03. Get a South Korean Visa
It has always been my dream to visit South Korea. I am an avid fan of Korean Dramas and K-pop.
And for Philippine-passport holders, we are required to obtain a tourist visa upon entering the said country. I am based in Dubai, so I have decided to obtain the visa from here rather than in the Philippines so that it will be hassle-free.
The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Dubai, UAE requires a personal appearance in the application.
Here are the requirements, which you can also check on their website:
- Completed visa application form.
- One passport-sized photograph with a white background.
- Signed and stamped No Objection Certificate from the company.
- The last 3 months’ bank statement
- Copy of the hotel reservation. I have booked my hotel through booking.com.
- Copy of the round-trip ticket and itineraries in South Korea. I have booked my flight ahead and created an itinerary myself.
- Original Passport
- A copy of the UAE residence visa.
I went to the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Dubai around 8:30 a.m. and submitted my documents and left 15-20 minutes after. It was quick. I was given a paper to be submitted two days after and that’s when I would know if my application is approved or denied.
The visa, once approved and stamped on your passport, is only valid for 3 months. My trip was scheduled on May 18-23, 2016, so I applied on March 6, 2016. I came back to the Consulate on March 8, 2016, my 29th birthday, to get my passport and ta-dah, the visa was approved! It was the best birthday gift ever!
The stress and all the sleepless nights while preparing for the application weren’t necessary. haha! The process was less than an hour and by the way, the application was free!
