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🇵🇭PHILIPPINES
🇰🇷SOUTH KOREAPH-KR

Do Philippines passport holders need a visa to visit South Korea?

Visa required. Single-entry C-3-9 tourist visa, PHP 1,800. 59 days stay; 5-year multi-entry available. Philippine ordinary passport holders need a visa to enter South Korea — the Philippines is not on Korea's visa exemption or K-ETA waiver list. The standard tourist visa is the single-entry C-3-9, valid for 3 months from issuance with up to 59 days stay. The fee is PHP 1,800 plus a KVAC service fee. Multi-entry visas valid 5 years are available for applicants with prior travel history to OECD countries (PHP 4,000). Jeju Island offers separate visa-free entry for tourism. Korea launched the K-ETA system, but Philippines is not waived from it — those eligible for visa-free still need K-ETA; Filipinos go through the full visa application.
VISA REQUIREDTOURISMSINGLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-27
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-27
Visa type
C-3-9 Tourist Visa (single or multi-entry)
Maximum stay
Up to 59 days (single); 30 days per stay (multi)
per entry
Entries
Single (standard); 5-year multi for OECD travellers
from issue date
Visa fee
PHP 1,800 (single); PHP 4,000 (multi)
consular fee only
Processing time
5-10 working days
standard track
Validity
3 months (single) or 5 years (multi)
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Check passport validity
Must be valid for at least 6 months from arrival with at least 1 blank page.
· 6-month rule
/02
Prepare documents
Application form, passport, photo (35×45mm), bank statements (last 3 months), employment certificate, ITR, business permit (self-employed), PSA documents, travel itinerary.
· full document set
/03
Submit at KVAC
Submit at Korean Visa Application Center in Manila (Pasay) or Cebu. Pay PHP 1,800 (single) or PHP 4,000 (multi-entry) + KVAC service fee.
· KVAC centres
/04
Wait for decision
5-10 working days standard. Peak seasons (March-April, October) can extend processing.
· 5-10 working days
/05
Travel to Korea
Collect passport with visa sticker. Submit K-ETA before travel — visa holders are exempt from K-ETA but K-ETA is recommended for streamlined entry.
· K-ETA optional for visa holders
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

12 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 12 complete
Philippine passport
Valid 6 months on arrival, 1 blank page
Visa application form
Completed and signed
Passport photo
35×45mm, white background
Bank statements
Last 3 months; minimum PHP 100,000 balance recommended
Bank certificate
Recent ATM/bank-issued certificate
Employment certificate
With salary and leave approval
ITR (Income Tax Return)
Last 1-2 years
PSA birth certificate
Original copy
PSA marriage certificate (if married)
Original copy
Round-trip flight booking
Confirmed reservation
Accommodation bookings
Hotels for entire stay
Day-by-day itinerary
Detailed plan strongly recommended
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Single-entry C-3-9 visaPHP 1,800Tourist; up to 59 days stay
Multi-entry visa (5 years)PHP 4,000Requires OECD travel history; 30 days per stay
KVAC service feePHP 800-1,200Per applicant
Jeju visa-free entryFreeDirect flights to Jeju; up to 30 days tourism
Overstay penaltiesKRW 100,000+Fines, detention, re-entry ban
Total estimatePHP 2,600 — PHP 5,200incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Single-entry C-3-9
5-10 working days
Standard processing at KVAC (Manila or Cebu).
Multi-entry visa
5-10 working days
Requires evidence of prior OECD travel; 5-year validity, 30 days per stay.
Peak season
10-15 working days
March-April, October — submit at least 4 weeks ahead.
K-ETA (optional after visa)
Minutes
K-ETA is normally not required for visa holders, but recommended for streamlined entry.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
Insufficient funds shown
Bank statements should show stable income and reserves; sudden lump-sum deposits raise concerns.
Medium
/02
Weak travel history
First-time international travellers may need stronger supporting evidence.
Medium
/03
Inconsistent itinerary
Mismatched dates, vague plans, or contradictions between forms and bookings can lead to refusal.
Medium
/04
Previous overstays
Any prior Korea, Japan, US, or Schengen overstay heavily affects future approvals.
Medium
/05
Incomplete documents
Missing PSA documents, employment letter, or ITR is a common cause of returned applications.
Medium
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Carry your visa grant notice or visa-free group documents, hotel address, and return ticket. Entry remains at the border officer's discretion.
/02
Arrival forms
Complete any current arrival, health, or customs declaration required by your airline or Korean immigration before inspection.
/03
Connectivity
Airport SIMs, eSIMs, and transport cards are easy to buy at Incheon, Gimpo, Busan, and major convenience stores.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-05-27
Philippines to Korea route verified
Confirmed C-3-9 single-entry PHP 1,800, multi-entry PHP 4,000, KVAC processing.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do Filipino citizens need a visa for South Korea?—
Yes — Philippine ordinary passport holders need a visa to enter South Korea. The Philippines is not on Korea's visa exemption or K-ETA waiver list.
How much does the Korea visa cost?+
How long does the Korea visa take?+
Can I visit Jeju Island visa-free?+
What is K-ETA and do I need it?+
Can I get a multi-entry visa?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the Philippines passport

🇵🇭⇄
Compare the Philippines passport
Stack it up against another passport→
🇵🇭◐
Philippines visa-free map
See where this passport goes visa-free→
🇵🇭▤
Philippines passport power
Global rank and destination breakdown→
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