Simple Steps on How to get a Tourist Visa for South Korea

It's really very easy.  I'm sure you'll find a lot of blogs detailing the steps on how to get your visa.  I'll make it simple this time and we will stick to the 3 basic steps.

1.)  Downloand and fill up the application form here:

http://embassy_philippines.mofa.go.kr/english/as/embassy_philippines/visa/announcement/index.jsp

• Read first the instruction on how to fill up the form on the second page before you start completing the application form.

2.)  Prepare the following supporting documents.  These are the basic requirements for single employees and not personally invited by Korean.  If you are a businessman, a housewife etc., you may refer to the site mentioned in #1 to see the other requirements.  But for us, here are the list of documents we submitted.

     a.)  Passport, valid at least 6 months or more.  

Please bring your old or cancelled passports if you have any and attach them to your current passport.  

     b.)  Photocopy of the first page of your passport.

This contains your name, picture and passport details.

     c.)  1 passport size picture

Paste this on your application form.  Do not stable or use tape.

     

     d.)  Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years.

I had UK, Japan and US visas but they are all expired (US visa was from more than 5 years too).  But I still submitted the original and photocopy of these visas to support my application.

     e.)  Certificate of Employment.

It should contain your salary and contact number / address of your employer.

     f.)  Photocopy of your ITR or 2316 form

Of course, you need to submit your latest ITR.  In our case we got our 2316  for 2014 just in time when we applied for a visa.

    

     g.)  Bank Certificate (original copy)

You may request this to your bank and get it on the same day.  It usually states the balance of your bank account as of the time your requested for it.  I remembered that when I requested for abank certificate when we applied for UK visa, it included the average balance in a year or a quarter.  But when I requested for Korean visa, it only stated the current balance.  So I guess they are more lenient for Korean visa.  

• However, effective March 1, 2015, applicants are now required to submit bank statement aside from the bank certificate as a new requirement.  We did not submit this since we went to the embassy before March 1.

• Always check their website in case there are new announcements on visa application.

3.)  Once you have completed the application and all the requirements, just go to the embassy, Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 11:00am .  No need to schedule your visit.

• If you submitted visas from the OECD countries, you will get your passport/visa in 3 working days.
• Otherwise, you will get your passport/visa in 5 working days.
• Releasing time is from 2:00pm to 4:00pm (Monday to Friday).

Location:
Embassy of Republic of Korea
122 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig city 1634, Philippines
http://embassy_philippines.mofa.go.kr/english/as/embassy_philippines/mission/location/index.jsp

Show me the money?

One of the most common questions when applying for a visa is how much money you should have in your bank account to ensure that you'll be issued a visa.  I have read in some blogs that states that you should have P80,000.00 to P100,000.00.  However, some blogs say that atleast P30,000.00 is enough.
Actually, if you are not confident with the amount of savings you have, you can always temporarily borrow money from your family or friends and deposit it in your account to increase your balance.
One of us got only P50,000.00 in our bank account and got approved.  Nobody really knows the reasons why one gets approved or denied of a visa.

I think what is important is that you submit all the required documents and to make sure that the details are consistent and believable.

For example, if your salary in your certificate of employment is only P7,000.00 but your bank account contains P100,000.00, it would be hard to believe that you can finance your travel with your salary even if you have enough in your savings.  They may figure out that someone else has put in the money in your savings account just to get approved for a visa.

Of course, it is possible that you have saved P100,000.00 on a P7,000.00 salary but it may give them room to doubt that you are declaring real information about your financial status.
This just my personal thoughts and opinion based on our experience when we applied for a visa :)

I hope this helps! :)


Note:
Also planning to write about how to get U.K. and Japan visa.  Actually, planning to post about my previous travels.  Will try my best to remember as many details as I can and share them with you :)