I. General Information

Following is the general information for U.S. citizen's Korean Visa application.

A U.S. citizen with a valid passport can visit the Republic of Korea without visa for 90 days for the purpose of tourism or transient stop-over.

Normally, the Korean visa will be available after two p.m. on the second day after the applicant submits all the required documents.

The visa-processing fee is $45 for U.S. Citizens as of Jan. 01.

If an applicant is requesting a visa by mail, she/he is required to enclose Self-Addressed, Stamped Envelope for the passport to be returned.

Please include a PREPAID airway bill from a mail delivery service of your choice(i.e. FEDEX, DHL, UPS, USPS).

We are sorry, but we cannot accept account numbers or credit card numbers as a way to pay for shipments.

Please write your return address clearly. The Consulate is not responsible for lost mail.

II. The frequently-asked visa category

The category of Korean visa varies depending on the applicant's period and purpose of stay.
The following is the detailed Information about the frequently asked visa category.

1. Short-term Visitor status(C-3)
    - US citizens who want to visit Korea for the purpose of tourism, academic conference,
      relative-visitation, religious ceremony, etc, within 3 months are required to apply for
     C-3 visa.

    - In case of US citizens, a 5-year valid multiple entry visa is usually issued.

    - This visa holder can stay up to 90 days at a time when he/she visits the Republic
      of Korea.

    - The necessary documents are as follows
      1) Valid passport
      2) Completed visa application form with photo attached.

2. Short-term Business status(C-2)
    - US citizens who want to visit the Republic of Korea for the purpose of business such
      as marketing research, business negotiations, pilot operation of export machines,
      etc, within 3 months are required to apply for C-2 visa.

   - In case of US citizens, a 5-year valid multiple entry visa is usually issued.

   - This visa holder can stay up to 90 days at a time when he/she visits the Republic
     of Korea.

   - The necessary documents are as follows
     1) Valid passport
     2) Completed visa application form with photo attached.
     3) Documents proving applicant's business activity such as L/C, Invoice,
          invitation letter, Contract, company letter, etc

3. Student status(D-2)
- U.S citizens who wish to pursue academic degree courses of study at a university or
    qualified higher educational institution need to apply for D-2 visa

- The necessary documents are as follows
    1) Valid passport
    2) Completed visa application form with photo attached.
    3) Standard admission letter from university.

4. Investor status(D-8)
- The employees of the corporation who has invested the capital into the Republic of
    Korea according to Korean Statute "Foreign Investment Act" can apply for D-8 visa.

- The scope of employee who is eligible for D-8 visa.
    1) executive or senior manager: an employee performing supervisory or executive
        duties.
   2) an employee with essential skills: an employee having specialized knowledge or
        skills for the operation of the invested company.

- The necessary documents are as follows
    1) Valid passport
    2) Completed visa application form with photo attached.
    3) Temporary duty order(transfer order) or statement of employment
    4) Certificate of foreigner's investment report or certificate of business registration

* It is highly recommended for applicant to obtain Certificate for Recognition of
   Visa Issuance from the local Korean Immigration Service, for the expeditious and
   streamlined visa issuance.

5. English Instructor status(E-2)
- US citizen who want to teach English at foreign language institutions or
    organizations need to apply for E-2 visa.

- The applicant is required to have a bachelor degree or equivalent degree.

- The necessary documents are as follows
    1) Valid passport
    2) Completed visa application form with photo attached.
    3) Certificate for Recognition of Visa Issuance from the local Korean Immigration
         Service (please, refer to the following about this Certificate)

* Visa Interview might required

6. Visa status for Korean-Americans

(1) F-1 status

      - Korean-Americans who wish to stay in the Republic of Korea to visit his/her
        relatives  more than 90days need to apply for F-1 visa

     - F-1 visa holders can stay up to one-year in Korea but this status is extendable with
       the local Korean Immigration Office.

     - The necessary documents are as follows
      1) Passport
      2) Completed visa application form with photo attached.
      3) Documents proving applicant's origin is Korean such as Korean family registry or
           marriage certificate , birth certificate, etc
      4) Reference (Sponsorship letter) : Applicant who is under the age of 17 is exempt
           from  this sponsorship letter

(2) F-4 status

     - Naturalized Korean-American and his/her immediate descendants can apply for
       F-4 visa.

     - F-4 visa holders can engage in extensive activity including work in Korea up to
       two-years, unlike other visa status, and this status is extendable with Local
       Immigration Office.

     - For F-4 visa to be issued, the applicant needs to fulfil his Korean nationality
       renunciation report with Korean Ministry of Justice or Korean Consulate before visa
       application.

     - The necessary documents are as follows
      1) Passport
       2) Completed visa application form with photo attached.
       3) Documents proving applicant's origin is Korean such as Korean family registry or
            birth certificate, etc
       4) Document proving that applicant completed his/her Korean nationality
           renunciation report
      5) Other documents which are deemed to be necessary by the Korean Justice
            Minister.

* In case of a male F-4 visa applicant, there are further qualification requirements if you have not completed your Korea military service duty. If you have not, please contact our visa department for additional information.

* The Validity Period of Single Visa is 3 Months

III. Visa Issuance Recognition Certificate(Number)

- In regards to long-term visas, especially work visas, it is highly recommended for applicant to obtain Certificate for Recognition of Visa Issuance(number) for the streamlined visa processing.

- The employer of applicant or inviting company in the Repulic of Korea is required to apply for this Certificatewith a local Korean Immigration Office.

- After the Certificate Number is issued, applicant needs to submit his/her visa application along with the Certificate Number to the nearest Korean Consulate.

IV. Necessary Documents for Korean Visa Application

1. Regardless of visa status, the following two documents are needed

1) Valid Passport
2) Completed Visa Application form with one photo attached

2. Additional Documents for Visa Status each

Status	Required Documents
Diplomats (A-1)	Temporary duty order or statement of employment or official letter from Foreign Minister to certify his or her status(Those documents may be replaced by verbal notes when his or her status is identified by showing identification card etc.) *A diplomatic passport is required. However, even a person who desires to do his diplomatic duty with a general passport and his family members will be included in this category
Officials (A-2)	Temporary duty order or statement of employment or official letter from Foreign Minister to certify his or her status(Facts he or she is on official duty must be included in the letter) *An official passport or identification card is required. However, even a person who desires to do his official duty with a general passport or who works for an international organization and his family members will be included in this category
Agreement (A-3)	Temporary duty order or statement of employment or official letter from Foreign Minister to certify his or her status *An official passport or identification card is required
Temporary News Coverage (C-1)	Temporary duty order or statement of employment issued by the company where he or she belongs, or certificate of foreign news reporter
Short-Term Business (C-2)	Documents proving the fact that the purpose of his or her visit to the Republic of Korea is on business
Short-Term Visitors (C-3)	No documents are required
Short-Term Employment (C-4)	Letter of employment contract. Letter of employment recommendation issued by the head of the relevant central government agency(an entertainer needs a letter of performance recommendation issued by the Image Stuff Classification Committee), an official letter from the relevant government agency or documents proving the necessity of employment * English Instructor for Summer or Winter Camp Diploma, authenticated by the Apostille(Certification) Criminal Record(Attatched Apostille) --> Effective January 1, 2011, the criminal record issued by FBI will be only accepted. Employment Contract Letter of Invitation Document regarding Establishment of school or Organization * Copy of Ceritifcate of Life long Education * Copy of Business License
Culture/Art (D-1)	Letter of invitation Documents proving the fact that it is culture and art organization - certificate of expert's career will be required in case that the applicant needs his or her instruction Curriculm vitae or certificate of career Documents proving the applicant's capability to pay his or her whole travel expenses during his or her stay *A above-mentioned expert means a person who qualifies intangible cultural assets or who holds a certificate of qualification recognized by government agency
Students (D-2)	A student who study in junior college or university - An admission letter issued by the president of college or university A person who research at an educational/scientific research organization - Substantiating documents for the research - Certificate of the last school - Letter of personal reference notarized or Financial Affidavit
Industrial Trainees (D-3)	Training program written by training organization Copy of wage or pay ledger Letter of recommendation issued by aliens training company or documents proving the fact that he or she will be trained at the industrial company concerned Letter of personal reference notarized
General Trainees (D-4)	A student who learns Korean language at a language institute attached to college or university, or who is involved in study training according to academic exchange agreement between colleges or Universities needs the following documents; - Certificate of school enrollment or school attendance Financial Affidavit - certificate of remittance or money exchange(more than U.S. $3,000) - Letter of personal reference notarized is required in case that the applicant cannot prove his or her capability to pay travel expenses necessary to stay, including school fees etc., or if Justice Minister deems particularly necessary A student who study in secondary school or below - An admission letter - Certificate of graduation or school attendance - Financial affidavit(one of the following items) * Letter of personal reference notarized * Certificate of expenses burden issued by chief of the school in case that expenses for stay are borne by school authority * in other cases, certificate of bank blance or remittance or money exchange(more than U.S $3000) A student who participates in other training programs will need the following documents; - certificate of training - documents regarding establishment of training institutes - Financial Affidavit * certificate of remittance or money exchange(more than U.S. $3,000) - Letter of personal reference notarized is required in case the applicant cannot prove his or her capability to pay travel expenses necessary to stay, including school fees etc., or if Justice Minister deems particularly necessary
Residence Reporters (D-5)	Temporary duty order or statement of employment Documents related to performance on operation funds for branch office in Korea
Religious workers (D-6)	Temporary mission order Copy of a certificate of religious organization or social welfare organization establishment Documents proving the facts that relevant organizations pay the applicant's travel expenses
Intracompany Transferees (D-7)	Temporary duty order or statement of employment Copy of certificate of setting up branch office or liason office Documents proving achievement of business fund borrowing or copy of business project Certificate of annual tax
Treaty Investors (D-8)	Temporary duty order or statement of employment Certificate of foreigner's investment report, including copy of register book or certificate of business registration Certificate of registered investment company
Treaty Traders (D-9)	Statement of employment Certificate of trade business code Document regarding business fund borrowing or copy of business project Receipt of annual tax-payment
Professors (E-1)	Certificate of career Employment contract or certificate of expected employment
Teaching Foreign Languages (E-2)	Certificate of academic degree(Diploma) Employment contract Document regarding establishment of school or organization Letter of personal reference notarized Criminal Record(Attatched Apostille) Effective January 1, 2011, the criminal record issued by FBI will be only accepted. Health Statement Consul's Check List Transcript Certified
Research (E-3)	Documents regarding establishment of inviting organization Certificate of academic degree and certificate of career Employment contract.
Instruction of Technology (E-4)	Temporary duty order or statement of employment Copy of approved technology-import contract or copy of technology-import contract (or certificate of service transactions) or certificate of designated military defense industry Documents regarding establishment of a public or private organization
Speciality Occupation (E-5)	Certificate of academics degree and certificate of qualification Letter of employment recommendation issued by the head of central government agency or documents proving the necessity of employment Employment contract.
Art and Entertainment (E-6)	1. Person, who desire to be engaged in performance or entertainment activities at tourist hotels and entertainment places require; Letter of performance recommendation issued by the Image stuff Classification committee Performance project Certificate of HIV test Letter of personal reference notarized 2. Others require; Letter of employment recommendation issued by the head of the relevant central government agency or documents proving the necessity of employment Certificate of qualification or certificate of career Letter of personal reference notarized
Particular Occupation (E-7)	Certificate of academic degree or certificate of qualification Emploment contract Letter of employment recommendation issued by the head of the relevant central government agency or documents proving the necessity of employment Documents regarding the establishment of a public or private organization Lette of personal reference notarized
Training Employment (E-8)	Contract training employment Letter of recommendation issued by the head of the training company Certificate of technology qualification Letter of personal reference notarized Documents that Justice Minister deems necessary
Visiting& Joining Family(F-1)	1. Persons who visit family or relatives who live in the Republic of Korea require; Documents proving relationship of family or relatives(certificate of marriage & register book or certificate of birth) Letter or personal reference notarized *Person adopted abroad require a certificate of confirmation or statement of adopting parents 2. Domestic helper of diplomats in the Republic of Korea requires; Official letter issued by foreign embassy or consulate Employment contract Copy of diplomat's ID 3. Foreign students who enrolled in elementary/junior/high school require; certificate of school enrollment or school attendance Certificate of adapted person's annual tax-payment
Residence(F-2)	Documents proving family relationship(certificate of marriage or register book Financial affidavit Letter of personal reference notarized persons who are granted a status of or stay or who change the status require ; - Documents certifying that an applicant has continuously lived at his or her permanent address in the Republic of Korea - Letter of personal reference notarized (but a child of a person having residence status is excluded)
Dependent Families(F-3)	Document proving family relationship(certificate of marriage & register book or certificate of birth) Statement of employment and certificate of tax-payment
Korean Residents Abroad(F-4)	1. A Korean foreigner who had Korean citizenship before his or her obtaining a foreign nationality Substantiating documents for an applicant's ex-Korean nationality such as Korean family tree register Substantiating documents for the reasons and the time of obtaining a foreign nationality Other documents which are deemed to be necessary by the Minister of Justice * In case of a male F-4 visa applicant, there are further qualification requirements if you have not completed your Korea military service duty. If you have not, please contact our visa department for additional information. 2. An immediate family member of a Korean-foreigner who obtained foreign nationality Substantiating documents that prove his or her parent's ex-Korean nationality Substantiating documents for the reasons and the time of obtaining a foreign nationality of the applicant and his or her parents Substantiating documents which establish the relationship of the family such as a certificate of birth Other documents which are deemed to be necessary by the Minister of Justice
Other(G-1)	Documents proving the purpose of entry(subpoena issued by the court or medical doctor's prescription) Documents proving the capability to pay for the cost of litigation or medical treatment
Working Holiday	Return flight ticket Documents proving that an applicant has capability to burden expenses for travel and stay Travel itinrary and plan * This type of visa can be issued to the citizens of Australia, New zealand, Canada, Japan, France and U.S.A

Related Site : www.g4f.go.kr

*g4f(http://www.g4f.go.kr/) stands for Government for Foreigners. This site provides
comprehensive information for foreigners who want to visit or live in Korea, including guide on
immigration to the Republic of Korea.