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Consular/Visa Service

Short Term Visa

  1. Consular/Visa Service
  2. Short Term Visa
  • A U.S citizen with a valid passport can visit the Republic of Korea from April 1, 2023 through December 31, 2024, exampt K-ETA.

  • For detailed information on a foreigner's entry with K-ETA, please click here

  • Resumption of 'Tourists in Transit' (B2), please click here.

  • You may either submit your visa application in-person at our office during normal business hours or you may submit your application via mail.

  • Processing time.

  • Normally, it takes 2 weeks to process a visa after the application submission.

  • Walk-in: Online appointment only, please click here

  • Via-Mail (The consulate is not responsible for any items delayed or lost in the mail): You may be asked to submit additional documents, please ensure that you apply with plenty of time.

  • If you are not a resident of one of the states(Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas),click  here  for your Jurisdiction Korean Consular Office.

  • Check application status.

  • We don't provide service to check your status on phone

  •  To check application status online with your passport number.

  • Visa stickers are no longer issued in your passport. The visa grant notice (letter-size paper that is issued to you with the return of your passport) is your visa that you must bring for entry to Korea.

General Requirements

1. Passport

  • You have to submit an original and signed passport for valid more than 6 months.

2. Visa Application

3. One Passport photo

  • A photo taken within the last 6 months

  • Natural color

  • Printed photographs are not accepted

Please glue the photo on the application form.

4. Visa Application Fee

  • Cash or Money Order Only; Make Money Order Payable to "Korean Consulate General"

  • Visa Fees may vary based on the country of citizenship and its agreements with the Republic of Korea. *Some restrictions may apply. Please check for multiple entry visa eligibility.

  • For the U.S. citizens, regardless of the visa type and length of stay: $45 USD

  • Non U.S. citizens' Fees vary based on reciprocity.

  • Please check with www.visa.go.kr for the exact amount.

  • Single entry visa for a stay of no more than 90 days: US$30 - US$130

  • Canadian, Chinese, Indian applying for C-3: US$40

  • Vietnamese applying for C-3: US$20

  • Filipino applying for C-3: free (only in case of 59 days or less)

  • Mongolian applying for C-3: free

  • Single entry visa for a stay of more than 90 days: US$50 - US$200

  • Multiple entry visa: US$60 - US$250

5. Pre-paid and self-addressed Envelope

  • If you are requesting your passport with the visa mailed back to you, please enclose a pre-paid and self-addressed envelop provided by the U.S. Postal Service Express Mail.

  • The Consulate is not responsible for lost mail.

  • Mailing Address:

  • KOREAN CONSULATE GENERAL VISA DEPT. 1990 POST OAK BLVD SUITE 1250 HOUSTON, TX 77056

  • (713) 961-0186

6. If you are Non-US Citizen, submit the followings:

If you apply by mail, notarization is required

  • Proof of Residency : To download Proof of Residency form, click here

  • A photocopy of the Passport's Information/Photo Page(s)

  • An original and photocopy of permanent residency card (Front & Back) or valid U.S. visa and I-94 (F or M visa holder I-20, J visa holder DS-2019)

  • If you apply by mail, do not mail your Original Permanent Residency Card but notarization is required for the copy.

Additional Documents for Visa Status

Additional Documents for Visa Status. Items subject to change depending on individual circumstances

1. C-3-1 VISA For short-term general (Must not be for profit)

You are eligible to apply if you are participating in friendly sports-match, events or conference.

  • Documents proving purpose of stay ; Invitation, etc

2. C-3-4 VISA For short-term business

You are eligible to apply if you are seeking for short-term stay for the purpose of market research, business meetings, consultation, signing a contract.

  • Proof of employment (like original company letter) indicating:

  • the specific purpose or nature of the trip

  • intended period of stay with approximate entry and exit dates

  • contact in Korea and their complete address and telephone number

  • Invitation letter from the inviting company

  • A copy of Certificate of Business registration from inviting company

  • Submit at least 2 years of most recent I-94 history

3. C-3-9 VISA For tourist

  • Round-trip flight ticket, Accommodation reservation confirmation and recent 1 Month's Bank statement or Patstub

  • Or, recent 3 Months' bank statements or paystubs

4. C-4 VISA For short-term employment

You are eligible to apply if you plan to visit for a short-term employment such as a temporary show, advertising, modeling, lecturing, speeching, research, technology consulting, etc. Even though you don't get paid by a Korean company, if you get paid by a US company and your purpose of visiting is working, then you have to obtain a C-4 visa.

Submit at least 2 years of most recent I-94 history

  • (1) If you will be dispatched to a Korean company in accordance with a service-provide contract.

  • Copy of service contract

  • Dispatch order or a proof of overseas

  • (2) Language instructor at an English Camp

  • Document verifying your degree (Apostille confirmation)

  • Criminal records issued by FBI (Apostille confirmation)

  • Employment contract

  • Certificate of business registration, copy of certificate of private corporations

  • Camp schedule and lesson schedule

  • (3) Short-run show, fashion modeling

  • Recommendation letter from the Korea Media Rating Board

  • Performance outline

  • (4) Athletic competition, singing competition, and others

  • Invitation letter

  • Contract that indicates the wages/incentives for participating events (If such details are written on the invitation card as well, you do not have to submit the contract.)

  • (5) Lectures, public speeches, researches

  • Contract that indicates the wages/incentives (If such details are written on the invitation card as well, you do not have to submit the contract.)

  • Copy of the applicant's university degree/diploma or a proof of employment

  • Document related to the establishment of the inviting academic institution (a copy of certificate of business registration or a certificate of registration of incorporation and others)