Everything You Need To Know About A South Korean Visa

British passport holders don’t need a visa if they are entering South Korea for business or tourism purposes. A visa-exemption facility is also available when you are entering the country to visit friends, family, or relatives. You can stay in Korea for a maximum period of 90 days without a visa.

In order to avail the visa-exemption facility, you need to carry a passport that is valid for a minimum period of six months and contains at least two blank visa pages. 

You should also carry an onward or return ticket, proof of sufficient funds, and necessary documentation for your next destination.

Confirm with your airlines if they permit boarding without a visa and if there are overseas connecting flights en-route that might require a separate transit visa.

Now, if you are traveling to South Korea for purposes other than tourism or business and you hold a different type of British nationality, you might have to apply for a visa prior to your travel dates through the Embassy of South Korea in the UK.

Below are the primary types of visa offered to British nationals:

H-1 or Working Holiday Program Visa: An H-1 visa allows British citizens to enter Korea for short-term employment, where they can earn an income. It is valid for 1 year and allows a maximum stay period of up to 12 months

F-6 or Spouse of Korean National Visa: An F-6 visa can be granted to a spouse of a Korean native, planning to visit his/her partner in South Korea

F-4 or People of Korean Heritage Visa: An F-4 visa is issued to British citizens who previously had ROK citizenship or are children of parent(s) or grandchildren of an individual(s) who had once possessed ROK citizenship.

F-3 or Family Dependants Visa: An F-3 visa is applicable for spouses or under-20 unmarried children of UK citizens who own a D-1, D-4, D-6, D-7, D-8, D-9, E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-6, or E-7 visa.

F-2 or Spouse & Children of F-5 visa holder Visa: An F-2 visa can be obtained by the spouse or under-18 children of an F-5 visa holder.

F-1 or Visiting & Joining Family Visa: An F-1 visa is issued to immediate relatives or family members of a national with South Korean origins.

E-7 or Particular Occupation Visa: An E-7 visa can be obtained by UK residents who have signed a contract with public or private South Korean organizations and work in tasks allotted by the Minister of Justice.

E-6 or Culture and Entertainment Visa: You can apply for an E-6 visa if you enter South Korea for income-generating activities related to music, art, literature, sports, entertainment, acting, musical performances, advertisements, and fashion modeling.

E-5 or Specialty Occupation Visa: A British national can submit an application for an E-5 visa if he or she visits Korea and has an international certification for practicing law, accounting, medicine, or Korean-law-permitted activities.

E-4 or Technological Guidance Visa: An E-4 visa is issued to foreigners who are employed in public or private organizations that specialize in technology or expertise in natural sciences and high-technology fields.

E-3 or Research Visa: An E-3 visa allows British nationals invited by South Korean public or private institutions to carry out research in the fields of natural science or high technology development.

E-2 or Long-term Visa to teach a Foreign Language: An E-2 visa is issued to travelers from countries where English is the native language. It allows them to teach English in Korea, provided they have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school.

NOTE: In order to obtain an E-2 visa, you must have a 3-year university degree. A TEFL qualification alone is not sufficient. If you fail to follow these rules, you can be detained and deported.

E-1 or Professor Visa: An E-1 visa is granted to British citizens who are qualified according to the ‘Higher Education Act’ standards and wish to teach at educational facilities in South Korea.

D-10 or Job Seeking Visa: You can apply for a D-10 visa if you are recognized by the Minister of the Ministry of Justice and wish to seek a job or undergo training as a professor, foreign language instructor, researcher, technological guide, special professional, or specially designated activities employee. You may also seek this visa if you work in any of the world's best 300 corporations as announced by FORTUNE or have graduated from any of the globe’s 200 universities as announced by THE TIMES in the UK in the past 3 years.

D-9 or Treaty Trade Visa: A D-9 visa is applicable to an overseas trader who owns an ID issued by the Korean Trading Association and wishes to launch a company, engage in the profit-generating trading business, or impart technical guidance for installation, operation, repair of shipbuilding and industrial equipment.

D-7 or Intracompany Transferees Visa: A D-7 visa is issued to a British national who works in a certain branch of a public institution in the UK and is dispatched to work in another branch in South Korea after being approved by the Minister of Justice of Korea.

D-2 or Study Visa: A D-2 visa is issued to UK residents wishing to attend regular education courses, such as exchange student, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree programs in a South Korean graduate school or university.

C-4 or Short-term Employment Visa: A C-4 visa is issued for a maximum stay period of up to 90 days and allows visitors to participate in remuneration-generating commercials, fashion modeling, lectures, research, and instruction of new technology.

A-2 or Official Business Visa: An A-2 visa is required when a British resident travels to South Korea to carry out official duties for his government or international organization.

A-1 or Diplomacy Visa: An A-1 visa is granted to British citizens on a foreign diplomatic mission or to staff members of the British consulate.

Application Procedure and Document Requirements

If you need to apply for a South Korean visa, you can submit an application through Royal Mail, in person, or through an authorized representative. No prior appointment is needed to send an application and you should apply for a visa not more than 2 months in advance. British nationals without a valid British passport need a valid UK residential permit to apply for a visa through the embassy.

The minimum processing time is 5 working days and your travel documents should be valid for 3 months before the date of your visa application acceptance. Your passport should have a minimum validity of 6 months when you apply for a South Korean visa.

General documentation requirements

• A valid passport
• A completed visa application form
• A recent passport photo
• The required fees payable at the Korean Embassy through cash or by postal order
• Photocopies of all original documents
• Supporting documents as per the required visa type. You can find the details here.

Once your documents are in order, you can submit the application at the consular section of the embassy. Once approved, you can collect your stamped passport in person or through the post.

UK Emergency Travel Documents

The government of South Korea accepts UK Emergency Travel Documents at points of entry, airside transit and exit from the nation.