Here’s the list of TRAVEL AGENCIES officially designated by the Korean Embassy to accept KOREAN VISA APPLICATIONS. We also added their many branches and phone numbers.
The process of applying for a South Korean visa is straightforward. Getting one is easy, as long as you have all of the documents and meet the requirements. Before, you could go to the embassy and apply for one on your own. But because the number of Korean visa applicants have doubled over the past two years, the Korean Embassy has enlisted the help of carefully chosen travel agencies to receive the applications for them starting July 1, 2018.
Yep, beginning July 1, 2018, tourist visa applications must be coursed through one of their officially designated travel agencies. This means that from this date onward, the embassy will no longer accept walk-in applicants or any direct applications for a temporary visit visa (with some exceptions). Note that the Korean Consulate in Cebu is NOT affected by this and will continue to accept direct applications on site. But if you prefer to apply via agency, we also included accredited agency branches in Cebu.
Although the visa itself will most likely remain free-of-charge, these agencies will surely be collecting processing fees. The rates will vary, but it’s usually between P500 and P1500. Once it takes effect, contact these agencies and compare prices and identify which one is the most convenient to get to.
Anyway, here’s the list of embassy-accredited agencies, their various offices around the country, and their respective contact details. We’re not sure whether or not all the branches listed below are prepared to receive Korean visa applications so get in touch with them before showing up at their office.
In addition, the following agencies that have been accredited to process group visa and e-group visa last year are also allowed to accept temporary visit/tourist visa applications.
No prob! Thanks for visiting!
Hi Helen, no word about the start date yet. It was supposed to begin on May 14 but there seems to have been a delay.
The list is incomplete. There are ten other agents accredited by the KR embassy announced last year.
Thank you very much for this informative post. Are the agencies on the list located only in Manila? I hope you can find the time to separate the agencies by regions. I could use a list of agencies in Cebu for visayas applicants.
ABS CBN News said it would start on July 1. I am also interested to know if there is an accredited travel agency in Pampanga. Thanks in advance.
Hi, how about the bdo and bpi cc card is it still applicable if it is thru this tour agencies?
Hi Elena, wala po sa research namin. What you can do is apply at a local travel agency who will coordinate with an official agency. Kasi syempre, mas tataas ung singil nun kasi may patong ung local agency.
What about those who have travelled to OECD countries within 5 years? Do we also need to go through the agencies? Kasi what I have understood is this is for the first time applicants?
Everyone applying for a tourist short stay visa will have to course it through an agency regardless of whether or not it’s your first time, unless you’re applying in Cebu.
I will be applying from Cebu and have been to 4 OECD Countries – France, Germany, UK, Greece.
Will I have any problem?
Hi Ella, it’s hard for me to say po if magkakaproblem or hindi kasi it’s based on a lot of factors, not just the OECD countries.
Is it allowed a representative to submit the application in behalf of the applicant?
I already have a visa and I want to travel with my sister who is 66 yrs old and a retiree . Can she apply for a korean visa using my documents, me to fund her travel?
Hi Roxanne, they might still look for her bank documents, but yes, you can sponsor her trip. For better chances, submit a cover letter and affidavit of support.
Any agencies on Negros Occidental?
Wala pa kami alam if meron sa Negros Occidental. We’ll add if may makita kami.
Hello! Would this also mean that the applicant is required to avail for the tour package with the accredited travel agent? Thank you!
No. You can still travel on your own. You just need to course the visa application through an agency. Just the visa application.
Hi Marilou, for unemployed tapos 3 months mag-stay, medyo mahihirapan ka ma-approve. Usually pag unemployed, mahihirapan talaga kahit 3 days lang yung stay, mas lalo yung 3 months.
Hi, I have bpi gold card..pwede pa ba yon?
Pano po yung bdo and bpi gold cardholders? Need pa rin ba mag travel agency or direct na apply sa embassy?
Worst JTB is Vertis North. Keep away. Their staff are not equal in competence, and their guidelines are ever-changing (each visit).
Better visit a different agency.
I am currently unemployed pero meron akong small business like nagpapautang ako ng mga mobile phones but no business permit nor ITR. do you think they will accept it as my rootedness? I have all the receipts as a proof. lahat ng receipts nakapangalan sakin. I have my husband who will support my trip. hoping for your reply. Thank you.
Hi Jessa, business registration, meron? Kasi if may receipt ka na nai-issue, baka may business registration ka whether BIR, DTI or SEC? Pwede mo isubmit yun.
what I mean sa receipts is yun yung mga resibo ng mga phones na binili ko from the phone store. wala din po akong business registration.
Sige po thank you so much. Pero may isa pa akong hirit. My mom owns a small sari-sari store. Meron syang business permit before from the Barangay pero hindi nya na na renew. Do you think it is helpful kung ipapangalan na lang sakin yung store but the business permit is from Barangay. Is it acceptable?
If soon ka mag-aapply, kahit ipangalan sayo ung business permit, fishy pa rin yun kasi recent lang ipangalan sayo. Most likely hindi pa rin nila itutrust yun, given kung gaano ka-strict ang Korean Embassy lately. And kahit magsubmit ka ng permit, hihingi at hihingi pa rin sila ng ITR and business registration from DTI or SEC, kasi nasa requirements yun.
I am an OFW and I want to treat my family of 5 to a tour in Korea. Since ako naman ang gagastos, pwede po bang mga papers, bank documents ko na lang ang isubmit ko for family application? siguro marriage certificate and birth certificates na lang din ng family ko ang kailangan para sa kanila? Then another question po e kung kakailanganin ang ITR e paano po kaya yun gayong wla naman kami nun as OFW? nakita ko lang po kasi na isa yun sa mga major requirements e.
Hi Jojo, baka meron kayong equivalent nung ITR sa country kung saan kayo nagwork? Tax document?
Paano pag december 28-january 1 yung travel namin. When do we start to apply for visa?
Hi ofw ako sa uae. Im travelling to korea sa november pero pagcheck ko sa requirements dito eh more than 6 months dapat ang uae residence visa ko. My visa will expire in less than 4 months. May ibang option pa ba?
Hi Warren, naku, I’m not familiar with the policy pag dyan sa UAE.
Hi my daughter wants to visit korea good for 3 days. She is a tourism student can she be given a visa with $2,000 show money, aside from her pocket money?
Hi Lou, if sa Thailand ka mag-apply, di ko alam yung requirements kasi madalas iba-iba yung requirements/process ng Korean Embassy per mission/location.
But if sa Pinas ka mag-apply, same requirements lang or equivalent documents. Kunyari, instead na ITR, ung equivalent na tax document from Thailand ung isusubmit. Tapos dagdag ka na lang ng cover letter to explain.
Pili na lang po kayo ng pinakamalapit sa inyo sa list.
If may past work ka before ka magwork sa current company mo, pwede naman. You can submit yung ITR from your previous company.
If first work mo yang current company mo, yan yung mas mahirap kasi ibig sabihin wala ka pa ITR. Pwede pa rin i-try, pero greater ang risk pag ganun.
Hi, how much is the processing fee?
Helo po .. ask ko lang po , mag tour po sana ako sa korea on march (12 days po sana) kaso sa requirements po kasi walang ofw, ofw po ako for 4 years and kakauwi ko lng last sept25 , so ngayon wla pa po akong work , nag aapply po ulit , so wala po akong mga ITR , ano po pwede ko isubmit . Thanks and how much po ang recommended na show money para sa 12 days. Thank you ..
Hi Carm, di ko po alam pag ganyan situation po. Kung nakapili ka na ng travel agency kung saan ka mag-aapply, best to call them na lang para sigurado.
hi po. ano po ang mga requirements para sa student visa and auntie ko ang mag support? tapos may isa akong auntie sa korea na nakapag asawa ng korean and e invite niya ako. so sana matulungan niyo po ako Thank you!
Hi Gabrielle, student visa meaning mag-aaral ka sa Korea?
What about sa Bacolod City po na agency meron po ba?
Wala pang designated agency sa Bacolod sa list.
Hi Yoshke! If an American citizen is currently in the Philippines for holiday and decided to visit Korea for 5 days.. need pa ba nya Ng visa from the Philippines to Korea? Or exempted sya?
Paano kung hindi accredited ng korean embassy yung pinag applyan ko ng tourist korean visa ok lang ba yun? Reliable international travel services kz ang agency ko dahil sila din nag assist sakin sa shanghai. Ok lng ba yun kahit hindi sila accredited agencies nyo?
Okay lang din yun. Pero I think ico-course pa rin nila through a designated agency if di sila accredited so better talaga if through a designated agency na lang para bawas middleman.
Good pm po paano po un mgaaply po ako ng korean visa pero un ITR ko last 2015 pa po pwede po ba un?
Hi Jhensky, kahit po tax-free na, may ITR pa rin po. Hingi kayo sa employer nyo. Di nyo po magagamit yung 2015 kasi masyado na yun matagal.
Kung nagfa-file ung employer mo ng ITR for you, dapat meron. Pero kung hindi, ibig sabihin wala ka talaga ITR. In that case, mas mahihirapan ka kumuha ng visa. You can try explaining it sa isang letter pero di yung guarantee.
Gud am, ask ko lng kung bakit ako lagi nadedenied sa pag apply ng korean visa ko? Kahit kumpleto nman yung mga requirments ko, nkalabas nman na din ako bansa at group tour nman din yung sinasamahan ko, pero denied pa rin kmi ng friend ko 4times nko nadedenied! Nd ko malaman kung bakit eh wala nman ako balak mag TNT sa korea gusto lng tlga mapagtour dun. Nakakainis na kz e tadtad na ng denied yung passport ko.
Hi Andie, did they give you the reason bakit denied? Usually sinasabi naman nila pero medyo vague yung reasons.
Pero hindi guarantee ang complete na requirements para ma-approve. Pinaka-important sa kanila ay rootedness —- ano work, gaano kastable ang work, may kakilala/bibisitahin ka ba sa Korea, who’s paying for the trip, may steady cashflow ka ba sa bank.
Hi I thought applying through a travel agency is easier pero they actually make it more complicated. Mas marami pa clang requirements kesa pag ikaw ang magaapply. I have been applying my Visa on my own. And this is the first time I had to go through an agency mas marami pa clang kaartehan na hinahanap kesa sa embassy am hoping that they would allow personal visa applications again. Kung tutuusin it’s additional business for them pero mas pinahihirapan nila ang Tao.
Hi Cristine, di na raw kasi nila kaya yung volume ng applications. So ayun.
hi ,i have a question po. What will i do..? I am an online teacher my student is inviting me. and i want to visit and see my student in person din..I live in Baguio , pero kaylangan kong bumaba to get my visa sa taguig?and i don’t know there is an accredited agency dito sa baguio pra sa processing..it will be my first time to travel abroad.
Hi Edge, ang alam ko, okay lang na mag-apply through mail. Hanap ka lang ng agency na tumatanggap nun.
You can also apply at a local travel agency dyan sa Baguio tapos sila na mag-coordinate with an official agency. Pero syempre, mas tataas ung singil nun kasi may patong ung local agency.
visa to travel in South Korea pala..i won’t stay long maybe more or less 10-15 days lang.
Hi. Good day. I would like to ask is it possible to process my korean visa in philippines i’m here in saudi working i’m going vacation in july 5 and planning to travel in korea by july19-23. Thank you.
Hi! Ang alam ko po pwede naman, basta complete ung docs.