How to Apply for South Korean Visa in Thailand

When we heard that there was a tour offered by a company for the hospital employees to South Korea, we scrambled to complete the requirements. Our Thai colleagues were blessed to be visa-free if they travel to South Korea. It was easy to google requirements for the Visa especially for Filipinos in our home country. Our case was different. We are working in Thailand and had to pass the requirements to the Korean Embassy here.

I started off by taking note of the basic requirements:
1. Application Form (C-39 (Tourist Visa)downloadable from the Korean Embassy website)
2. 1 Piece Passport size colored picture 1.5 inch photo (taken within last 6 months,front view against white background)
3.Original Passport (should be valid for more than 6 months)
5. Original and Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years (if applicable, and Korean visas will not be counted).
6. Original Certificate of Employment (including applicant's position,date hired, compensation, address, office landline number, e-mail address)
7. Original Personal Bank Certificate (must include account type, current balance, account opening date, Average Daily Balance (ADB).
8. Bank Statement (original or certified true copy of bank statements/ passbook for the last 3 months)
9. Photocopy of Income Tax Return (ITR)

I contacted the Korean Embassy in Thailand and they required additional documents such as:

1. Accomplished check list for C - 39 application.
2. Re-entry Permit in Thailand and copy
5. Certificate of residence (if any)
6. Work permit and a copy(in case the applicant is holding a working visa in Thailand)
7. Employment certificate from Thai company in English (indicate position and salary)
8. Business Registration Certificate of applicant’s company
 (in case the applicant is the owner of the business)
-  English  with notarization from Thai Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
10. Airplane ticket
11. Hotel reservation
12. Tour schedule in English (plan in details for each day)

But since we were going with a Tour agency, the embassy asked us to let the agency provide the following documents:
1. Tour client confirmation letter
2. Business Registration of Thai tour agency
3. Business Registration of Korean tour agency
4. Tour schedule

I bugged the tour agency for the requirements and even rewrote my application form for a number of times as no erasures were allowed. When everything was ready, I flew to Bangkok to present our documents. There is a Korean Consulate in Phuket but they do not process Visas.

So I went to the Embassy before 10:30am and waited for my queue. I was called to Window 1 and I presented our application form and requirements. I did not have to pay for the fee because because we were applying for Tourist visa and our intended stay in Korea is less than 60 days. They gave me a claim slip and asked me to come back after 3 days.

My roommate flew to Bangkok after 3 days and claimed our passports. We were happy we were granted our Korean visas!

I'm excited to write about our Korean Trip very soon! Thank you and 'til next blog.