Goodbye Visa Stickers? South Korea Introduces ‘Visa Grant Notice’

With travel reopening across the globe, governments are modernising entry procedures for foreign visitors. For Filipinos heading to the Land of the Morning Calm, visa stickers — previously affixed to passports — are being replaced by the South Korea Visa Grant Notice

What is a South Korea Visa Grant Notice?

The South Korea Embassy in the Philippines confirmed that visa stickers are no longer issued. Instead, applicants receive a Visa Grant Notice, which is verified digitally through the Korean immigration system. “The ROK immigration system does not require visa labels to be affixed to a page in an applicant’s passport as the visa status will be checked and verified using the ROK visa information system with the latest technology,” the Embassy explained.

Also read: 10 South Korea Travel Tips For Solo Filipino Travellers

An example of a South Korea Visa Grant Notice | Image credit: South Korea Embassy

Accessible via the Korea Visa Portal, the notice includes personal and visa details: name, date of birth, passport number, visa issuance number, status and period of stay, allowed entries, date of issue, validity, and issuing authority.

Before travelling, Filipinos must print the Visa Grant Notice and present it along with a valid passport upon arrival in South Korea. While passports are still required during visa application, successful applicants will no longer receive a physical sticker.

Other updates from the South Korea Embassy

Myeongdong in Seoul, South Korea | Image credit: Cait Ellis

On top of the new Visa Grant Notice, the Embassy has resumed processing long-term visas, which cover stays longer than 91 days (A, D, E, F, and H types). Processing typically takes 10 working days, and applicants must submit a medical certificate, a Consent to Quarantine, and a Health Condition Report Form.

The Embassy also stated that tourist visa applications will resume once Philippine travel restrictions are lifted, allowing leisure flights to recommence under updated safety measures.

Featured image credit: Stephanie Nakagawa | Unsplash