OtterFillHow to fill in the Korea visa application form
The Visa Application Form (사증발급신청서) is the form you complete to apply for a South Korean visa at a Korean embassy or consulate. Every foreign national who needs a visa fills in their own form, in Korean or English, and signs it; a parent or legal guardian signs for a child under 17.
Last checked against the official form:
- Form
- Korea visa
- Edition
- Form No. 17 of the Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Act (별지 제17호서식), amended 7 February 2022
- Issued by
- Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea
- Form language
- 한국어
- Who receives it
- The Korean embassy or consulate for your country or area of residence; a visa agency may lodge it for you
- Who fills it in
- Every foreign national who needs a Korean visa, each with their own form; a parent or legal guardian signs for a child under 17
- The form
- 5 pages and 12 sections, in Korean or English in block letters; many embassies want the Visa Portal e-Form, printed with its barcode
- Visa fee
- The Visa Portal lists USD 40 for a single-entry visa of 90 days or less; fees vary by nationality, so check your embassy’s page. It is not refunded if the visa is refused
- Result
- You check it on the Korea Visa Portal (www.visa.go.kr)
What this form is
The Visa Application Form is Form No. 17 (별지 제17호서식) of the Enforcement Rules of Korea’s Immigration Act. One form is used for every type of visa: short visits, study, work and family stays. It is printed in Korean with English beside each question, and asks who you are, which visa you want, your passport, contact details, family, education, job, trip, who invites you, who pays and whether someone helped you fill it in.
You can fill in the form as a PDF or on paper, or complete the e-Form on the Korea Visa Portal (www.visa.go.kr), print it with its barcode, sign it and hand it in at the embassy or consulate. Embassies differ: some accept a typed or handwritten form in block letters, others accept only the printed e-Form. Check your embassy’s visa page first.
Some visas are applied for fully online as an e-Visa on the Visa Portal, for example certain professional and business visitor visas, and then the electronic application replaces the paper form. If a sponsor in Korea obtained a Confirmation of Visa Issuance for you, you use a different form (Form No. 17-3).
By signing, you declare that your answers are true and that you will comply with Korea’s Immigration Act. The notice on the last page warns that false information or documents lead to revocation of the visa and can lead to criminal punishment and an entry ban.
Who has to fill it in
You fill it in if:
- You are a foreign national who needs a visa for Korea and apply at a Korean embassy or consulate: for tourism, business, visiting family, study, training, work or marriage migration.
- You plan to study or work in Korea: K-ETA covers only short visits such as tourism, family visits, events and business meetings, without paid work.
- You are applying for a child under 17: the form is filled in for the child, and a parent or legal guardian signs it.
You need something else if:
- You can enter Korea without a visa: you apply online for a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) at www.k-eta.go.kr, unless you are exempt. K-ETA is not a visa.
- Your visa can be applied for as an e-Visa on the Korea Visa Portal: the online application replaces this form.
- You hold a Confirmation of Visa Issuance from your sponsor in Korea: you use Form No. 17-3, which your sponsor downloads from the Visa Portal.
Field-by-field instructions
Section 1: Personal details
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| 여권용 사진 PHOTO (35㎜×45㎜) | Your photograph, in the box on page 1. | Attach a colour photo, 35 mm × 45 mm, taken within the last 6 months: full face, no hat, front view, against a white or off-white background. With the e-Form you upload a digital photo; some embassies then need no paper photo, so follow your embassy’s list. |
| 1.1여권에 기재된 영문 성명 Full name in English (as shown in passport): 성 Family Name / 명 Given Names | Your name in Latin letters, exactly as in your passport. | Write the family name and the given names in their own boxes, spelled as on the passport data page. Do not swap them, shorten them or add names. |
| 1.2한자성명 漢字姓名 | Your name in Chinese characters (漢字), if it is written that way. | Fill it in if your name is also written in Chinese characters. Otherwise leave it empty or write N/A, as your embassy prefers. |
| 1.3성별 Sex | Your sex as shown in your passport. | Tick Male or Female. |
| 1.4생년월일 Date of Birth (yyyy/mm/dd) | The day you were born. | Write it in the order printed on the form: year, month, day (yyyy/mm/dd). |
| 1.5국적 Nationality | The country whose passport you travel on. | Write the country’s name in English or Korean. |
| 1.6출생국가 Country of Birth | The country where you were born. | Write the country’s name, as in your passport or birth certificate. |
| 1.7국가신분증번호 National Identity No. | The number of your national identity card or register, if your country has one. | Write the number. If your country issues none, leave it empty or write N/A, as your embassy prefers. |
| 1.8이전에 한국에 출입국하였을 때 다른 성명을 사용했는지 여부 Has the applicant ever used any other names to enter or depart Korea? | Whether you entered or left Korea before under a different name. | Tick No or Yes. If Yes, write the family name and given name you used then, for example a name before marriage. |
| 1.9복수 국적 여부 Is the applicant a citizen of more than one country? | Whether you are a citizen of more than one country. | Tick No or Yes. If Yes, write every other country of which you are a citizen. |
Section 2: The visa you apply for
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1체류기간(장ㆍ단기) Period of Stay (Long/Short-term) | Whether you plan a short or a long stay. | Tick Short-term for a stay of 90 days or less, or Long-term for a longer stay. It should fit the status of stay in 2.2. |
| 2.2체류자격 Status of Stay | The type of visa you apply for, given as its code. | Write the code, for example C-3-9 for an ordinary tourist, C-3-4 for a business visitor or D-2 for a student. The Visa Portal lists the codes. The embassy does not choose it for you. |
Section 3: Passport
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| 3.1여권종류 Passport Type | The kind of passport you travel with. | Tick Regular for a normal passport. Tick Diplomatic, Official or Other only if that is what you hold, and describe Other. |
| 3.2여권번호 Passport No. | The number of that passport. | Copy it exactly from the data page. |
| 3.3발급국가 Country of Passport | The country that issued the passport. | Write the country’s name. |
| 3.4발급지 Place of Issue | The place or authority where the passport was issued. | Copy it from the data page, for example the city or the issuing authority. |
| 3.5발급일자 Date of Issue | The day the passport was issued. | Copy it from the data page, in year, month, day order. |
| 3.6기간만료일 Date Of Expiry | The day the passport expires. | Copy the expiry date. Many embassies ask for a passport valid for at least 6 months, so check your embassy’s rule before you apply. |
| 3.7다른 여권 소지 여부 Does the applicant have any other valid passports? | Whether you hold another passport that is still valid. | Tick No or Yes. If Yes, give that passport’s type, number, issuing country and expiry date. |
Section 4: Contact information
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1본국 주소 Home Country Address of the applicant | Your address in your home country. | Write the full address: street, number, city, region, postcode and country. |
| 4.2현 거주지 Current Residential Address | Where you live now, if it is not the address in 4.1. | Fill it in only if you live somewhere else, for example abroad. Otherwise leave it empty. |
| 4.3휴대전화 Cell Phone No. 또는 일반전화 Telephone No. | A telephone number where the embassy can reach you. | Write a mobile or landline number with the country code. |
| 4.4전자우편 E-mail | Your email address. | Write an address you check. |
| 4.5비상시 연락처 Emergency Contact Information | A person to contact in an emergency. | Write their full name in English, the country where they live, their telephone number and how they are related to you. |
Section 5: Marital status and family
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| 5.1현재 혼인사항 Current Marital Status | Whether you are married now. | Tick one of the three boxes: Married, Divorced or Single. |
| 5.2배우자 인적사항 Personal Information of the applicant’s Spouse | Details of your husband or wife. | Only if you ticked Married: their family name and given names in English, date of birth, nationality, address and contact number. |
| 5.3자녀 유무 Does the applicant have children? | Whether you have children. | Tick No or Yes, and if Yes write the number of children. |
Section 6: Education
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| 6.1최종학력 What is the highest degree or level of education the applicant has completed? | The highest level of education you have completed. | Tick Master’s/Doctoral Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, High School Diploma, or Other and describe it. |
| 6.2학교명 Name of School | The school where you completed that level. | Write the name of the school or university. |
| 6.3학교 소재지 Location of School (city/province/country) | Where that school is. | Write the city, province and country. |
Section 7: Employment
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| 7.1직업 Current personal circumstances | Your current situation. | Tick Entrepreneur, Self-Employed, Employed, Civil Servant, Student, Retired, Unemployed, or Other and describe it. |
| 7.2직업 상세정보 Employment Details | Where you work or study. | Write the name of the company, institute or school, your position or course, its address and its telephone number. Leave it empty if you are not working or studying. |
Section 8: Your visit
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| 8.1입국목적 Purpose of Visit to Korea | Why you are going to Korea. | Tick the purpose that matches your status of stay: Tourism/Transit, Meeting/Conference, Medical Tourism, Business Trip, Study/Training, Work, Trade/Investment/Intra-Corporate Transferee, Visiting Family/Relatives/Friends, Marriage Migrant, Diplomatic/Official, or Other and describe it. |
| 8.2체류예정기간 Intended Period of Stay | How long you plan to stay in Korea. | Write the length of the stay, for example 10 days or 6 months. It should match your itinerary and documents. |
| 8.3입국예정일 Intended Date of Entry | The day you plan to arrive in Korea. | Write the date, in year, month, day order. |
| 8.4체류예정지(호텔 포함) Address in Korea (including hotels) | Where you will stay in Korea. | Write the full address, including the name of the hotel if you stay in one. |
| 8.5한국 내 연락처 Contact No. in Korea | A telephone number in Korea where you can be reached. | Write the number of your hotel, your host or the place you will stay. |
| 8.6과거 5년간 한국을 방문한 경력 Has the applicant travelled to Korea in the last 5 years? | Your visits to Korea in the last 5 years. | Tick No or Yes. If Yes, write how many times, and for each visit the purpose and the dates (yyyy/mm/dd ~ yyyy/mm/dd). |
| 8.7한국 외에 과거 5년간 여행한 국가 Has the applicant travelled outside his/her country of residence, excluding to Korea, in the last 5 years? | Your trips to other countries in the last 5 years, not counting Korea. | Tick No or Yes. If Yes, list each country in English with the purpose and the dates. Use a separate sheet if the table is too short. |
| 8.8국내 체류 가족 유무 Does the applicant have any family member(s) staying in Korea? | Family members who are staying in Korea now. | Tick No or Yes. If Yes, give each one’s full name in English, date of birth, nationality and relationship to you. Family here means spouse, children, parents and siblings. |
| 8.9동반입국 가족 유무 Is the applicant travelling to Korea with any family member(s)? | Family members who travel to Korea with you. | Tick No or Yes. If Yes, give the same details for each of them. |
Section 9: Invitation
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| 9.1초청인/초청회사 Is there anyone inviting the applicant for the visa? | The person or organisation in Korea that invites you. | Tick No or Yes. If Yes, write the name of the person or company, their date of birth or business registration number, their relationship to you, their address and their telephone number. |
Section 10: Funding
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| 10.1방문경비(미국 달러 기준) Estimated travel costs (in US dollars) | How much the trip will cost in total. | Write an estimate in US dollars, covering travel, accommodation and living costs. |
| 10.2경비지급자 Who will pay for the applicant’s travel-related expenses? | Who pays for your trip. | Write the person or organisation that pays, which can be you, their relationship to you, the type of support (for example flights and accommodation) and a contact number. |
Sections 11 and 12: Help with the form and declaration
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| 11.1이 신청서를 작성하는데 다른 사람의 도움을 받았습니까? Did the applicant receive assistance in completing this form? | Whether someone helped you fill in the form. | Tick No or Yes. If Yes, give that person’s full name, date of birth, telephone number and relationship to you, for example a relative or a travel agent. |
| 12신청일자 (년. 월. 일) DATE OF APPLICATION (yyyy/mm/dd) | The day you sign the form. | Write the date in year, month, day order. |
| 12신청인 성명 (자필서명) Applicant Name / SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT | Your name and signature, confirming the declaration in section 12. | Write your name and sign by hand. For a child under 17, a parent or legal guardian signs. The form warns that a missing name or signature may lead to refusal. |
Key terms
| Term on the form | What it means |
|---|---|
| 사증 VISA | The permission a Korean embassy or consulate issues so that you can apply to enter Korea for a set purpose and time. |
| 체류자격 Status of Stay | The category of your visa, written as a code such as C-3-9 or D-2, which sets what you may do in Korea and for how long. |
| 단기체류 / 장기체류 Short-term / Long-term Stay | A short-term stay is 90 days or less; a long-term stay is longer. |
| C 계열 사증 category C visa | Short-term visas, whose codes start with C. The form notes that you cannot change to another status of stay after entering Korea with one. |
| 한자성명 漢字姓名 | Your name written in Chinese characters, asked for applicants whose names have that form. |
| 국가신분증번호 National Identity No. | The personal number on your country’s identity card or population register. |
| 사업자등록번호 Business Registration No. | The registration number of a Korean company, which an inviting company writes in place of a date of birth. |
| 가족의 범위 Scope of family members | For questions 8.8 and 8.9, family means your spouse, children, parents and siblings. |
| 법정후견인 Legal Guardian | A person who has the legal right to act for a child; they sign for an applicant under 17. |
| 재외공관 Diplomatic Mission | A Korean embassy or consulate abroad, which receives, reviews and decides your application. |
| 대한민국 비자포털 Korea Visa Portal (www.visa.go.kr) | The Ministry of Justice’s website for visas, where you complete the e-Form, apply for some e-Visas and check the result. |
| 사증발급거부통지서 disapproval notice | The written notice that a visa was refused; to receive it on paper you must go to the embassy or consulate in person. |
| 공용란 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | The box on page 1 that the embassy fills in; leave it empty. |
| 출입국관리법 Immigration Act | The Korean law on entry, stay and departure; by signing you promise to comply with it. |
Common mistakes
- 1
Handing in a form your embassy does not accept
Some embassies accept only the Visa Portal e-Form, printed with its barcode, and refuse handwritten forms; others accept a typed or handwritten form in block letters. Check your embassy’s visa page before you fill it in.
- 2
Writing a name that differs from the passport
Question 1.1 asks for your name as shown in your passport. Put the family name and the given names in the right boxes and do not translate or shorten them.
- 3
Choosing the wrong status of stay
The code in 2.2 and the purpose in 8.1 must fit the visa you need and the documents you bring. Embassies say it is the applicant’s job to choose the visa type, so check the Visa Portal’s list first.
- 4
Leaving Yes or No questions unanswered
The form asks you to complete every question and to tick every box that applies. Answer each Yes or No question, such as 1.8, 1.9, 3.7 and 8.6 to 8.9, and give the details when you tick Yes.
- 5
Not declaring other names, nationalities or passports
Questions 1.8, 1.9 and 3.7 ask about them. The form warns that false information leads to revocation of the visa and can lead to criminal punishment and an entry ban.
- 6
Forgetting the name and signature
Write your name and sign in section 12. A missing name or signature may lead to refusal. A child under 17 does not sign: a parent or legal guardian does.
- 7
Applying at the wrong embassy
You apply at the Korean embassy or consulate for the country or area where you live. Embassies may refuse applications from people who live outside their area.
- 8
Planning to change a short-term visa in Korea
The form notes that holders of a category C visa cannot change their status of stay after entering Korea. Apply for the visa that fits your real purpose.
- 9
Not reporting a new passport
If you get a new passport after your visa is approved, for example because the old one was lost or damaged, you must tell the visa office so that your details are correct.
Questions and answers
Can I fill in the Korea visa application form online?
Yes. The Korea Visa Portal (www.visa.go.kr) has an e-Form: you fill it in online, print it with its barcode, sign it and take it to the embassy or consulate with your passport and documents. Only some visa types can be applied for fully online as an e-Visa.
Do I need a visa or a K-ETA?
If your nationality can enter Korea without a visa, you apply online for a K-ETA at www.k-eta.go.kr instead, unless you are exempt. Check the list of countries on the K-ETA website. K-ETA covers only short visits such as tourism, family visits, events and business meetings, so study or work needs a visa.
What do I write as the status of stay?
Write the code of the visa you need, for example C-3-9 for an ordinary tourist, C-3-4 for a business visitor or D-2 for a student. The Visa Portal’s Visa Navigator and its list of visas by category show the codes and the documents each one needs.
Which language do I use?
The form says to write in Korean or English, in block letters. Some embassies ask for English in capital letters.
Who signs for a child?
For an applicant under 17, a parent or legal guardian signs in section 12. The child still has their own form.
How much does the visa cost?
The Visa Portal lists USD 40 for a single-entry visa of 90 days or less, USD 60 for a single-entry visa of 91 days or longer, USD 70 for a double-entry visa and USD 90 for a multiple-entry visa. Fees vary by nationality and by agreement between countries, so check your embassy’s page. The fee is not refunded if the visa is refused.
How do I check the result?
On the Korea Visa Portal: choose Check Application Status, then Check Application Status & Print, select Diplomatic Office and enter your passport number, name and date of birth. Some embassies no longer put a visa sticker in the passport; you print the visa grant notice from the portal instead.
I have a Confirmation of Visa Issuance. Which form do I use?
Form No. 17-3, which your sponsor in Korea downloads from the Visa Portal and sends you, or tells you the confirmation number and its expiry date. A Confirmation of Visa Issuance is valid for 3 months and can be used once.
Does a visa guarantee entry to Korea?
No. The form states that a visa does not entitle you to enter if you are found inadmissible at the port of entry. Carry the documents you gave the embassy in case the immigration officer asks.
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