🇻🇳Vietnam

🇰🇷South KoreaVN-KR

Vietnam to South Korea visa requirements

Q: Is the fee always USD 30?

The Korea Visa Portal notes the Vietnamese C-3 single fee is approximately USD 30, but local collection and service fees can vary.

Q: Can I book non-refundable flights before applying?

Avoid it. Use reservations where possible until the visa is issued.

Q: How long is a tourist stay?

For the Vietnamese tourist C-3-9 single-entry route, KVAC Hanoi lists a 30-day stay and 3-month validity. Other C-3 categories and multiple-entry visas can differ.

Q: Can I enter Jeju without a visa?

Jeju and transit exemptions have special conditions that change often. Do not rely on them unless your itinerary exactly matches current Korean immigration rules.

Yes, Vietnamese citizens generally need a Korean visa. Vietnamese ordinary passport holders generally need a C-3 short-term visitor visa before travelling to South Korea for tourism. K-ETA is for visa-free nationals, so it is not a substitute for a Korean visa for ordinary Vietnamese tourists. Fees and intake vary by Korea Visa Application Center, but the Korea Visa Portal lists a C-3 single visa for Vietnamese applicants at approximately USD 30 and KVAC Ho Chi Minh lists a 390,000 VND service fee.

VISA REQUIREDTOURISMFLEXIBLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-06-19

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.

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/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-06-19

Visa type

C-3 short-term visitor / tourist

Maximum stay

Tourist C-3-9 single entry is typically 30 days; other C-3 categories can vary

per entry

Entries

Single, double, or multiple

from issue date

Visa fee

Approx. USD 30 single-entry visa fee plus KVAC service fee, where applicable

consular fee only

Processing time

HCMC tourist individual applications list 16 working days; agency/designated-agency channels can be shorter

standard track

Validity

Usually 3 months for single-entry

from issue date

/02 — The process

How to apply

/01

Confirm jurisdiction

Check the Korean Embassy or visa center serving your place of residence in Vietnam.

· Hanoi / HCMC· jurisdiction

/02

Prepare visa form and documents

Complete the Korea visa form and gather passport, photo, ID/residence, employment or student proof, funds, itinerary, hotel booking, and family/sponsor documents if relevant.

· C-3-9· tourism

/03

Submit application

Submit through the instructed Korean mission or Korea Visa Application Center process. HCMC guidance says KVAC fees and consular examination fees are collected in cash VND.

· passport held· cash fee

/04

Track result

Use the Korea Visa Portal or center instructions to check application status and collect the passport or visa grant notice.

· visa.go.kr· status

/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items

Personalized checklist

Vietnam -> South Korea · C-3 short-term visitor / tourist

0 / 10 complete

Visa typeTravel date

Deadline reminderAdd a date before export

RequiredVietnamese passport

Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route

Original plus copy; Hanoi tourist guidance says at least 6 months' validity beyond the visa validity

RequiredVisa application form

Official form; submit online or print and sign as instructed

Completed accurately and signed

RequiredPassport photo

Use the official size, background, and recency rules for this route

Recent passport-size photo on a white background

RequiredVietnam ID / residence proof

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

As required by the receiving mission or visa center

RequiredEmployment or student proof

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

Leave approval, salary proof, business license, or enrollment

RequiredBank statement and funds proof

Bank, income, or asset proof with clear name, date, and balances

Recent account history, not only a sudden balance

ConditionalTravel itinerary

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

Flight reservation, hotels, daily plan, and contact in Korea if any

RequiredFamily or sponsor documents

Bank, income, or asset proof with clear name, date, and balances

Relationship and sponsor proof when someone else funds the trip

RequiredFlight and hotel itinerary

Confirmed or agency-arranged itinerary when the route guide requires it

Use dates that fit the allowed stay and visa validity.

RecommendedTravel medical insurance

Policy certificate showing traveler name, destination, and coverage dates

Some destinations or agencies require it even when the core visa rule only recommends it.

Official sourcesKorea Visa Portal — visa fees K-ETA official guide — visa-free nationals only K-ETA official guide — eligible countries/applicants

Application link included: Korea Visa Portal — visa fees

Open link

/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate

Line itemAmountSource

C-3 single visa fee~US$30Korea Visa Portal for Vietnamese

Standard short-term single feeUS$40General portal schedule

KVAC Ho Chi Minh service fee390,000 VNDListed by KVAC HCMC; not included in consular examination fee

HCMC consular examination feeUS$20 or US$30 single / US$80 multiplePaid in VND cash using the cashier-counter exchange rate

Courier / printingOptionalHCMC lists postal and copy/print add-ons

Total estimate~US$30 + 390,000 VND — US$80 + service/add-onsincl. all

/05 — The wait

Processing time

HCMC individual tourist

16 working days

KVAC HCMC processing-time notice for individual C-3 tourism; counted in working days and includes the submission date.

HCMC travel agency tourist

9 working days

For registered travel-agency applicants.

HCMC designated travel agency tourist

6 working days

For designated travel-agency applicants.

Hanoi individual tourist

16 days

KVAC Hanoi tourist notice lists individual processing at 16 days and may extend.

Additional verification

Variable

Employment, bank, or travel-purpose checks can delay issuance.

/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency

/01

Weak financial history

A low or recently inflated balance may not support the planned trip.

High

/02

Unclear return ties

Employment, family, or study obligations are not well documented.

High

/03

Itinerary mismatch

Hotel, flight, and stated travel dates conflict.

Medium

/04

Incomplete form or documents

Missing signatures, photos, translations, or local proof can lead to refusal or resubmission.

Medium

/05

Prior visa problems

Previous Korean or other-country overstays/refusals require clear explanation.

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

2026-06-19

Reviewed by Claude Code

Second-pass review: re-verified the evidence chain against official sources; key facts confirmed and checked-date refreshed.

2026-06-19 · major

Codex re-verified Vietnam to Korea C-3 guidance

Confirmed Vietnamese ordinary passport holders still generally need a Korean C-3 visa, refreshed KVAC Vietnam processing times, added the HCMC service fee, and clarified that tourist C-3-9 single-entry stays are typically 30 days rather than a blanket 90 days.

2026-05-26

Vietnam to Korea C-3 route verified

Checked Korea Visa Portal fee guidance and Korean mission references for ordinary tourist travel.

/09 — The questions