How to Apply For a Korean Visa Without an ITR and COE?

Disclaimer before I tell you how to apply for a Korean visa without an ITR and COE (Certificate of Employment). I had an ITR (Income Tax Return) for almost 3 years now. I use Taxumo to help me register and file in BIR. They’re godsent for freelancers like me. (You can use my code C2Q0I to get a discount.) If I had known them before I wouldn’t have applied for a Japan visa without an ITR.

Now you may be wondering if my advice here will work when I already have an ITR and got my Korean Visa approved. Well, I don’t have a COE because I’m a freelancer, while my friend who traveled with me in Korea last October doesn’t have an ITR and she’s also a freelancer like me. But please take note that approval still depends on the Korean Embassy consul.

Step by Step Guide How to Apply For a Korean Visa

Step 1: Get a travel agency to help you (but walk-ins at KVAC are now allowed).

UPDATE: Starting August 29, 2023, in line with the official operation of the Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC), all Korean visa applicants must submit their visa applications at KVAC (you can walk in but make sure to come very early). Applying through accredited travel agencies is back again, but if you submit through them make sure to do it at least a month before your desired travel date.

1. Here is the link to the accredited travel agencies for South Korean visa applications.
2. KVAC Location:

• •  9F~10F, Brittany Hotel BGC, 6 Mckinley Pkwy, BGC, Taguig, Metro Manila
  • Website: https://www.visaforkorea-mn.com 
  • Days open: Same as the embassy’s working days. Holidays will be announced from time to time (Office hours: 09:00–17:00 but submission of application cut off is 16:30).
  • Service Fee: PHP 900

Step 2: Fill out the Application Form

1. Download the visa application form here.
2. Must be printed on A4-size paper.
3. This must be computerized or typed, NOT handwritten, and type in Block Letters or Capital Letters so make sure your keyboard’s CAPS LOCK is on.
4. The font should be Arial size 12.
5. For fields that do not apply to you, leave them blank.

For a step-by-step guide on how to fill up the South Korea Visa Application Form, this article by Two Monkeys Travel Group is very detailed.

Step 3: Gather the required documents

UPDATE: From February 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines will simplify visa application documents for visa applicants who meet the following conditions. Please be aware that for those who meet the following conditions, only the stated financial documents can be exempted or replaced, and other general required documents must still be submitted.

Professional license holders

○ Applicable for those holding a valid PRC license ID (IBP ID for a lawyer) with a profession of physician, dentist, lawyer (including a judge, prosecutor), certified public accountant, pharmacist, and veterinarian.

○ Required Visa Application Document

   – Certificate of employment (original) and copy of PRC license ID or IBP ID

   – Submission of bank certificates, bank statements, and ITR are exempted for professional license holders and family members. Other documents, such as proof of relationship, are required.

      * Exempted documents may still be submitted if preferred

Credit cardholders

○ Applicable for BDO Gold or BDO Elite Credit Card Holders (Excluding Supplementary Credit Card Holders.)

   – (Immediate family members): One’s parents, spouse, minor children (applicable for adult children who can prove to be students through documents), spouse’s parents

○ Required Visa Application Document

   – Certificate of employment (original), copy of credit card(front only with complete information), and latest 3 months credit card account Monthly Billing Statements(copy)

   – Submission of bank certificates, bank statements, and ITR are exempted for credit card holders and family members. Other documents, such as proof of relationship, are required.

      * Exempted documents may still be submitted if preferred

You may read about this update on the Korean Embassy’s official website.

Here is the list of the South Korea Visa Application Requirements:

1. Duly accomplished application form
   • As mentioned in Step 2 above.
2. One (1) piece passport size photo
   • Must be glued on the designated area on the application’s first page.
   • For the size, it should be 35×45 mm. Just tell the photo studio it’s for a Korean Visa, usually, they already have a package for it.
3. Original Copy of your Current Passport
   • Must be valid for more than 6 months from your target travel date.
   • Must have a signature. The signature field is on the bottom part of Page 3 (page next to the Bio page).
   • Must have filled out the Emergency Contact Page (the last page of the passport).
4. Original Copy of your old Passport (optional)
   • Submit only if you traveled abroad within the last 5 years. If you did, submit them together with your current passport.
   • Attach it to your current passport using a rubber band by tying the back cover of the new passport to the front cover of the old passport.
5. Photocopy of the passport bio page
   • The bio page is the information page of the passport (Page 2).
6. Photocopy of all your OECD Visas
   • If you have USED visas to any member country of the  Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), you will need to submit the ORIGINAL copy and a photocopy of all of them.
     • Some said Japan is no longer accepted due to several cases of applicants submitting FAKE Japan visas, but I only have a Japan visa and I decided to submit it anyway.
     • Having an OECD visa can increase your chances of approval.
     • To see all the OECD member countries, visit this website.
7. Original copy of Bank Certificate
   • Must include account type, current balance, account opening date, and ADB (Average Daily Balance).
   • If you have a guarantor, you must submit their original copy.
8. An original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook
   • Must cover at least 3 months.
   • Again, if you have a guarantor you must submit theirs.
9. Income Tax Return (ITR)
   • Ideally with a BIR stamp.
     • But if you file online like me, your ITR isn’t stamped. If you use Taxumo you can email them to request a stamped ITR but it takes at least 15 days or more. Alternatively, you can write a cover letter explaining why your ITR is not stamped. (I opted to write a cover letter because I only have 3 days to gather my requirements because my Korea was planned last minute. I put my sample cover letter below.)
10. Certificate of Employment or Proof of Revenue
    • Copy of PRC Card or IBP Card (If applicable only).
    • FOR EMPLOYED: Certificate of Employment (COE). Must be original; and must have the address of the employer, the landline number and email address of the employer’s HR department, the applicant’s position, the date hired, and compensation. Mobile number is not allowed.
    • FOR SELF-EMPLOYED: Photocopy of the Business registration form from DTI or SEC. SEC Registration must include pages with the names of stockholders. And Photocopy of the Business permit or Mayor’s permit. And BIR Form with Corresponding Payment Receipt from a BIR-authorized bank.
    • FOR FREELANCERS: The latest contracts from your clients and/or proof of revenue like a written letter (I have a sample below) that has your client’s name, company name (if they have one), landline number, email address, date hired or collaboration, and compensation. Mobile number is not also allowed here. If you’re registered to BIR, submit the forms mentioned in “self-employed” above.
    • FOR HOUSEWIVES/ HOUSEHUSBANDS: Photocopy of NSO Marriage Certificate and your spouse’s documents mentioned above including ITR.
    • FOR STUDENTS: Original School Certificate, Photocopy of a School ID, Photocopy of the NSO Birth Certificate of the applicant, Parent’s NSO Marriage Certificate (if applicable), and parent’s documents mentioned above including ITR.
    • IF YOU HAVE A GUARANTOR: You must submit theirs.
11. Cover letter
    • Not required but if you don’t have an ITR or COE, or your ITR isn’t stamped or you have a missing required document, you need to write a cover letter. (My sample cover letter is posted below.) Put this at the bottom of the application too.
    • If you have a guarantor, this is where you explain your relationship with that person and why they’re shouldering your trip.
12. Detailed Itinerary
    • This is not required either but I still provided one. I put this at the bottom of my application and they accepted it when I submitted my application. (My sample itinerary is posted below.)

NOTE: For family applications, you must provide documents that can serve as proof of your relationship. Birth certificates and marriage contracts are accepted. A representative can file for the whole family.

STEP 4: Submit the documents and wait

If you’re going to submit it yourself, make sure to put them in an envelope and don’t fold the documents. Do not staple it either, use a paper clip instead for documents that have more than one page.

If you’re going to submit through a travel agency, they will check the documents before you leave.

Processing time depends. In my experience, my friend and I decided to submit it ourselves to the embassy and after 5 days we already got our result by checking our status on the Korean Embassy website here. But the people I know who submitted this 2024, it took them 1 week to get the result.

For travel agencies, it’s around 15 days, but it also depends on your travel agency’s backlog. For October and November make sure to submit at least a month before your desired travel month because a lot of people apply during those months for the Chuseok holiday and autumn season.

SAMPLE COVER LETTER FOR KOREA VISA APPLICATION

If you could notice, in the second paragraph I mentioned my purpose of entry, low-key implying that I’m going back to my country and I will be spending money in their country. I don’t guarantee it’ll 100% convince the consul but so far it worked on me both in Korea and Japan tourist visa applications.

SAMPLE OF PROOF OF REVENUE FOR FREELANCERS

Don’t forget to ask your client to put their logo and company name on top of the “Proof of Revenue” and don’t forget to ask them to sign it too. A digital signature is accepted because some freelancers have clients based abroad, as long as the company has a business number or email address.

If you’re going to use Klook to book train passes and attraction tickets, don’t forget to use my code “ALYRECOMMEND” to get 5% off.

SAMPLE KOREA TRAVEL ITINERARY

This is the actual travel itinerary that I submitted to the Korean Embassy and the same one I showed to the Immigration Officer in NAIA Terminal 1. The decoration is not necessary, I just want to express my excitement. I made this using Canva.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Should I book plane tickets before applying for a visa?

A: No, it is not necessary. The Korean Embassy discourages applicants from booking plane tickets before applying for a visa. There’s even a post about it taped outside their office.

Q: How much money should I show in my bank certificate?

A: People suggest your bank account should have at least Php10,000 per person per day during your intended stay. So if you’re planning to stay for 5 days, you should at least have Php50,000 in your bank account. But just to be sure, you should aim for a higher amount than settle for the minimum amount required especially now that they’re super strict on approving tourist visas due to an increasing amount of people illegally staying to work in their country.

Q: Can I submit more than one bank certificate?

A: Yes, you can. I submitted 2 bank certificates. The important thing is your statement of account. They look at how your money comes in and out. I’ve heard of people getting rejected because of a sudden huge deposit in their accounts. So to be safe, I just submitted all my bank accounts instead of doing a huge transfer.

Q: Should my bank account be 6 months old upon application?

This is actually on a case-to-case basis. I’ve heard people with bank accounts that are only 1-3 months old getting approved. It depends on your supporting documents.

If you have more questions about the Korean visa application, you can join this private group on Facebook that helped me a lot with the Korean Embassy updates and other members sharing their experiences.

What Should You Book in Klook For Your Korea Trip?

My friends and I did a BTS Trip (which I will blog about later) since we went there for the concert. But here are the things we booked in Klook that were very helpful going around Korea. (Don’t forget to use my Klook code “ALYRECOMMEND” to get 5% off.):

1. SIM CARD – I highly recommend sim cards over rental WiFi device (if your phone is not locked by a network) because you don’t need a credit card deposit, if you get separated from your companions you have a way to contact them, and you don’t have to return it.
2. AREX Incheon Express – This is a train station inside the Incheon Airport that will bring you straight to Seoul Station. No need to worry about catching a bus or booking a taxi.
3. T-Money Card – This is like a beep card. You can use this in trains, buses, and taxis. You can buy this in convenience stores especially those limited editions with kpop groups. But if you want one before leaving the airport, you can buy one in Klook too.
4. N Seoul Tower Ticket – If you’re a Kdrama fan, then this is a must-see place. This is the famous spot where lovers leave love locks.
5. Hanbok Rental – Live your period kdrama fantasies, be a main character with a beautiful hanbok rental, and take photos in Changdeok Palace.

You can search for more activities in Korea through Klook below:

Klook.com

So these are the required documents, processes, and frequently asked questions on how to apply for a Korean Visa without an ITR and COE. I hope this post will help. Good luck!