How to Get a KOREAN VISA APPLICATION Appointment (Korean Embassy Manila)

Published: 2022 • 09 • 21

One of the countries I’ve been almost desperately wanting to return to is South Korea. So when the Korean government announced it would finally begin accepting tourist visa applications again, I was the first to book flights.

The problem is, Korea is an extremely popular destination, especially among Filipinos. While the Korean Embassy in Manila is still trying to get back to normal operations, visa applications started piling up. But that’s not all. The embassy has also posted a notice warning against submission of falsified requirements like certificates of employment, bank certificates, ITR or other documents, implying a rise in dubious documents it receives. According to travel agents we talked to, it’s because of this that the embassy became stricter and more meticulous in reviewing applications.

All these led to the Embassy limiting the number of applications it accepts per day. Walk-in applicants formed long queues as early as the night before just to make sure they make it to the cutoff. I know this because I have attempted multiple times! I fell in line for hours only to be told that they couldn’t accept my application because they had already reached the day’s quota.

Fortunately, the Korean Embassy recently launched an online appointment system! The good news is, it eliminates the need for applicants to physically spend the night lining up. The bad news is, as with any other new system, it can still be quite confusing. Thankfully, I was able to successfully reserve a slot while documenting the entire process. In this article, I’ll share with you exactly how to secure a visa application appointment with the Korean Embassy.

But first, a few reminders:

• Make sure you have the following with you:
  – a working e-mail address. You’ll need this to retrieve an authentication code.
  – your passport details, particularly your name and passport number.
• You can schedule an appointment for yourself, parents and children ONLY. Outside these conditions, applying for a group or other people isn’t allowed.
• The best time to book is Tuesday, when the embassy opens slots for the coming week. However, some slots do open up on other days if other applicants or the embassy itself cancels their appointment.
• Use Google Chrome. I find it to be more compatible to the website than other browsers.
• Be quick. The number of slots dwindle FAST and be all gone in a matter of minutes.
• This guide is only for individual…