Questions by situation
Each answer starts with the short answer, then when it applies and when it does not, the documents, and the timeline.
How can I find out why my Korean visa was denied if the embassy did not tell me the reason?
The Korean mission may notify you of the denial and its reasons online, and if you visit the mission where you applied in person and ask, it must give you a visa denial notice without delay. If the online notice does not state the reasons clearly enough, requesting the notice in person is the reliable way. Bring your passport and application receipt when you visit. The reasons on the notice determine what you need to strengthen in your new application.
After my visa was denied, can a Korean company invite me again with a Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance?
The person extending the invitation can apply for a Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance on the foreign national's behalf, so a Korean company inviting you again is an option. However, the certificate is subject to the same issuance standards as a visa, so if the previous denial reasons have not been resolved, the outcome is unlikely to change. Prepare documents addressing the previous denial reasons together with the employment contract, business documents and the documents required for the status. If the certificate is not issued, a notice stating the denial and its reasons may be sent online.
My marriage migrant (F-6) visa was not granted because the genuineness of the marriage was questioned. What should I strengthen before reapplying?
A visa for marital cohabitation is screened on how the relationship developed and the intention to marry, whether the marriage was validly formed under the law of the relevant country, the inviter's income requirement, at least basic Korean language ability, and housing where the couple can live together, so you need to identify the items that were not accepted and address them. If genuineness was the issue, add photos, message history and visit records showing how your relationship developed, as well as evidence of contact between both families. Recheck the inviter's income and housing documents and the invitee's Korean language documents too. You may reapply after 6 months from the date the visa was not granted, or earlier if there are urgent circumstances such as childbirth.
If the CEO of the company inviting a foreign worker has a record of violating the Immigration Act, will the visa be denied?
If the inviter was punished or paid an immigration fine for violating the Immigration Act, such as false invitations or illegal employment, or for violating certain other laws, and the set period has not yet passed, the Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance may not be issued. If there is no such violation or the period has passed, this ground does not apply and the question is whether the other requirements are met. Check the inviter's disposition history (court judgments, notice of disposition documents) and the payment and finalization dates to see whether it applies. Compliance with recent reporting obligations for employing foreign nationals may also be screened, so organize the report history as well.
I think my Korean visa was denied because I did not explain the purpose of my visit well. What should I prepare?
Visa screening checks whether you explain a purpose of entry that fits the status and whether it is accepted that you will return home within the permitted period of stay, so you need to show both in documents. If your purpose did not fit the status, consider applying under a status that does; if the purpose fit but the evidence was weak, strengthen the documents. Prepare an invitation letter, itinerary, proof of employment or enrollment in your home country, asset and income documents, and a return flight booking. The law has no general rule on waiting before reapplying, but reapplying without improvements is likely to produce the same result.
How do I find out which documents were missing from my Korean visa application and fix them?
Visa screening checks, in addition to the common legal standards, the standards the Minister of Justice sets separately for each status, so you need to compare the standards and required documents for the status you applied for item by item. If the denial notice says documents were incomplete, provide those documents; if the reason is worded generally, recheck all the standards for that status. Lay the denial notice, copies of the documents you submitted, and the list of required documents for the status side by side and compare them. Documents needing translation or notarization take time, so build that into your reapplication schedule.
Was my Korean visa denied because I overstayed in Korea in the past?
It may have been. Visa screening checks entry restrictions across the board, and the standards for many statuses treat departure orders, deportation or violations of Korean law as screening factors. If an entry restriction applies, requesting its lifting comes before improving your visa documents; if not, respond with a written explanation of the past violation and evidence of how you have lived responsibly since. Prepare past disposition documents, immigration fine payment receipts, departure records, and employment and family documents from your home country. It is best to first confirm which applies from the reasons on the visa denial notice.
Will my Korean visa be denied if my home country criminal record certificate shows a fine?
It cannot be answered in general because each status has different standards, so you need to check the standards for the status you are applying for. For example, the working holiday (H-1) visa has a standard of not issuing the visa if the criminal record certificate from the country of residence shows a finalized sentence of a fine of 3 million won or more, and the visa for marital cohabitation checks whether the couple have shared their criminal record information with each other. Prepare the original criminal record certificate and a translation, along with documents showing the judgment and that the sentence has been completed. If you were denied, first check whether the reason on the denial notice is your criminal record.
If my Korean visa denial says I am subject to an entry ban, is there any point in applying again?
Visa screening requires that you are not subject to an entry ban or refusal, so reapplying with the same documents while the ban remains is unlikely to change the outcome. If the grounds for the ban have ended or your circumstances have changed, the right order is to prepare a request to lift the entry restriction first and reapply for a visa once the lifting is confirmed. Gather the visa denial notice, past disposition documents related to the ban and evidence that the grounds have ended. The law sets no processing period for lifting, so allow plenty of time in your travel plans.
I worked in Korea for a long time on a non-professional employment (E-9) visa. Why is a new E-9 Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance not being issued?
There is a rule that an E-9 Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance is not issued to anyone who has stayed in Korea for 5 years or more under the non-professional employment (E-9) status, and the same applies when the combined period with seafarer employment (E-10) is 5 years or more. However, any extension of the employment period under the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers is not counted. Calculate your actual period of stay using your past alien registration records, entry and exit records, and documents showing any extension of your employment period. If you fall under this rule, it is more realistic to look at the requirements for another status than to reapply for E-9.
I was told I am a person subject to visa issuance restriction who needs Ministry of Justice approval. What does that mean?
A person subject to visa issuance restriction is someone the Minister of Justice has designated as able to receive a visa only with special approval, and a Korean mission abroad must obtain the Minister's approval before issuing a visa to such a person. If you are not designated, screening proceeds at the mission level; if you are, the approval procedure is added and there are more screening steps. When applying, submit your past disposition documents and evidence that the grounds for the restriction have been resolved from the start. The law sets no processing period for the approval procedure, so it varies from case to case.
When I apply for a Korean visa again, can I leave out my previous denial or past violations?
You must not misstate or hide them. Applying for a visa or a Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance with false information is prohibited by law, and a permit obtained by false or fraudulent means can be cancelled if this later comes to light. The right approach is to state your previous denial and past violations as they are and submit a written explanation and evidence showing how those issues have been resolved. Have the denial notice and past disposition documents ready in advance and make sure they match what you write on the application.
Key terms
- Visa (사증)
- A document issued by the Minister of Justice that a foreign national must hold together with a valid passport when entering Korea; it is divided into single-entry visas, allowing one entry, and multiple-entry visas, allowing two or more.
- Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정서)
- A document the Minister of Justice issues, on the application of a foreign national seeking entry, when deemed particularly necessary before a visa is issued; the person extending the invitation may apply on their behalf.
- Visa denial notice (사증발급거부통지서)
- A document stating the denial and its reasons, which the head of a Korean mission abroad must give without delay when an applicant whose visa was denied visits the mission where they applied and requests it.
- Visa issuance standards (사증 등 발급의 기준)
- The common standards requiring screening of a valid passport, whether the person is subject to an entry ban or refusal, whether they qualify for the status, explanation of the purpose of entry, whether they will return within the period of stay, and the standards for each status.
- Visa issuance standards for marital cohabitation (결혼동거 목적의 사증 발급 기준)
- The standards for screening marriage migrant visas, checking how the relationship developed, formation of the marriage, the inviter's income, Korean language ability, housing and more; if the visa is not granted, you may reapply after 6 months.
- Person subject to visa issuance restriction (사증발급규제자)
- A person designated by the Minister of Justice as able to receive a visa only with special approval regarding visa issuance.
- Korean mission abroad (재외공관)
- Korean embassies, consulates and similar offices abroad, which handle visa issuance under delegation from the Minister of Justice.
