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According to information from the Korea Visa Application Center, the number of people registering for appointments to apply for a 5-year visa is currently full until June 14th. The Center has not yet announced a specific date for reopening registrations after June 14th.
Starting April 25th, all visa applications and results will be processed at the Korea Visa Application Center, located on Cau Giay Street, Hanoi. However, for 5-year visas, the Center will only accept applications registered online through the Korea Visa Application Center website. Applications that do not match the applicant's personal information will be rejected.
Compared to when applications were first submitted to the Korean Consulate on Tran Duy Hung Street, the situation with touts and competition for places has significantly improved, and the chaos has subsided. However, the number of people rushing to apply for Korean visas, especially 5-year visas, shows no sign of slowing down. The Hanoi-based Korean Visa Application Center website advises individuals to submit their applications in the afternoon to avoid morning congestion. A representative from the Center stated that they receive over 1,000 applications daily. On May 7th alone, the number of applications received reached 1,300.
Many Vietnamese people rushed to apply for visas due to rumors of a policy change in April for the 5-year visa for citizens of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, prompting them to apply before the "change." However, representatives from the visa application center affirmed that this rumor was unfounded.
At the Korean visa application office in Ho Chi Minh City, those wishing to apply for a 5-year visa can schedule an appointment from the end of July. As of 12 PM on May 7th, the center only had available appointments on the 29th and 30th.
Additional information:
According to South Korea's new visa policy, Vietnamese citizens residing in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang are eligible for a 5-year visa to the country without having to provide proof of financial means starting December 3, 2018. However, some individuals will still need to provide proof of employment to avoid potential problems.
However, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) in Vietnam also noted that while proof of financial means is not required, some applicants may be asked to provide proof of occupation. Therefore, KTO advises visa applicants to prepare documentation proving their occupation in advance.
According to these guidelines, for multiple-entry visas valid for 5 years, in addition to the basic documents, residents of the three major cities in Vietnam need to submit their original and photocopied household registration certificate. In cases where the visa applicant does not have a household registration in one of the three pilot cities but has a temporary residence permit, their application may still be considered.
Those granted multiple-entry visas valid for 5 years can stay in South Korea for up to 30 days after entry.
