Korea Tourist Visa for Filipinos (2026): Requirements, Fees and Processing Time

AI-generated mid-century travel poster of a trip from Manila to Seoul, with a jeepney, a traveler with a suitcase, a plane and N Seoul Tower, titled Korea Trip

AI-generated illustration.

Short answer: if you hold an ordinary Philippine passport and want a holiday in Seoul, Busan or anywhere on the Korean mainland, you need a C-3-9 tourist visa. K-ETA is not available for Philippine passports. The visa itself is free for stays of up to 59 days, but the application center charges PHP 1,000, and in Manila it now takes about 12 working days. Apply at least a month before your flight.

This guide sums up what the Korean Embassy in the Philippines and its visa application center publish, with links so you can check the latest version yourself.

Do Filipinos need a visa for Korea?

Yes, for a normal holiday. Philippine ordinary-passport holders need a short-term visit visa (C-3-9, general tourism) to visit mainland Korea.
K-ETA won't replace it. The Philippines is not on Korea's K-ETA list, and K-ETA is not a visa anyway.
Diplomatic and official passports follow a separate agreement, not covered here.

Exceptions, and why they probably don't fit a normal trip

Jeju visa-free entry: you can visit Jeju Island for up to 30 days without a visa, but only if you fly into Jeju directly from abroad. It does not let you travel on to Seoul, and flying Seoul to Jeju does not count.
Transit visa-free entry (up to 30 days): if you hold a valid visa or residency for the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or one of 32 European countries and you are traveling to or from that country through Korea, you may enter Korea without a visa. It does not cover a Philippines–Korea–Philippines round trip, and a Japanese visa is not on the list. Extra conditions apply, such as a confirmed onward ticket within 30 days.
Group e-visa: groups of 3 or more booked through an embassy-designated travel agency can get an electronic group visa. For Filipino tour groups, the visa fee waiver runs until December 31, 2026; agency fees still apply.

Where to apply

Luzon and Mindanao: the Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC) in Manila, 9/F (Zone 2), Brittany Hotel, 6 McKinley Parkway, Aura Complex, BGC, Taguig. Walk-in submission runs on weekdays, 08:30–16:00. Advance booking is only needed for the optional Premium Lounge.
By mail, nationwide: Filipinos applying for C-3-9 can send documents through W Express, the courier KVAC works with. Other couriers are not accepted.
Through an agency: only travel agencies designated by the embassy can submit for you. KVAC published an updated list of 55 agencies on September 29, 2026, so check it before you pay anyone.
Visayas: the Korean Consulate in Cebu takes applications by online appointment. New slots open every Tuesday at 14:00 Philippine time.

How much it costs

Item	Cost
Visa issuance fee, stay of 59 days or less	Free
Visa issuance fee, stay of 60–90 days	PHP 2,000
KVAC processing fee (per person, cash only)	PHP 1,000 (since Aug 25, 2026)
Apply by W Express mail (includes the KVAC fee)	PHP 2,000
Passport returned by courier only	PHP 430 within Metro Manila, PHP 530 outside

Fees are not refunded if the visa is refused. Agency charges are extra.

How long it takes

Manila (KVAC): 12 working days from October 1, 2026 (it used to be 10). You get an SMS when it's ready.
Express (5 working days): the embassy says tourism applicants are generally not eligible.
Cebu: the consulate's notice says 10 working days, longer when there are many applications.

Working days exclude weekends and Philippine holidays, so 12 working days is closer to three calendar weeks.

Documents: an example for employees

The exact list depends on whether you're employed, self-employed, a student, a homemaker or retired. This is the embassy's list for employees, as an example:

Visa application form (Form No. 17), signed
One color photo, 35 × 45 mm, taken within the last 6 months, white background, no hat
Original passport and a copy of the photo page. KVAC asks for at least 6 months' validity beyond your planned stay.
Original certificate of employment showing your position, date hired, salary, company address, and an HR landline (not a mobile number) and HR email
ITR or BIR Form 2316 (copy)
Original bank certificate with account details, current balance, date opened and 6-month average daily balance
If you have them: OECD-country visas or entry stamps from the last 5 years

A few things people often worry about:

There is no fixed minimum bank balance. KVAC says you need enough to cover your planned stay.
You don't need a confirmed flight or hotel to apply. Tentative dates and a hotel name are enough at the application stage.
Simplified documents in 2026: certain licensed professionals (doctors, lawyers, CPAs and others), senior officials and holders of specific credit cards listed by KVAC can skip some financial documents. Check the official list; not every gold card qualifies.

The embassy updates its checklist from time to time. Always download the current version for your category before you apply.

Multiple-entry visas

Repeat visitors may qualify for a multiple-entry tourist visa, for example after a previous trip to Korea with no overstays, or with frequent travel to OECD countries. The criteria differ between official pages, so treat this as something to ask about, not something guaranteed.

After your visa is approved

Check and print your Visa Grant Notice on Korea's visa portal, and make sure the details match your passport.
Fill in Korea's free e-Arrival Card online, from 3 days before you land. Individual visa holders need to submit one.
A visa does not guarantee entry. Immigration at the airport makes the final decision.

Mistakes the embassy warns about

Fake or altered documents (employment, bank, ITR) are punished, not just refused.
If your HR office can't be reached to verify your employment, it can count against you.
A missing name or signature on the form can lead to refusal.
If you're refused, KVAC says you can reapply after 3 months.

Save money

Get the VAT back on shopping. Tourists staying in Korea for less than six months can claim a tax refund. At participating stores, show your physical passport for an instant refund: each purchase must be at least ₩15,000 and under ₩1,000,000, up to ₩5,000,000 in total per trip. Otherwise, keep the refund receipt and claim at the airport kiosk before you leave (₩15,000 or more per receipt). VisitKorea tax refund guide

Use official discount coupons. VisitKorea lists current coupons for foreign visitors, such as a ₩5,000 Lotte Department Store voucher when you spend ₩100,000 or more at one participating brand (VisitKorea membership required, once per person, until Dec 31, 2026). Check each coupon's claim and redeem dates. VisitKorea discount coupons

Checked on Oct 18, 2026 against official sources.

Official sources

This guide is a summary for travelers, not official or legal advice. The embassy and Korean immigration make all decisions, and rules change. Last checked: October 13, 2026, on the official sites.

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