Aply logo
HomePositionsCommunityCustomized SupportResources
Back to visa list

C-3 (Short-Term Visit)

Applicants: Persons staying short-term for tourism, business, or visits

Stay period: Within 90 days (non-extendable)

C-3 Short Term Visit - Travel/Commercial Activities

Quick Overview

  • Best for: Persons staying short-term for tourism, business, or visits
  • Typical stay: Within 90 days (non-extendable)
  • What to prepare: Passport, application form, and photo are basic. Check additional documents by visa type.

Detailed Description

Commercial activities such as market research, business contacts, consultations, contracts, etc.

Sightseeing, transit, medical treatment, visiting relatives, friendly matches, participation in or observation of various events or meetings, cultural activities, general training, lectures, attendance at religious ceremonies, collection of academic data, and other similar purposes for a period not exceeding 90 days.

Maximum period of stay that can be granted once: 90 days

Who can apply?

C-3-1 (Short-term general)

All persons within the scope of short-term visitation (C-3) activities, except for pure tourism (C-3-2) to compatriot visits (C-3-9) below.

C-3-2 (Group tourism)

Those who intend to enter the country for the purpose of tourism, such as individual and group tours, and small trade activities at the airport only, for which the agency (travel agency) is responsible for the guarantee upon the expiration of the stay.

C-3-3 (Medical Tourism)

Short-term visitors who are subject to the guidelines for issuing medical tourism visas and visa issuance certificates

C-3-4 (General Commercial)

APEC Card holders who are engaged in commercial activities such as market research, business contacts, consultations, contracts, small-scale trade activities, etc.

C-3-5 (Short-term business under the Agreement)

Persons entering the country for short-term commercial purposes under an agreement.

CEFA, FTA, etc. only (India, Chile)

C-3-6 (Short-term business visits by preferential companies)

Those who have received an invitation from a company or organization that has been selected as a preferred company.

C-3-7 (Arrival tourism)

Persons entering the country with an arrival visa at the airport

C-3-8 (Visiting Compatriots)

Persons who have been issued a visa to visit their compatriots

C-3-9 (General tourism)

General tourists not included in C-3-2 (group tourism, etc.)

C-3-10 (Pure transit)

Persons who intend to travel to a third country through the Republic of Korea, not to be used for immigration purposes

C-3-11 (Shifting seafarers)

Seafarers who intend to enter Korea as passengers on an aircraft or vessel to serve on a vessel anchored or scheduled to anchor in Korea.

Required Documents

Short-term general (C-3-1)

Application for visa, passport, photo, and fee

Invitation letter or other documents indicating the purpose of entry (event, general training, etc.)

Group tourism (C-3-2)

Visa application, passport, photo, fee, guarantee, etc.

General commercial use (C-3-4)

Visa application, passport, photo, fee

Letter of invitation (including a copy of the inviting company's business license or certificate of incorporation), etc.

Agreement for general commercial use (C-3-5)

Application form for issuance of visa, passport, photograph, fee

Documents related to the establishment of a local affiliate in India

Employment certificate or travel order stating the period of employment.

Proof of negotiations for the purpose of selling goods or services or preparing to establish an investment company, such as invitation letters, etc.

Letter of invitation (including a copy of the inviting company's business license or registration certificate) for commercial purposes

General tourism (C-3-9)

Visa application, passport, photo, and proof of financial ability or identification to pay fees and expenses for stay in the country.

If you are a student from Southeast Asia, you will be issued a visa with proof of enrollment (enrollment certificate or student ID) and proof of parental financial capacity.

In the case of incentive tourism, proof of financial capacity is basically omitted upon submission of a guarantee letter from the organizing company.

Pure transit (C-3-10)

Passport, photo, fee, and itinerary for visa application.

Reasons for selecting only Korean airports as transit airports, etc.

Shift crew (C-3-11)

Health certificate, medical examination related to COVID-19, quarantine agreement, seafarer's identity card (seafarer's book, etc.), ship's nationality certificate, employment contract, notification of scheduled port of entry in Korea, etc.

PCR negative certificate can be substituted

Issuance of a double visa valid for 2 years

Proof of purpose of entry (same as single entry)

Fee: $70 USD equivalent

However, Ghana 90 USD, Russia 90 USD, Senegal 120 USD, Azerbaijan 120 USD United Kingdom 220 USD, Austria 70 USD, Iran 90 USD Tajikistan 70 USD, Kyrgyzstan 80 USD, Australia 130 USD, Uzbekistan 80 USD equivalent will be collected.

Guidelines for issuing duplicate certificates

Chinese nationals (C-3-1 through C-3-9, except C-3-2)

Application form, passport, photo, and fee

Refrain from collecting additional documents if they can be verified by passport or self-checking, such as age, immigration records, etc.

When applying for a visa for status, education, urban area, etc.

If you need to prove your financial capability, such as a businessman or businesswoman, limit yourself to no more than two of the example documents below.

Applicants under the Han Mongolia Visa Simplification and Reconciliation Agreement (C-3-1 through C-3-9)

Application form, passport, and photo fees

Specifying the documents to be submitted according to the actual situation of the diplomatic mission

Issuance of duplicate visas to nationals of Southeast Asian countries (C-3-1 through C-3-9, except C-3-2)

Each diplomatic mission specifies the documents to be submitted according to the actual situation.

Issuance of duplicate visas to nationals of resource diplomatic countries (C-3-1 or C-3-4)

Application form, passport, photo, and fee

Designate submission documents for each diplomatic mission according to the actual situation.

Special cases for marriage immigrants and family members of Korean nationals (C-3-1)

Application for issuance of visa, copy of passport

Documents to prove family relationship

Multiple issuance for Chinese compatriots (C-3-8)

Application form, copy of passport

Official documents from the country of nationality proving that you are a foreign national (copy of residence card, etc.)

Proof of overseas criminal history

Visa issued under the Korea-India Visa Process Simplification Agreement (C-3-4)

A copy of the invitation letter business license, proof of employment, tax certificate of the applicant or the employer.

Issuance of duplicate visas for frequent travelers

Visa application form, passport, photo, and fees are waived.

What to watch out for

  • Even with the same visa code, outcomes can differ by nationality, education, career, and stay history.
  • Please re-check document issue dates, translation, and notarization requirements right before submission.
  • Stay period and work scope are finalized by the actual permit details.
Aply logo

A career platform connecting global talent and companies.

FLIPERS Co., Ltd.

CEO: Namgu Kim

Privacy Officer: Namgu Kim

Business Registration No.: 657-81-02986

10F, 140 Dadong, Jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Email: info@flip-ers.com

© 2026 Aply. All rights reserved.

TermsPrivacy Policy