|
|
Overview
Foreigner's entry into Korea
In principle, a foreigner must obtain a visa from a Korean embassy in a foreign country in order to enter Korea.
A national of a country with which Korea has concluded a bilateral visa exemption agreement or for which Korea has made a special designation may enter Korea without any problem.
For the list of countries whose nationals may enter Korea without a visa, please refer to the Immigration Office's Homepage (http://www.immigration.go.kr/)
Status of sojourn
All foreigners entering Korea shall have a status of sojourn granted under the relevant Presidential decree.
The status of sojourn shall be marked on the visa. A foreigner arriving in Korea without a visa shall have his/her status of sojourn and period of stay granted at the time of entry clearance at either an airport or a port.
Foreigner's status of sojourn is classified into 35 categories, depending on the types of activity they are to carry out in Korea. Investors and specialists are granted the D-8 status. (Please refer to the aforesaid Homepage for the scope of activities granted to each status of sojourn.)
Procedure for foreigner's entry into Korea
1. Arrival without a visa -> Entry procedure at a port or an airport (Status of sojourn granted)-> Stay in Korea.
2. Issuance of a visa by a Korean embassy in a foreign country (Status of sojourn granted)-> Entry procedure at a port or an airport (Checking)-> Stay in Korea.
3. Issuance of a Confirmation letter on visa issuance by a local immigration office (Status of sojourn granted) -> Issuance of a visa by a Korean embassy in a foreign country -> Entry procedure at a port or an airport -> Stay in Korea.
A foreigner can enter Korea using one the following methods: 1) arriving in Korea without a visa and then having his/her status of sojourn and period of stay granted at the time of entry clearance at an airport or a port; 2) issuance of a visa by a Korean embassy in a foreign country; and 3) obtaining a visa based on the Confirmation letter of visa issuance (or its number) issued by a local immigration office having jurisdiction over the area in which the inviter resides. (if the Korean embassy in a foreign country doesn't have right to issue a visa) The foregoing 2) and 3) are the recommended methods.
A foreigner's stay in Korea is classified into either a long-term stay (90 days or longer) or a short-term stay (up to 89 days). Application for a change in one's visa status to a long-term stay is granted selectively, depending on the applicant's status of sojourn.
The issuance of most of the short-term visas is entrusted to the consuls of a Korean embassy in a foreign country. As such, they are issued promptly. Long-term stay visas take time to handle, as they are issued by a Korean embassy in a foreign country with the approval of the Justice Minister.
Visa for business investor (D-8)
Issued for -
Specialists engaged in the business management, production or technological sector of an FDI company supported by the Foreigner Investment Promotion Act (not including those recruited in Korea).
"Specialists" refers to those stated in the following:
Executives: Those primarily responsible for the organizational management within a business organization, exercising a wide range of rights in the decision making process, and only generally supervised and directed by the Board of Directors and shareholders as the highest ranking members of the organization (not those directly engaged in the provision of the service).
Senior Managers: Those responsible for the establishment and execution of the objectives and policies of a company or its organizational units, with the rights for planning, control, supervision and recommending, hiring and firing employees, and deciding, supervising and controlling the work of other supervisory, professional and managerial employees or exercising discretionary rights over their everyday business (not including those controlling front-line supervisors who are not professional service providers or those directly engaged in the provision of service).
Specialists: Those with highly professional and proprietary experience and the knowledge essential for the research, design, technology and management of the service provided by a specified business.
Those engaged in ordinary administrative services or engineers available in Korea or the providers of a direct service are not regarded as "essential specialists."
Visa issuance procedure
An applicant entering Korea without a visa or with only a short-term visa may apply for a change in the status of sojourn at Invest KOREA (IK) of KOTRA or at a local immigration office.
An applicant may apply for a business investment (D-8) visa at a Korean embassy in a foreign country. Each embassy is authorized to issue a D-8 visa for one year or less as entrusted by the Justice Minister .
An applicant may apply for a business investment (D-8) visa at a Korean embassy in a foreign country with the Confirmation letter of visa issuance (or number) issued by a local immigration office to an inviting Korean. ( if the Korean embassy in a foreign country doesn't have right to issue a visa)
Effective from September 25, 2005, the electronic visa issuance system was in operation in which the relevant immigration office issues a Korean inviting a foreigner the Confirmation letter on visa issuance number via e-mail or cell phone.
Documents to be submitted at the time of application
For an applicant investing not less than 50 million won:
Application for a visa (or Confirmation letter of visa issuance).
Passport (or a photocopy of a passport in the case of applications for a Confirmation letter of visa issuance).
Photocopy of a certificate of FDI company registration.
Photocopy of a business registration certificate or incorporation register, if applicable.
Certificate of declaration of a foreign currency (issued by the Customs Office).
Certificate of remittance issued by the relevant bank, in the event that the investment amount was remitted to Korea.
Photocopy of a foreign currency purchase certificate.
Photocopy of an office lease contract.
Photocopy of a bank book.
For an applicant dispatched to Korea as an essential specialist by a parent business in a foreign country:
Application for a visa (or a Confirmation letter of visa issuance).
Passport (or a photocopy of passport in the case of applications for a Confirmation letter of visa issuance).
Letter explaining the reason for the applicant's invitation to Korea.
Written order to work in Korea (issued by the relevant business).
Resume.
Diplomas, career certificates, qualification certificates and other certificates attesting to the applicant's status as a specialist.
Photocopy of a certificate of FDI company registration.
Photocopy of a business registration certificate or incorporation register, if applicable.
Application for a tax payment certificate.
Documents to be submitted
Confirmation Letter of Visa Issuance
Photo or Photocopy of Passport
Dispatch Order or Assignment Letter
Certificate of Employment
Certificate of Business Registration
Incorporation Register Book
Certificate of FDI Company Registration
Declaration of Foreign Currency
Certificate of Foreign Currency Purchase
Incoming Remittance Details
Office Lease Contract
Certificate of Tax Payment
Certificate of Export Report
Power of Attorney
The documents to be submitted may vary, depending on the judgment of the visa issuance office.
F-3 visa for accompanying persons
Issued for:
Children of less than 20 years of age of a person eligible for a D-8 visa.
Procedure
An accompanying person may apply for an F-3 visa at a Korean embassy in a foreign country. Each embassy is authorized to issue an F-3 visa for one year or less as entrusted by the Justice Minister .
One entering Korea without a visa or with a short-term visa may apply for a change in the status of sojourn at Invest KOREA (IK) of KOTRA or at a local immigration office.
An accompanying person may apply for an F-3 visa at a Korean embassy in a foreign country with the Confirmation letter of visa issuance (or number) issued by a local immigration office to an inviting Korean. (if the Korean embassy in a foreign country doesn't have right to issue a visa)
Documents to be submitted:
Application for a visa (or Confirmation letter of visa issuance).
(Two color portrait shots taken recently in case of confirmation letter of visa issuance.)
Documentary proof that he/she is a family member of t he D-8 visa applicant.
Certificates of Employment and Tax Payment for the inviting Korean.
Handling fee for a single visa: An amount equal to $30.
|
|
|
