How to Fill Up The Korean Visa Application Form For Filipinos: A Step By Step Guide

In my previous post, I shared some tips I learned during my recent application for a Korean tourist visa. It's no secret that the Korean immigration is strict when it comes to processing Filipino applicants. In fact, just last February 2015, the Korean Embassy in Manila imposed stricter requirements for Filipino tourist visa applications. Filipinos now need to submit additional documents such as certificate of employment, bank certificate, and ITR.

Sounds ominous right? But don’t you worry! Getting a Korean visa approval even for Filipinos is easy as long as you make sure that you submit the complete requirements (...and have enough funds of course). Basically, they just want to ensure that you have the means to travel to their country, and that you won't be staying illegally in Korea. Read my post to know more about how to satisfy the requirements for a Korean Visa.

First on the list of requirements is the VISA APPLICATION FORM. The official form can be downloaded here. Make sure that you print this out in A4 paper. Write legibly and keep it neat, without erasures. DON'T leave any field blank. Instead, write N/A if it's not applicable for you.

I'll show you step by step on how to answer your application form below. I've taken the liberty the of creating a fictional person to show you exactly what to write on each field. Aside from changing sensitive personal information, this is how I answered my own recently approved Korean visa application.

1. PERSONAL DETAILS

• Write your name as shown on your passport/birth certificate on the spaces provided.
• #1.2 is just for people with Chinese name. If you have one, write it here; otherwise, just write N/A. 
• Write down your date and country of birth, as well as nationality as shown on your birth certificate.
• #1.7 Filipinos don't have a national identity number so write N/A here.
• Don't forget to paste your passport photo on the space provided. Be sure to follow the specifications mandated by the Korean Embassy: photo must be taken not more than 6 months prior, size is 35x45mm, photo background must be white, show your ears, do not cover eyebrows, do not smile

• This is for the consular office to fill up. LEAVE BLANK.

2. DETAILS OF VISA ISSUANCE

• This section is for people who have been to South Korea before. If you have never been to Korea, write N/A; if you have, fill in the required details.

3. PASSPORT INFORMATION

• Ordinary Filipino citizens hold REGULAR passport so check that space.
• Write down your passport details EXACTLY as shown on your passport, including the place of issuance. Do not just write the city where you applied for it, but the specific branch.
• Make sure you have at least 6 months left of validity on your passport. If not, apply for a new one before going forward with your application.
• If you are a dual-citizen of another country, write down the details of your other valid passport as indicated. Otherwise, write N/A

4. CONTACT INFORMATION

• For your home country address, write down your permanent address (same address on your driver's license or your previous official documents). If you are still staying full time at that address, just write "same as above" as your current residential address. Otherwise, write down your new address.
• If you don not have a cell phone number or a landline, you may write N/A. (It may seem suspicious if you do not have both though, so make sure you write down at least one number where they can contact you.)
• Fill up your emergency contact information.

5. MARITAL STATUS

•  Fill up the information depending on your current civil status. If you have never been married, write N/A; if you have, write down your spouse details.

6. EDUCATION

• Your highest educational attainment is the last level of schooling you finished. So if you are currently still studying at a university, you will tick off "high school diploma". If you have completed an undergraduate course at some university, check "bachelor's degree". If you have a post-graduate degree, then check "master's/doctoral degree".
• Write down the school address. If you forgot or don't know, it should be written on your diploma. Otherwise, you can try looking it up on the internet.

7. EMPLOYMENT

• Write down the details of your employment. You MUST answer the same details as shown on your certificate of employment.
• If you cannot see your current job position then check "others" and write it down on the space provided.
• If you are employed, give them the number of human resources (HR).

8. DETAILS OF SPONSOR

• This section is only for those who have a KOREAN citizen sponsoring them. If you do not have one, write N/A; if you do, write down their details (and include an invitation letter as required by the Korean Embassy. See here).

9. DETAILS OF VISIT

•  Check the item which is most applicable to you. If you are travelling to Korea just for a vacation, then tick off "tourism/transit"
• For your intended period of stay, write down the number of days (not nights) you are planning on staying in Korea. Make sure that you have adequate funds to show that you can afford this length of stay.
• For your intended date of entry, make sure that it is within 3 months of your application since that is that validity period of single entry Korean visa.
• For your address, you may write down the tentative address of the hotel/airbnb you plan to stay in, along with their contact details. You do not need to show proof of booking on your visa application so there is no need to pay upfront before your visa is approved.
• If you have not traveled outside the country before, write down N/A (and calm down, yes you may still get approved ;) ). If you have been to more countries than the available space provided, you may attach a separate paper like I did.
• If you are not traveling with family, just write N/A. If you are traveling with friends, write N/A.

 10. FUNDING DETAILS

• Remember that your estimated travel cost must be able to support the length of stay you indicated previously. The amount on your bank certificate must be HIGHER than what you will put here.
• For a modest stay, 10,000 PHP is more than enough for a day's stay. So if you are staying for 4 days, you may write down the equivalent of 40,000 PHP. You should make this somewhat proportional to the funds reflected on your bank certificate. If you have millions in the bank, then it will look suspicious if you write down a super budgeted amount. Likewise, if you have limited funds then you should put a smaller amount.
• If you are paying for your trip yourself, then just write "myself", and include your phone number. If someone else, like a parent, relative or spouse is going to fund you, then write down their details and attach their financial documents as required. 
• For type of support, you may put the following: financial, shopping, accomodation, etc.

11. ASSISTANCE WITH THIS FORM

• IF you applied through a travel agency, write down their details; if not, check no and write N/A on the details.
• I do not recommend applying through an agency. It is easy enough to accomplish the Korean visa application form and obtain the requirements yourself without going to one and it will not increase your chance of approval either, but this is up to you of course.

12. DECLARATION

• Write down the date of your application, NOT the date you filled this up.
• If you are under 17, your parent/guardian must sign for you.

After filling up this form, don't forget to re-read my post on what to do during application day! Good luck!

DISCLAIMER: I am in no way associated with the Korean Embassy of the Philippines. These are all based on my personal experience only. Your experience may vary from mine. If in doubt, it is better if you contact the Korean Embassy of the Philippines directly.