A Brief Understanding of Visa & Immigration Procedure.
Do you know that more than 53000 Indians traveled to South Korea in 2024? and KTO (Korea Tourism Organization) is expecting over 2,00,000 Indian travelers in 2024-2025.
South Korea, a beautiful country which is located on the part of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia attracts millions of International travelers.
The Korean wave (Hallyu) spread in India too because of their rich culture, food, K-pop, K-drama, Technological advancement and so on. We can see the craze of South Korea especially among youngsters.
They want to go there to explore their culture, food or for a BTS Concert.
Whether you’re visiting for work, study, tourism or for a long term residency. You need to understand the visa & immigration procedure before moving to another country to ensure a smooth journey.
South Korea offers various Visas to foreigners. Here are some commons visas:
* Professional Employment Visa (E-5) - It comes under E Series visas. Professions like Doctor, Lawyer, Professors, Engineers in specialized fields require this visa.
Person applying for this visa must have a Job offer from a South Korean Company.
E-5 visa is valid for 1 year and applicable for visa extension depending upon Employment period.
* Student Visa (D-2) - This visa is issued for the students who are planning to study in South Korea but before applying for this visa you need to enroll in the University first.
Admission letter required from South Korean University along with the other documents i.e. Transcript, Academic certificates, Course details & duration and Scholarship letter to apply for this Visa.
Student D-2 Visa offers students to do a part time job.
The D-2 Visa is issued according to the duration of the Study Program and can be extended.
* Permanent Residence (F-5) - Foreigners who want to live in South Korea for a long time or for permanent stay can apply for this Visa.
This Visa designates to those people who are eligible to fulfill the criteria for living in South Korea permanently. Contributing in their economy by having stable Job or Business ownership, have no crime records and a very well understanding of their Language and the culture. They must have the proof of Social - Integration too.
You must lived in South Korea on a Valid visa for 2 to 5 years before applying for an F-5 PR visa.
Your Passport should be valid for 6 months beyond the date of intended visa application. A F-5 Visa holder can apply for South Korean Citizenship later.
* Tourist Visa (C-3) - South Korea became one of the top tourist destinations for the travelers for which South Korea offers C-3 Tourism visa, it's a short term visa for a period upto 90 days. It's specifically for tourism and for short term visits only.
C-3 Visa has two categorization
C-3-1 - Short term general visa.
C-3-2 - Group tour visa.
* Family Visa - It comes under F Series of visas, family visas are intended to stay in Korea with family under different circumstances. It requires different documents, eligibility and even different application processes.
Visiting Family Visa (F-1) - It's a short term visa, designated to family members who need to live in Korea for specific reasons. Doesn’t provide employment under this visa.
Dependent Visa (F-3) - This visa duration and visa renewal depends upon the primary visa holder. It is granted to family members of those individuals who hold long term visas.
Spouse Visa (F-6) - Spouse visa offered to foreigners who are married to South Korean and can stay legally in the country. They are allowed to work and apply for permanent residency.
These are some Visas offered by the South Korean Government, every visa needs a different application process, criteria, documents, certificates and so on.
For more information, you can visit www.visa.go.kr .
Immigration Procedure after arriving in South Korea
Study, Job, Long term residency or a Visit, after arriving in Korea you must follow the Immigration process to avoid any issue. This differs from country to country, for Indian travelers there is a specified procedure.
Arrival at the Airport
Upon arrival at a South Korean Airport, Indian travelers must go through immigration clearance.
Required Documents at Immigration:
- Valid passport with visa stamp (if applicable)
- Visa Issuance Certificate (if required for the visa type)
- Completed arrival card (provided during the flight)
- Customs declaration form (if carrying restricted or high-value goods)
Biometric Data Collection: It is required from Foreign travelers to provide fingerprints and facial recognition scans.
Alien Registration Card - ARC
Indians who are staying for more than 3 months need to apply for an Alien Registration Card (ARC) within a month of arrival. This card is essential for many basic requirements like opening bank accounts, activating phone numbers, renting housing, bus pass etc. A temporary receipt is issued, which can be used until the ARC is issued
Required Documents:
- Passport and Visa
- ARC application form
- Passport-sized photos
- Residential address proof
- Additional documents based on visa type (e.g., University letter for students, employment contract for workers)
National Health Insurance - NHI
Foreign residents staying over six months are required to enroll in Korea’s National Health Insurance (NHI). Visa holders must go for checkup for infections or any chronic disease and need to pay premium which is depend upon their income and visa type respectively.
Changes on Documents and Visa Extension
Indians living in South Korea must report any major changes to their living status within 14 days or if they want to extend their visa or want any change in the status of visa. They should visit the local immigration office. This includes:
- Change of address
- Change of Company (for work visa holders)
- Change of University (for student visa holders)
- Visa extensions or status changing.
Failure to report changes can lead to fines or visa complications.
Conclusion
Understanding South Korea’s visa and immigration process is important for a hassle-free experience, whether you are visiting for study, long-term residency or short term visit . Each visa category has specific requirements. Additionally, complying with immigration regulations, such as obtaining an Alien Registration Card and National Health Insurance is required for long-term residents. By staying updated, you can fully enjoy your journey to South Korea.
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