South Koreans visit Vietnam for a variety of reasons, such as family vacations, business trips, and vacations. Does entering Vietnam need a visa for South Koreans? How can South Koreans go about getting a Vietnamese visa? In the guidance below, VisaNow will list the proper visa categories for various uses.

Do South Koreans need a visa for Vietnam?

South Korean citizens are required to obtain a visa before entering Vietnam, with the following exceptions:

• Holders of valid temporary residence cards
• Holders of valid APEC business travel cards
• Holders of diplomatic passports, official passports, and ordinary passports for official duties are exempt from visa requirements for stays up to 30 days
• Family members (spouses, children, parents) of diplomatic agents and administrative-technical staff of South Korean diplomatic missions and consular offices visiting their relatives working in Vietnam
• Flight crew members of South Korean airlines (including third-country flight crew members) operating flights between South Korea and Vietnam. The visa-free period for flight crew members is 30 days, applicable for normal crew rotation or due to force majeure circumstances
• Direct entry to Phu Quoc island, with a maximum stay of 30 days, provided the traveler departs to a third country after visiting Phu Quoc

Eligibility conditions for South Korean citizens traveling to Vietnam

The majority of South Korean nationals who work and live in Vietnam apply for a temporary resident card (TRC) due to its prolonged validity and accompanying perks.

However, if a South Korean person does not match the conditions for a TRC, they must apply for a Vietnam visa in the following circumstances:

• If their passport has limited validity, the Vietnam visa will be issued based on the passport’s remaining validity
• If a South Korean expert returns home before obtaining a TRC, they must secure a Vietnam visa before returning

To be eligible for a Vietnam visa, South Korean citizens must:

• Maintain a clean legal record with no criminal violations or exit restrictions
• Not be listed on Vietnam’s entry restriction list
• Hold a passport with at least 2 blank pages and a minimum validity of 6 months from the date of entry
• Submit the necessary documents and fulfill all Vietnamese legal conditions

Types of visas and validity for South Korean travelers

The validity of Vietnam visas for South Korean citizens is determined by the purpose of entry, which may be tourism, business, family visits, or employment.

• Tourist visa: The maximum duration for a tourist visa for South Korean citizens is 30 days with single-entry permission.
• Business/investor visa: South Korean nationals who require a business or investment visa can stay for up to 90 days with multiple-entry permission.
• Relative visa: South Korean nationals with family members residing in Vietnam can obtain a family visit visa for up to 12 months, depending on the visa duration of the sponsor. If the sponsored individuals are parents or children (over 18) of South Korean experts, the visa validity is limited to 6 months.
• Work visa: South Korean professionals can apply for a work visa with a maximum validity of 12 months.
• Vietnam e-visa: The electronic visa (e-visa) for South Korean citizens has been extended to 90 days with both single and multiple-entry options.

Since most visa categories have a validity of less than 12 months, South Korean citizens who wish to stay longer in Vietnam should apply for a temporary residence card (TRC), which can be valid for up to 5 years, depending on the purpose of stay.

Application steps for Vietnam visas from South Korea

Here are the typical visa processes for South Korean nationals entering Vietnam:

For South Korean citizens currently outside Vietnam

Step 1. Applying for a Vietnam entry letter

South Korean citizens looking for a Vietnam visa for tourism, business, or to see family members must first get a Vietnam visa approval letter. The process has been simplified, allowing applications to be submitted online using the public service site. Businesses and individuals must register an electronic identity account before submitting their permission letter application through the Ministry of Public Security’s public service site. This electronic account replaces the prerequisites listed below:

• Notarized copy of the business registration certificate
• Company sponsorship letter template with signatures and seal (Form NA16)

Once the account has been properly registered, applicants can proceed with their permission letter application via the public service portal. Furthermore, they must prepare the relevant documentation as per the Vietnam Immigration Department standards, which include:

• Entry visa request form for foreigners (Form NA2)
• Copy of South Korean passport

Select “sign declaration” to finish the South Korea entrance permit application procedure after filling out all the necessary fields and submitting the aforementioned paperwork package. Usually, it takes seven to ten working days for clearance. Through the result tracking portal, applicants may see the status of their applications and the outcomes of their entrance permits online.

Step 2. Document preparation and visa stamping

After visa approval, South Korean citizens must print the entry permit and prepare the required documents. Below are the visa stamping options for South Korean travelers to Vietnam:

At the Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate in South Korea

For visa stamping at the Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate in South Korea, applicants must prepare:

• Completed NA1 form with all necessary information (NA1 template)
• Original passport
• Portrait photo
• Visa stamping fee
• Additional documents as required by the Embassy/Consulate

South Korean citizens can submit their documents in person or mail them to their registered Embassy/Consulate office. Once processed, applicants must pay the visa stamping fee, and the visa will be issued in the passport for entry into Vietnam.

At Vietnamese international airports

For visa stamping upon arrival, South Korean travelers must provide:

• Printed entry permit
• Completed NA1 form with all required information (NA1 template)
• Two 4×6 cm portrait photos (Vietnam’s visa photo requirements)
• Original passport with at least 6 months validity

Upon arrival, South Korean applicants should proceed to the visa counter to submit their documents and pay visa stamping fees, which depend on visa validity and number of entries.

>>> For South Koreans flying into Vietnam, VisaNow offers a fast-track service for seamless airport entry. Find out more about the fast-track service at Tan Son Nhat Airport.

For South Korean citizens currently in Vietnam

A temporary resident card (TRC) is required for South Korean nationals who want to work and remain in Vietnam for an extended period of time. However, individuals must first apply for a Vietnam visa before they may apply for a temporary residency card if their passport is about to expire or has fewer than 12 months left on it.

Work visa (LD2) application procedures for South Korean citizens

Companies sponsoring an LD2 visa for South Korean employees in Vietnam must submit the following documents:

• Notarized copy of the business registration certificate (valid for at least 6 months)
• Original passport with at least 6 months validity and latest entry stamp
• Visa extension application form (NA5)
• Signature and seal specimen form (NA16)
• Original company introduction letter
• Copy of temporary residence declaration
• Visa extension request explanation letter

Investment visa (DT4) application procedures for South Korean investors

Companies sponsoring South Korean investors for a DT4 visa must submit:

• Notarized business registration or investment certificate, or authority’s establishment decision
• Company’s seal and authorized signature specimen form (NA16)
• Notarized copy of investment certificate and capital contribution documents
• Original passport with valid visa or temporary residence card

Relative visa (TT) application procedures for South Korean citizens

For company-sponsored South Korean family members, the required documents include:

• Notarized copy of business registration certificate
• Family member’s passport and current visa with the latest entry stamp
• South Korean employee’s passport, temporary residence card, and work permit
• Family member’s passport photos
• Visa extension application form (NA5)
• Signature and seal specimen form (NA16)
• Company introduction letter
• Temporary residence declaration
• Visa extension request explanation letter
• Consular legalized, translated, and notarized marriage certificate, birth certificate, or other family relationship documents
• Copy of the company representative’s national ID card (both sides)

For Vietnamese citizens sponsoring South Korean family members, the required documents include:

• Family sponsorship application form (NA3) with ward verification
• Copy of the sponsored person’s valid passport
• Sponsor’s notarized ID card copy
• Sponsor’s notarized household registration copy
• Notarized copies of relationship documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, household registration, or family certificates)

After preparing the necessary paperwork, businesses can use the public service portal of the Ministry of Public Security to scan and submit applications online, along with the necessary payments. In contrast to entrance visa acceptance letters, firms that wish to apply for a South Korean citizen visa must present authentic paperwork to the Immigration Department or local Immigration Office where the business is located.

Vietnam e-visa application process for South Korean citizens

Required documents for Vietnam online visa application

• Valid South Korean passport with at least 6 months validity and at least 2 blank pages
• Two 4x6cm passport photos for visa attachment as required by the Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate
• Clear digital copies of the passport photo page and information page, including photo, personal details, and all ICAO lines
• A valid South Korean bank account for online e-visa fee payment

E-visa application process for South Korean citizens

South Korean nationals can go to the Vietnam Immigration Portal and choose the “Foreigners” option to apply online for an e-visa online. Candidates need to:

1. Provide the system with crisp digital copies of their passports and pictures.
2. Fill up all the necessary information fields. precisely
3. To finish the online application for a Vietnam tourist visa, pay $25 USD.

The processing time is typically 7-10 days. Candidates can obtain their Vietnam e-visa for entry by going to the e-visa tracking section when their application has been approved.

>>> Besides the e-visa, Americans can enter Vietnam through a visa-on-arrival. Learn more about the visa-on-arrival process by visiting VisaNow’s detailed guide.

Average processing times for South Korean applications

Depending on the kind of visa, the processing period for your Vietnam application varies. Please take notice of the typical processing times shown below:

• It normally takes 7–10 business days from the date of application via the official e-government site to process the Vietnam e-visa and landing visa acceptance letter.
• It typically takes 30 to 60 minutes to stamp a visa at an airport, embassy, or consulate; but, depending on the location and amount of visitors, this time may increase on weekends, public holidays, or during peak hours.

Costs and fees for Vietnam visas for South Korean nationals

As stated in circular no. 25/2021/TT-BTC, the aforementioned costs are the official government fees that apply to all nations for Vietnam visa applications. various diplomatic posts charge various stamping costs for visas depending on the nationality.

Frequently asked questions about Vietnam visas for South Koreans

Professional visa support for South Korean citizens

VisaNow is one of the top providers of Vietnamese visa services for South Korean people. Every year, we help hundreds of South Korean visitors and businesses get Vietnam visas in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Long An provinces.

• Comprehensive services: VisaNow supports visa applications, temporary residence cards, work permits, document translation, notarization, and consular legalization.
• Dedicated support: Our visa specialists are highly experienced and proficient in English, ensuring that South Korean applicants receive accurate and efficient assistance.
• Time-efficient: We handle the entire process, including document preparation, translation, and submission via the government e-portal, allowing clients to save valuable time.
• Transparent pricing: VisaNow provides clear, upfront pricing with no hidden fees, ensuring South Korean applicants can choose the best service option within their budget.

For professional Vietnam visa services, contact VisaNow at HOTLINE 1900 63 63 50. We are committed to providing reliable and efficient support for your visa needs.