Overview
A Certificate of Visa Issuance Confirmation is obtained by an inviter in Korea who applies to an Immigration Office. The foreign national then submits its confirmation number at a Korean embassy or consulate, receives the visa, and enters Korea. For many statuses, visas are issued only through this certificate, apart from cases the head of the diplomatic mission may issue at discretion.
The “visa issuance confirmation” people often search for alongside it is the e-visa issuance confirmation, a separate document. This article covers the basic flow, where the confirmation number is used, and the difference between the two.
At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Issuing office | Issued by the Immigration Office (office or branch) |
| Basic flow | Inviter applies and receives it, then the foreign national or an agent applies for the visa at an overseas mission with the confirmation number, then entry |
| Filing examples | E-9: visit the office with jurisdiction over the workplace or use the Korea Visa Portal; E-8: city or county head applies via the portal |
| When it is needed | Depends on status (for example, nationals of designated countries generally receive visas on the basis of the certificate) |
| E-visa issuance confirmation | A document confirming an e-visa was issued; it is not the visa itself |
Scope of Activity
- The basic flow, who applies and how, and where the confirmation number is used
- The difference between the certificate and the e-visa issuance confirmation
- Status-by-status attachments and screening criteria are covered in the articles for each status
Who Qualifies
- Companies, institutions and individuals in Korea that plan to invite a foreign national
- Foreign nationals who will use the certificate to apply for a visa at an overseas mission
- Anyone who wants to understand how the certificate differs from the e-visa confirmation
- Nationals of designated countries or applicants whose status calls for the certificate
Required Documents
- Visa issuance confirmation application form (the form for the relevant status)
- Passport (copy) and standard photo, plus the basic documents for that status
- Status-specific invitation or affiliation documents (for example, E-9: business registration copy, employment permit and standard labor contract copies, workplace survey form)
- Apostille or consular legalization for documents issued abroad
- Validity of documents issued in Korea (within 3 months of issue unless otherwise specified)
- Whether an agent may apply (agent filing can be limited if a personal interview is needed)
- The confirmation number to present when applying at the overseas mission
Application Process
- Check eligibility — confirm your current status, career, degree and contract type match the requirements.
- Prepare documents — foreign public documents need a translator's certification plus an apostille (or consular confirmation for non-member states).
- Book a visit — reserve a slot at your Immigration Office via HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr), or file online where e-Application is available.
- File and pay — submit the Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34) and pay the screening fee.
- Review — respond to any request for supplementary documents within the deadline.
- Result — on approval, the period of stay and status are granted; reissue your ARC if required.
Key Points
- The certificate is not a guarantee of entry. Where grounds for invalidity or cancellation exist (for example, issuance based on forged documents or by mistake to a person under entry restrictions), the consular officer may still refuse the visa despite the certificate. The certificate or visa is only one of the supporting documents for permission to enter, and final permission is given by the immigration inspector at the airport or port.
- Nationals of designated countries in principle receive visas on the basis of a certificate issued by the head of an Immigration Office (office or branch). If the certificate is not submitted, the head of the overseas mission may request approval and issue the visa after approval of the Minister of Justice.
- Filing methods differ by status. For E-9 non-professional employment, the head of the workplace visits the office with jurisdiction over the workplace address or applies via the Korea Visa Portal (visa.go.kr), and may use a designated agency; for E-8 seasonal work, visas are issued only through the certificate, applied for by the city or county head via the portal.
- Confirm the certificate's validity period, how to look it up after issuance, and processing time with the Immigration Office that issued it or in the Korea Visa Portal guidance.
- Documents issued in Korea must normally be dated within 3 months unless another validity period applies.
- Documents already on file in your alien registration record need not be resubmitted.
- Health certificates, drug test results and pre-employment medical reports must be submitted sealed by the issuing hospital (do not open).
- You must be in Korea when applying; leaving the country after filing may result in refusal.
- Screening fees are non-refundable once the application is accepted.
- The head of the Immigration Office may add or waive documents where necessary for review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Are the Certificate of Visa Issuance Confirmation and the visa issuance confirmation the same thing?
A. No. The certificate is obtained by the inviter from an Immigration Office, and the foreign national submits its confirmation number at the overseas mission to get the visa. The confirmation document is the e-visa issuance confirmation, a document by which the Minister of Justice confirms an e-visa was issued; it is not the visa itself. For any other document called a visa issuance confirmation, check with the Immigration Office with jurisdiction.
Q. Where is the confirmation number used?
A. Once the certificate is issued, the confirmation number is submitted when applying for the visa at the overseas mission, after which the visa is issued and the person enters Korea.
Q. Who applies, and where?
A. It depends on the status. Generally the inviter applies and the Immigration Office issues it. For example, for E-9 the head of the workplace visits the office with jurisdiction or uses the Korea Visa Portal, and for E-8 the city or county head applies via the portal.
Q. Does holding the certificate settle entry?
A. No. If grounds for invalidity or cancellation exist, the consular officer may refuse the visa even with the certificate, and final permission to enter is given by the immigration inspector at the airport or port.
Q. Can a visa be issued without the certificate?
A. For some statuses the head of the overseas mission may issue the visa at discretion. In contrast, nationals of designated countries in principle need the certificate; without it, the mission head can issue the visa only as an exception, with the approval of the Minister of Justice.
Q. How do I check validity or whether it has been issued?
A. Ask the Immigration Office that issued the certificate about this, or check the Korea Visa Portal guidance.