferring from Korea to home or third country
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C-4 : Short-term employment
D : Non-Professional
-
D-1 : Culture & Art
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D-2 : Studying abroad
- D-2-1 : Associate degree
- Associate degree
Study and research at educational․academic institutions (community college or higher)
- A person who wants to study, research or enroll in a full-time program (i.e. Bachelor's, Master,
Ph.D) at academic institutions (community college or higher) established under either the
Higher Education Act or the Special Act.
MAXIMUM LENGTH OF STAY : You are allowed to stay for up to 2 years
VISAS ISSUED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHIEF OF MISSION
A D-2 visa will be issued to a national of China (except for students of accredited Korean universities, students on the government scholarship program and exchange students), Cuba, Syria, Macedonia, Kosovo through a confirmation of visa issuance
1. Eligible Institutions
Educational/academic research institutions (community college or higher, including evening
postgraduate courses) established under Article 2* of the Higher Education Act and the
provisions of the Special Act and registered with our international student information system (FIMS)
However, if you intend to go to university for evening or distance learning courses
(Broadcasting University, Communications University, Korea National Open University and
Cyber University), or Korea Polytechnics University for vocational training programs (except
for a multiple-techniques degree program), you are not eligible for a Student (D-2) visa
regardless of the provisions of the Higher Education Act and FIMS registration. (Border
Control Division - 11245, '09.4.27)
* Article 2 (School Types) Following schools will be established in order to carry out higher
education. 1. University 2. Industrial College 3. Education College 4. Community College 5.
Broadcasting college·Communication college· Korean National Open University and Cyber
University (hereinafter referred to as "distance learning university") 6. Technical College 7.
Others
2. Visa Issuance Procedure
Acceptance Request ⇨ Standard Acceptance Letter* Issuance․Registration ⇨
Visa Application․issuance **(Submit the acceptance number) ⇨ Entry
* Once a student is accepted, a standard acceptance letter is issued and the student is registered
at our Foreign Student Information Management System (FIMS) (A standard acceptance
number will be indicated at the upper left corner of the acceptance letter). Then, the letter will
be stamped by the President/Dean of the university and sent to the student.
** Eligible Applicants
Confirmation of Visa Issuance
-(Chinese nationals) All Chinese nationals except for newly admitted students of accredited Korean universities, students on the government scholarship program and exchange students
-(Other nationals) Nationals of Cuba, Syria, Macedonia and Kosovo
* However, visas for exchange students are issued by the head of overseas diplomatic missions.
Visas Issued by the Head of Overseas Diplomatic Missions
-(Chinese nationals) Newly admitted students of accredited Korean universities, students on the government
scholarship program and exchange students
-(Other nationals) Nationals of all countries except for Cuba, Syria,Macedonia and Kosovo
3. Application Centre
By principle, you must apply at a Korean diplomatic mission in your country or in a country
where your last school is located.
4. Required Documents
① Visa application form (form #34), photocopy of passport, one standard size photograph, fee
② Photocopy of Business Registration Certificate (or distinct number certificate) of a respective education
institution
③ Standard Acceptance Letter (issued by the dean/president of the university)
④ Documents proving your family relations (Only when your parent’s certificate of balance is submitted.)
< 21 States >
China, Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Mongolia, Thailand, Pakistan, Sri
Lanka, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine,
Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Peru (Total: 21 states)
* Please indicate your English name on the Korean version and enclose a photocopy of your passport.
China : Family Relations Registry or notarized document proving family relations,
Philippines : Family Census, Indonesia : Certificate of family relations (KARTU KELUARGA),
Bangladesh : 점머 까꺼즈 or 점마 싸이드티켓,
Vietnam : 호적부 (So Ho Khau) or Birth Certificate (Giay khai sinh),
Mongolia : Certificate of Family Relations, Pakistan : Family Certificate,
Sri Lanka: 빠울러 Certificate, Myanmar : Family Relations Certificate (잉타웅수사옌),
Nepal : 전마달다, Kyrgyzstan/Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan/Ukraine/Thailand : Birth Certificate
Associate degree․Bachelor's degree․Master's degree․Ph.D
⑤ Documents proving the final level of education
⑥ Documents proving your financial ability to support yourself (tuition and living expenses for a year)
Specific Research Program
⑤ Documents proving your final level of education (The minimum education requirement is master's degree)
⑥ Documents proving your living expenses (Bank account balance statement, Research Allowance Confirmation, etc.)
Exchange Student
⑤ Documents proving your living expenses (considering that the tuition is paid in the country of origin)
⑥ Recommendation letter issued by the head of your university in your country
⑦ Documents proving that you are an exchange student (official letter from the inviting university,
student exchange agreement between universities)
⑧ Documents proving that you have completed at least one semester
(proof of enrollment issued by your university in your country)
※ The Chief of mission may ask additional documents in order to examine the purpose of stay, genuineness
ofinvitation, and qualifications of the inviter and invitee if deemed necessary.
5. Required Documents for international military trainees to apply for a D-2 visa at the invitation
of the Ministry of National Defense
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
① Visa Application Form (Enclosed Form #17), Photocopy of Passport, One Standard Size Photograph, Fee
② Invitation Letter issued by the Ministry of National Defense
※ The Chief of mission may ask additional documents in order to examine the purpose of stay, genuineness
of the invitation, and the qualifications of the inviter and invitee if deemed necessary.
- D-2-2 : Studying abroad for Bachelor's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- D-2-3 : Studying abroad for Master's degree
- Master's degree
- D-2-4 : Studying abroad for Doctor's degree
- Doctor's degree
- D-2-5 : Studying abroad for Research
- Specific researcher of an Academic Research Institute
- D-2-6 : Exchange Student
- Exchange Student
- D-2-7 : Affiliation of work and studying while Studying abroad
- Affiliation of work and studying while Studying abroad
- D-2-8 : Studying abroad for Short-term
- Studying abroad for Short-term
- D-2-S : Part-time working
- Part-time working
-
D-3 : Technical training
-
D-4 : General training
-
D-5 : News gathering
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D-6 : Religious activities
-
D-7 : Overseas assignment
-
D-8 : Investment
-
D-9 : Trade
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D-10 : Job-seeking
E : Long-term Employment
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E-1 : Professor
-
E-2 : Language teaching
-
E-3 : Research
-
E-4 : Technology instruction
-
E-5 : Professionals
-
E-6 : Artistic work
- E-6-1 : Arts and entertainments
- Arts and broadcast entertainment activities such as music, fine arts and literatures
You are allowed to engage in activities such as
Any artistic, musical or literature activities that generate incomes/profits
- You are an artist such as the composer, sculptor, painter, craftsman, writer or a photographer
- You are a teacher of music, painting, literature, photograph, movie, dance, physical
education(gym) or other artistic activities (i.e. : Professional or amateur sports coach, orchestra
conductor and etc.)
Any performing activities such as entertainment, playing musical instruments, theatre, athletic
events or fashion modeling which generate incomes/profits
- Regardless of the performance types or purposes, if you are an individual or a part of a group
that performs entertainment, musical instruments, plays or sports, which generate
incomes/profits (i.e. : professional or amateur athletes)
- Not only this includes the engaging parties in entertainment, music, theatre but also makeup
artists and managers
※ If you are staying for 90 days or less, you are eligible to apply for the Short-Term
Employment(C-4) visa
- E-6-2 : Hotel entertainments
- Performances at entertainment establishments or at hotels
- E-6-3 : Athletics
- Athletes, professional sports team directors or managers
-
E-7 : Particular activities
-
E-8 : Agriculture/Fishery
-
E-9 : Non-professional
-
E-10 : Ship crewmen
F : Long-term Stays & Family Relations
-
F-1 : Family visitation
- F-1-1 : Visit for cohabitation
- Visiting relatives, family cohabitation, dependents, to arrange affairs
Sojourn for the purpose of visiting relatives or family or dependent, organizing household,
and other similar activities
- Overseas Koreans who have special privileges for working visit visas (Chinese-Koreans born
before October 1st, Former-Soviet Koreans born before August 15th, 1945)
- Household employee of a staff member at a diplomatic mission abroad in Korea
- A cohabitee of an A-1 Diplomat visa holder or A-3 International Agreement visa holder, but
you are not a part of the household.
- Family of overseas Koreans visa holders (F-4) (spouse and underage children)
- Parents of underage international students who are planning to attend or already attending an
educational institute such as a high school or below
- Children who are at the age of 21 or older or other family members of a SOFA applicant
- A person who needs to stay in Korea for a long time due to unavoidable circumstance (eligible
to apply for the alteration of the visa type)
- F-1-3 : Cohabitants of diplomats
- Cohabitant of non-family members of foreign officials in Korea
- F-1-6 : Marriage settle up
- Settle up marriage after divorce of marriage immigrants
- F-1-7 : Nationality appliance
- Nationality appliers
- F-1-5 : Family members of marriage immigration
- Parents and Family members of marriage immigrants
- F-1-8 : Legitimate birth children
- Children born in Korea of legitimate stayers
- F-1-9 : Compatriot's spouse etc.
- Spouse and under age children of F-4 visa
- F-1-10 : Senior compatriot
- Senior compatriots from China and Soviet Union
- F-1-11 : Children of employment visitor
- 19 years or younger children of H-2 visa
- F-1-12 : Family to reside together
- Spouse and under age children of F-2 visa
- F-1-13 : Parents of foreign student
- Parents of minor foreign student
- F-1-14 : Adopted foreigner
- Adopted foreigner
- F-1-15 : Parents of talented personnel
- Parents of talented personnel, talented investor and talented personnel in the master's and doctor's course
- F-1-16 : Family members of recognized refugees
- Spouse and under age children of recognized refugees
- F-1-21 : Housekeeping assistant for diplomats
- Housekeeping assistant for foreign officials in Korea
- F-1-22 : Housekeeping assistant for large investors
- Housekeeping assistant for large investors
- F-1-23 : Housekeeping assistant for high-tech investors
- Housekeeping assistant for high-tech investors
- F-1-24 : Housekeeping assistant for professionals etc.
- Housekeeping assistant for professionals etc.
- F-1-25 : Temporary relieved compatriot after 4th generation
- Temporary relieved compatriot after 4th generation
- F-1-28 : Family members of naturalized person
- Family members of naturalized person
- F-1-52 : Unadopted minors of midway immigrants
- Under age children from ex-marriage of marriage immigrants
- F-1-71 : Family members of nationality applicants
- Spouse, children of nationality applicants(foreign nationality Koreans)
- F-1-72 : Family members of permanent residency applicants
- Spouse, children of permanent residency(F-5-7) applicants
- F-1-99 : Other cohabitations
- Other cohabitations
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F-2 : Residence
-
F-3 : Dependent family
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F-4 : Overseas Korean
-
F-5 : Permanent resident
-
F-6 : Marriage immigrant
- F-6-1 : Spouse of Korean citizen
- Spouse of Korean citizen
You are eligible to apply for a Marriage Migrant (F-6) visa if you are
- a spouse of a Korean citizen.
- raising a child born between a Korean citizen and yourself (including the de facto marital
relationship), as a father or a mother, and you are also acknowledged by the Minister of
Justice.
* The de facto marital relationship refers to a couple who intends to get married eventually
and whose lifestyle can be considered as a married couple from a third person's point
of view. (Supreme Court decision made on December 8, 1998)
- However, following examples are NOT considered as the de facto marital relationships;
for example, if the couple does not have any intention to get married but has given a
birth to a baby out of living together, or if a man is legally married to another woman
but living with a different partner, and etc.
- You had stayed in the Republic of Korea as a spouse of a Korean citizen, but you were
unable to continue your marriage due to reasons and circumstances beyond your control which
are recognized by the Minister of Justice, such as death and missing of your spouse.
- F-6-2 : Rearing children
- Rearing children
Although you are NOT eligible to earn 'F-6-1’ status, a baby was born
during the marriage (including the de facto marriage), and you are
currently raising that child or planning to raise him/her in Korea as a
biological father or a biological mother.
- F-6-3 : Marriage break
- Marriage break
You were married to a Korean citizen, but you were unable to continue
your marriage due to reasons and circumstances beyond your control
such as death and missing of your spouse.
G : Others
H : Working Holiday, Working Visit
