Steps in Applying for South Korea Family Visit Visa

If you have at least one close relative in the Republic of Korea (ROK), you can travel overseas to spend some time with the person by applying for South Korea Family Visit Visa. This type of visa is only suitable for family reunification within South Korea.

South Korea is an East Asian country renowned for its role in the automotive industry and TV dramas, beautiful scenery, and tourist attractions. Korea is home to some of the most exciting attractions in the region. These include the National Museum of Korea, N Seoul Tower, Changdeokgung Palace, Lotte World, Nami Island, Everland Theme Park, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), Haeundae Beach, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Seoraksan National Park, and Bukhansan National Park.

In this blog post, we will check out everything you should know about the South Korea Family Visit Visa, from its requirements to its application procedures.

Exemptions for South Korea Family Visit Visa

The South Korean visa policy allows nationals of several countries to travel visa-free to the Republic of South Korea.

The following are the categories of foreign nationals eligible to enter ROK without a visa.

#1. As a foreigner from any of these countries, you do not need a visa to visit a close relation in South Korea for a maximum stay of 90 days.

EU member states (excl. Cyprus)
Mexico
Liechtenstein
The United States of America
Suriname
Ecuador
Colombia
Uruguay
Hong Kong
Chile
Antigua and Barbuda
Panama
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Brazil
Serbia
The Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Grenada
Macau
Trinidad and Tobago
Haiti
Australia
Iceland
Taiwan
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Barbados
Norway
The Bahamas
Peru
Costa Rica
The United Arab Emirates
Israel
Nicaragua
Switzerland
Dominica
Morocco
Thailand
Guatemala
Malaysia
Jamaica
Singapore
Venezuela
Kuwait
Turkey
Saint Lucia
New Zealand
Japan

#2. Russia and Lesotho nationals can also gain visa-free entry into the ROK for only 60 days.

#3. For a stay not longer than 30 days, you can enter ROK without a visa, provided you are a national of one of these countries.

The Solomon Islands
New Caledonia
Palau
Bahrain
Guam
South Africa
Andorra
Qatar
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Vatican City State
Samoa
Micronesia
Fiji
Cyprus
Seychelles
Botswana
Tonga
Kiribati
Mauritius
Albania
Guyana
Tuvalu
Honduras
Brunei
Nauru
Monaco
Argentina
The Marshall Islands
Kazakhstan
Eswatini
San Marino
Montenegro
Paraguay
Oman

#4. You also qualify for visa-free entry into the Republic of South Korea, provided you hold a valid visa for New Zealand, Canada, the United States, or Australia.

Your intention must be to travel to one of these countries after visiting your family member in South Korea or leave any of the countries for ROK.

What is South Korea Family Visit Visa?

South Korea Family Visit Visa is a type of visa that permits its holder to travel to the country to stay with a family member for more than three months.

Eligibility Criteria for South Korea Family Visit Visa

To be eligible for a family visit visa to ROK, you need to be one of the following categories indicated below.

You must be married to a citizen of ROK.
You are also eligible for this visa, supposing that you are a spouse or child (below 20 years old) of a legal resident of ROK.
Another category of foreign nationals eligible to apply for a family visit visa to ROK includes those initially a citizen of the country.

South Korea Family Visit Visa Fee

A family visit visa for the Republic of Korea costs 60 United States Dollars and will allow its holder entry into the country on only one occasion.

Processing Time for South Korea Family Visit Visa

The amount of time required to process a ROK family visit visa is at least three weeks, which is proportional to 15 working days. However, it would be best to consider that the precise processing time for this visa varies depending on the South Korean embassy or consulate in your home country.

South Korea Family Visit Visa Requirements

Here is a list of all documents required for a family visit visa to ROK.

A filled-out South Korea Family Visit Visa application form
Your original passport, whose leftover visa pages must not be less than two. At least it needs to be valid for the next six months.
Your recent photographs, with a size of 3.5 cm by 4.5 cm. Besides, each photo must have a white background and be crystal clear.
A round-trip ticket to South Korea
Your recent bank statements or any other related document that demonstrates your subsistence
Evidence of accommodation in ROK
Receipt for South Korea Family Visit Visa fee

How to Apply for South Korea Family Visit Visa

Here are the steps to undertake one after the other in getting a family visit visa for ROK.

Discover the nearest South Korean diplomatic mission’s location
Complete the visa application form and prepare your supporting documents
Pay your visa fee
Submit the required documents
Wait for the South Korean embassy or consulate to process your visa application

Step 1: Discover the nearest South Korean diplomatic mission’s location

Since you can only apply for South Korea Family Visit Visa through a diplomatic mission, you must first check out the location of the embassy or consulate in your home country.

You also need its contact information to determine whether booking an appointment is necessary before a visit.

Step 2: Complete the visa application form and prepare your supporting documents

The second step in applying for ROK Family Visit Visa involves preparing all the required documents, including a filled-out visa application form.

For information on procuring the form, you can place a phone call to the nearest South Korean diplomatic mission.

Step 3: Pay your visa fee

Next, you must initiate your fee payment for the South Korea Family Visit Visa. Again, a consular officer at the embassy or consulate can guide you in making the payment.

Step 4: Submit the required documents

This step requires you to put forward the required documents for assessment by a consular officer at the South Korean embassy or consulate in your home country.

Step 5: Wait for the South Korean embassy or consulate to process your visa application

At this time, you can only wait to receive a notification from the South Korean diplomatic mission when your family visit visa application is processed.

Once notified, you have to collect your passport from the diplomatic mission.

Validity Period of South Korea Family Visit Visa

ROK family visit visa allows its holder to stay in the country for longer than 90 days while spending time with their family member. During its duration, this type of visa holder can explore anywhere within South Korea.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is South Korean Family Visit Visa hard to get?

No, a family visit visa for the Republic of Korea is not difficult to get, irrespective of the applicant’s country of origin. Without a doubt, you can apply by yourself at the embassy or consulate of Korea in your home country.

How long does it take to get a South Korean visa for family visits?

Most South Korean diplomatic missions abroad take a minimum of 15 working days to process a family visit visa application.

How much does a South Korean visa cost for family visit purposes?

The South Korea Family Visit Visa application fee is US$ 60 and is compulsory for all applicants.

Is South Korea expensive for tourists?

No, the Republic of Korea is a relatively affordable country for tourists. But, of course, there are plenty of cheap accommodation options in ROK with premium features to suit different lifestyles. It also costs little or no amount to visit any of South Korea’s tourist attractions.

Is South Korea visa-free for Indian citizens?

No, citizens of India are required to obtain an appropriate type of visa before they can visit the Republic of Korea for any reason at all. However, they can only apply in person through the South Korean embassy or consulate in their country of residence.

Can I apply for South Korea Family Visit Visa online?

No, there is no means to apply online for a family visit visa to ROK. The only application method available for this visa is in person, through any of South Korea’s embassies and consulates overseas.

Where can I apply for South Korea Family Visit Visa?

To apply for a family visit visa to enter the Republic of Korea, you must submit a filled-out application form and other required documents to the Korean embassy or consulate in your home country.

Conclusion

All things considered, South Korea Family Visit Visa has reunified families from different parts of the world. Therefore, while planning to visit your spouse, child/ren, or parent(s) in ROK, the first thing to consider is whether you are visa-exempt for South Korea. This will then determine whether you need a family visit visa for ROK.

Thanks for reading!