Do I need a Korea C-3 visa or is K-ETA enough?

It depends on your passport. Nationals of visa-waiver countries use K-ETA — Korea's electronic travel authorisation at k-eta.go.kr — instead of the C-3-9, and Korea's missions say K-ETA-eligible travellers must apply for K-ETA rather than C-3. Many visa-waiver nationalities are additionally temporarily exempt from K-ETA through December 31, 2026 and just fill in the arrival card. Travellers whose K-ETA was denied may apply for a C-3 visa and must submit proof of the denial. Check the official k-eta.go.kr list for your nationality - lists change, so avoid fixed country counts from blogs.

How much is the Korea C-3 tourist visa fee?

The base schedule is USD 40 for a single-entry visa with a stay of up to 90 days (the tourist case), USD 70 double-entry and USD 90 multiple-entry; a single-entry visa for stays of 91 days or more costs USD 60. Reciprocity rules change the amount by passport: for example USA 45, UK 130, Australia 80 and Vietnam 20 for single-entry, while some nationalities are exempt. The fee is non-refundable even if the visa is refused.

How much bank balance do I need for a Korea tourist visa?

You must submit bank statements covering the previous 3 months, in your name, issued close to your application date. Boston's consulate suggests a balance above 3,000 US dollars each month; Singapore's embassy wants the salary-crediting account and rejects overseas accounts. Credit-card statements are never accepted as financial proof.

Do I need to buy a flight ticket before applying for a Korea visa?

No. The flight itinerary can be issued by an airline or travel agency as either a confirmed ticket or a reservation that can be rebooked - a booking, not necessarily a purchase. Online screenshots of flight schedules are not accepted. Korea's embassy in Canada advises scheduling your departure at least 15 business days after you submit, so you will usually have the visa before you fly.

How long does the Korea C-3 visa take to process?

Official figures differ by post: about 7-10 business days in Canada, 7 days in Boston, 8-10 working days at Manila's KVAC and 12 working days at Korea's embassy in the Philippines, with express processing around 5 days at extra cost. Budget 2-4 weeks end to end, and remember a single-entry C-3 is valid for 3 months from issuance - you must enter Korea within that window and may stay up to 90 days.

Korea C-3 Visa Documents Checklist — Documents, Fees, Processing Time

Korea's short-term visit visa — the C-3-9, tourism purpose — is a paper application decided on the folder you hand in at an embassy, consulate or Korea Visa Application Centre. This checklist compiles the official requirements from Korean embassy and KVAC pages (captured September 2026): the exact document list, the fee for your passport, and how long to really allow.

⚠️ Two documents, two sets of rules — check your lane first. The C-3-9 is a consular visa: paper form, in-person submission, USD 40 and up. K-ETA is an electronic travel authorisation for visa-waiver passports, filed online at the official k-eta.go.kr only. Their requirements are kept separate on this page: nothing in the C-3 list below applies to a K-ETA application, and vice versa. If K-ETA covers your passport, you generally should not be filing a C-3 at all — the single exception is a denied K-ETA application: you may then apply for C-3 and must attach the proof of denial. Korea's temporary K-ETA exemption for many visa-waiver nationalities runs through December 31, 2026 (KST); exempt travellers still complete the arrival card on board unless they voluntarily hold a K-ETA.

First, three quick facts

Fee: USD 40 / 70 / 90. Single-entry with a stay of up to 90 days (the tourist case) is $40, double-entry $70, multiple-entry $90. Your passport can change the number — reciprocity rules put the US at $45, the UK at $130, Australia at $80, Vietnam at $20 single-entry, and some nationalities pay nothing. Non-refundable even if refused.
Officially 7–10 business days at many posts, but the number differs by embassy: 7 days in Boston, 8–10 at Manila's KVAC, 12 in the Philippines. Budget 2–4 weeks and, following Canada's embassy, book flights at least 15 business days out.
The window is 3 months. A single-entry C-3 is valid three months from issuance — enter Korea inside that window and you may stay up to 90 days.

Who actually needs the C-3-9 visa

Tourism into Korea splits three ways:

Visa-waiver passport + K-ETA temporarily exempt — nationalities on Korea's temporary exemption list (running through Dec 31, 2026), plus minors under 18 and adults over 65 from K-ETA countries: just travel, completing the arrival card unless you hold a K-ETA.
Visa-waiver passport + K-ETA required — other visa-waiver nationals: apply online at k-eta.go.kr before boarding. Korea's missions state plainly that K-ETA-eligible travellers must use K-ETA instead of the C-3-9.
Neither — mainland China and other non-waiver passports: this is the C-3-9 lane. Apply at a Korean embassy, consulate or visa centre.

The exemption lists change — never trust a fixed country count from blogs; confirm your passport on the official k-eta.go.kr list before you plan around either document.

Applying outside your country of nationality? Missions generally expect you to apply where you live, and several impose residence minimums on third-country applicants — Canada's embassy requires at least 730 days of residence in Canada for applicants from 33 listed countries, and Boston's consulate asks for proof of roughly two years of legal US stay. Bring your PR card, long-term visa or work/study permit as residency proof.

The C-3-9 document checklist

Document	Requirement (official, summarized)
1. Application form	Every field completed — blanks "will cause disadvantage". The e-Form is filed through the Korea Visa Portal (visa.go.kr).
2. Passport	Original plus a clear copy of the bio page, with at least 6 months of validity remaining — see the six-month passport rule.
3. Photo	One colour photo, 35 × 45 mm, face 25–35 mm, white/plain light background, taken within the last 6 months, direct gaze, no sunglasses; physically affixed to the form, not printed on glossy photo paper (Boston). Full spec: Korea visa photo requirements; plain-background tips: photo background rules.
4. Bank statements	Statements covering the previous 3 months, your name clearly shown, issued close to the application date. Boston suggests a balance above $3,000 each month; Singapore wants the salary-crediting account and rejects overseas accounts. Credit-card statements are never accepted.
5. Employment / status proof	Employed: employer letter stating designation, salary, hire date and purpose of visit — original with wet-ink signature and company stamp, issued within 1 month (Singapore) or 3 months (Canada). Self-employed: business registration. Student: school letter. Not working: a relative's letter plus proof of relationship.
6. Flight itinerary	Issued by an airline or travel agency — a confirmed ticket or a rebookable reservation (booking, not necessarily buying). Online screenshots are not accepted. Schedule departure at least 15 business days after submission.
7. Accommodation	Hotel reservation. Staying with family or friends: a host letter with the host's ID/passport number, address and relationship, plus a copy of the host's ID.
8. Travel plan	Day-by-day schedule with the purpose of visit and locations — signed and dated.

The NOT list — rejections the embassies state outright

❌ Credit-card statements as financial proof — explicitly rejected (Singapore, Boston).
❌ Online screenshots of flight schedules — use an airline/agency itinerary; a rebookable reservation is fine.
❌ Blanks on the form — "will cause disadvantage".
❌ Buying a non-refundable ticket before the visa — unnecessary and risky; the fee itself is also non-refundable if refused.
❌ Photo older than 6 months, printed on photo paper, or wearing sunglasses — the photo rules are enforced.
❌ Overseas bank accounts (Singapore) or accounts not in your name without relationship proof (Boston).
❌ Assuming third-country applications are easy — two-year residency rules apply at several posts.

Fees: USD 40 / 70 / 90 — unless reciprocity says otherwise

The base schedule is posted by Korea's embassy in the USA:

Single-entry, stay ≤ 90 days (covers C-3 tourism): $40
Single-entry, stay ≥ 91 days: $60
Double-entry: $70
Multiple-entry: $90 — eligible applicants can get a multiple-entry C-3 valid up to 5 years (Boston; New York lists 1-year/3-year tiers based on track record)

But the fee is per nationality (reciprocity) and can also vary by mission. Official examples for single-entry (≤ 90 days): USA $45 (flat $45 across entry types), UK $130 ($200 double, $220 multiple), Australia $80 ($120/$130), Vietnam $20 ($50/$60). Fee-exempt passports include Spain, Italy, Taiwan, Japan and Ukraine (all visas), Sweden (stays ≤ 90 days), the Philippines (C-3 up to 59 days) and Mongolia (ordinary passports, ≤ 90 days). Always re-check your passport's row on the official fee table — and note payment methods differ by post (card only in Boston; cash or money order in Canada).

How long it takes — and when to book your flight

Embassy of Korea, Canada: about 7–10 business days.
Consulate General, Boston: 7 days.
KVAC Manila: 8–10 working days.
Embassy of Korea, Philippines: 12 working days (express around 5 at extra cost).

Every number above is official, and no two agree — so plan on 2–4 weeks door to door rather than any single global figure, and follow the Canadian embassy's explicit advice: schedule flights at least 15 business days after you submit. Most posts require in-person submission and serve only residents of their consular district; some keep your passport during processing.

60-second check before you submit

✅ Passport valid ≥ 6 months, bio page copied
✅ Photo 35 × 45 mm, white background, taken within 6 months
✅ Form 100% filled and signed — no blanks
✅ 3 months of bank statements in your name (not credit-card statements)
✅ Employer/school letter recent, signed, stamped
✅ Flight itinerary from an airline/agency — rebookable reservation is fine, no screenshots
✅ Hotel reservation or host letter with the host's ID copy
✅ Day-by-day travel plan, signed and dated
✅ Third-country applicant? Residency proof packed, two-year rule checked
✅ Correct fee for your nationality, accepted payment method in hand
✅ K-ETA-eligible passport? Then you probably should not be in the C-3 line at all

Passport running low on validity? Korea's 6-month minimum is one of many — see the six-month passport rule before you renew (a renewed Chinese passport needs a 33 × 48 mm China passport photo; Japan's is 35 × 45 mm). The 35 × 45 mm Korea photo is the same print size as the US visa photo after cropping — one tool covers both. And if your trip is multi-country, remember each border writes its own rules: the Schengen checklist shares Korea's book-don't-buy flight approach, while the Japan checklist works completely differently. Every guide lives on the visa checklists hub.

Sources: official pages of Korean missions (mofa.go.kr — USA fee schedule, Boston C-3-9, Canada C-3-9, Singapore C-3-9, LA photo requirements, New York C-3-9), the Korea Visa Portal (visa.go.kr), k-eta.go.kr notices and KVAC Manila, captured September 2026. Processing times and fee tiers are per post and change without much notice — defer to your local mission's page before you submit.

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