South Korea continues to tighten visa application procedures for Vietnamese citizens.

Specifically, all travel agencies (including both designated and non-designated agencies) must bring the original savings passbook when submitting customer applications. The original passbook will be returned after the receiving staff checks and verifies it.

Previously, from November 12, 2019, South Korea implemented a policy waiving the financial proof requirement for Vietnamese citizens who had previously entered South Korea or OECD countries (excluding Japan) within the past five years. Students must provide a confirmation letter with the official seal of their school; student ID cards are not valid substitutes.

The most recent tightening of regulations for the 5-year visa was in October. Accordingly, Vietnamese citizens with permanent residency in the three major cities of Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City who have never had a short-term tourist visa are no longer eligible to apply for a multiple-entry metropolitan visa.

Huong Thao