Attention Card Holders! Here Are the South Korea Simplified Visa Requirements

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea has recently made significant changes to simplify the visa application process for those holding specific credit cards from BPI, RCBC, and Metrobank. These changes aim to make it easier for Filipinos to visit South Korea by reducing the number of required financial documents.

From 22 Jul–Dec 31 2024, eligible travellers will no longer need to submit multiple financial documents such as bank certificates, bank statements, or Income Tax Returns (ITR). This adjustment follows the earlier streamlined visa requirements for certain categories including elected politicians, government officials, professional licence holders, and BDO Gold or BDO Elite Credit Card holders.

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Who qualifies for the South Korea simplified visa process?

The simplified visa process applies to holders of specific credit cards from BPI, RCBC, and Metrobank. It's important to note that supplementary credit card holders are not eligible. Here’s a detailed look at the eligible credit cards:

BPI:

• Gold: Gold Rewards

• Elite: Platinum Rewards, Amore Platinum Cashback, Signature Card

RCBC:

• Gold: Mastercard Gold, Visa Flex Gold, JCB Gold

• Elite: Black Mastercard, Diamond Mastercard, YGC Rewards Plus Platinum, Hexagon Privilege, Visa Platinum, JCB Platinum, UnionPay Diamond, Visa Infinite, World Mastercard and its variants (RCBC Hexagon Priority, RCBC Balesin World, RCBC The City Club World)

Metrobank:

• World Mastercard, Femme Signature Visa card, Travel Platinum Visa card, Platinum Mastercard, M Free Mastercard, Dollar Mastercard

To take advantage of this streamlined process, applicants will need to provide:

• An original certificate of employment

• A copy of the front side of the credit card with all information visible

• Copies of the latest 3 months of credit card account monthly billing statements

Immediate family members, including parents, spouses, minor children, and adult children who are students, can also benefit from this simplified process. However, proof of relationship documents will still be required for family members.

While the bank documents are the only exempted or substituted documents in this simplified process, other general visa application documents such as a valid passport, visa forms, travel insurance, employment documentation, and travel itineraries are still necessary.

This update is part of South Korea’s ongoing efforts to attract more tourists by making the visa application process more accessible and convenient.

Also read: New Korean Visa Privacy Consent Form Required for Filipinos

Travellers planning to visit South Korea should take advantage of this new streamlined process and apply as soon as possible to ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience. This change not only benefits individual travellers but also encourages more family trips, enhancing the tourism exchange between the Philippines and South Korea.

Featured image credit: alde saputro via Canva Pro