South Korea Work Visa & its Requirements for Indian Citizens

Do you want to travel to South Korea for work? Then, the South Korean work visa is perfect for you. The work visa is available for both long and short-term work. You must know about the South Korea Work Visa Requirements for Indian citizens to apply for the same. Those who meet the visa requirements are more likely to be granted a visa. Want to know more about the South Korean visa requirements? Read our blog to find out!

An Overiew of the South Korea Work Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens

Indian nationals need to meet the basic requirements to get a South Korea work visa. These requirements are provided below:

1. Meet the eligibility requirements for a work visa
2. Present the relevant documents for a work visa
3. Meet the financial requirements for a work visa 

What are the Types of South Korea Work Visas?

South Korea issues different types of work visas. These are divided into short-term work visas and long-term work visas. Depending on the occupation you are taking up apply for the right visa. You must meet the South Korea work visa requirements for Indian citizens accordingly.

Short Term Work Visas (Non-Profit and Stay Visas)

Short-term work visas are mainly for those seeking temporary journalism work or who want to visit the country for a temporary period.

Visa Name	Description
Temporary Journalism	1. This visa is available to self-employed people wanting to make a purchase. 2. People arrange the establishment of a branch of a foreign corporation, and those in trade businesses seeking to repair or install machinery
Temporary Visit – work	This visa is available to 1. Self-employed people wanting to make a purchase. 2. People arrange the establishment of a branch of a foreign corporation, and 3. Those in trade businesses seeking to repair or install machinery

Short Term Employment Visas 

This is another type of short-term work visa given to individuals wanting to work.

Visa Name	Description
Short-Term Employment Visa	This visa is available to those seeking short-term employment in certain industries. For example, those wanting to become an advertisement, lecture, fashion model, research or technical training.

Long-Term Single Entry Visa 

The long-term single-entry visa is for those who want long-term employment. You need to meet the South Korea work visa requirements for indian citizens to get this visa.

Visa Name

Description

Long term single entry visa

This visa is available to those who want to work in the following fields. 1. Development of high-technology. 2. Research of natural science 3. Scientists seeking to make a study in an organisation which is under the Special Treatment Law as to Defense Industry 4. Company Contract employment in a public or private enterprise.  5. IT 6. e- business 7. Biotechnology  8.Nanotechnology 9. New composite material 10. Transportation facilities 11. Environmental energy

Job Seeker Visa 

Another type of work visa is a job seeker visa. The South Korea work visa requirements for indian citizens for a job seeker visa are slightly different from other visa types.

Visa Name	Description
A job seeker visa	This visa is for a person who wants to seek employment in South Korea. After getting a job such a person can apply for a work visa.

South Korea Work Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens- Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for a South Korea work visa depend on the visa type. However, the general eligibility criteria that apply to almost all work visas are provided below:

1. You must have a valid passport with at least 6 months of validity
2. A Korean employer must have provided you with a letter of invitation
3. You must be in good health, and must not have any criminal record 
4. Moreover, you must have received an employment contract. The employment contract must be between you and the Korean company. (or your company and the Korean company) 

Note- Job seekers do not need an employment contract.

Learn all about studying in South Korea as an Indian Student 

South Korea Work Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens- Documents Required 

The general documents that are necessary to get a South Korean work visa are as follows. You will have to provide additional documents depending on the visa you are applying for. Moreover, all documents must be translated into English (if they are already not in this language).

1. Completed Work Visa application form 
2. A passport that has more than 6 months of validity 
3. 2 passport-size photographs
4. Employment proof (if applicable)
5. Copy of the bank statements for the last 6 months 
6. Copy of the ITR of the last 2 years 
7. Completed health condition form
8. Invitation letter from a Korean employer 
9. Copy of the business registration of inviting Korean company
10. Contract copy between Indian & Korean Company.

South Korea Work Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens- Financial Requirements 

You need to meet the financial requirements to get a work visa. The financial requirements include the following-

1. Paying the visa fees- This is for the visa processing 
2. Having a minimum bank balance in your bank account- This is to ensure that you will not rely on public funds and can take care of your living expenses.

What are the South Korea Work Visa Fees for Indians?

The South Korea work visa fees vary depending on the visa you are applying for. The work visa fees for Indian citizens are as follows-

Visa Name	Visa Fees
Short-term single entry (for less than 90 days of stay)	3200.00
Long-term single entry (for more than 91 days of stay)	4800.00
Double Entry Visa	5600.00
For all multiple-entry visas	7200

Note– A single-entry visa means you are only allowed to enter South Korea for one time. On the other hand, a multiple-entry visa permits you to leave and enter the country multiple times. Similarly, a double-entry visa means you are allowed to enter the country twice.

How Much Bank Balance is Required for a South Korea Work Visa?

South Korea Work Visa requirements for Indian citizens include meeting the minimum bank balance. The minimum bank balance you need to get a visa is as follows-

Particulars	Amount
Estimated Minimum Bank Balance	USD 3,000 (for 3 months)
Round-trip flight tickets or an additional bank balance amount	USD 1,500 bank balance

Typically, for a long-stay work visa the minimum bank balance is not asked. However, if you are applying for a temporary stay work visas you need to provide the last 6 months bank statements. 

The amount provided above is just our estimate. You need to consult the embassy to know the exact bank balance requirement.

Cost of Living in Seoul: Updated Prices, Other Cities Comparison

How to Apply for a South Korean Work Visa Online?

After you have met the South Korea work visa requirements for indian citizens you can apply for a visa. The general application process is as follows. Note- Almost all applications for South Korea work visas are processed through VFS Global India.

1. You need to identify the work visa you are eligible for 
2. Thereafter, you can visit the official website and download the form 
3. Fill out the visa application form, and gather the documents 
4. Visit the visa application centre you have chosen
5. Pay the visa application fee, and submit your application
6. Submit your biometric information 
7. Your photograph will be taken at the visa application centre 
8. Your application will be processed. You can choose to track the same online
9. A decision will be made on your visa application
10. Thereafter, you can collect your passport from the visa office.

How to Track the Status of Your South Korea Work Visa Application?

To track the status of your South Korea work visa application follow the steps below:

1. Visit the KVAC website
2. Go to track your visa application page 
3. Choose the highlighted text ‘Korea visa portal’
4. Go to the Korea visa portal and select the visa type
5. Enter your 14-digit reference number (application receipt number or passport number)
6. Enter your full name and date of birth
7. View the status of your visa application

Your visa application status will be provided to you by email as well. You can also check your status by viewing the SMS updates.

What is the South Korea Work Visa Processing Time?

The processing time for a South Korean work visa depends on the visa application centre. The general processing time for all visa applications is provided below:

Visa	Processing Time
Normal work visa application	Minimum 10-2 working days
Express work visa application (if you want your application processing to be done faster)	Minimum 5-7 working days

What is the Valditiy of a South Korea Work Visa?

Apart from knowing the South Korea work visa requirements for indian citizens you must know about the visa validity.The validity of a South Korean work visa is as follows:

Visa Name	Visa Validity
Single entry visa (short-term)	Typically valid for less than 90 days from the date of issuance
Single entry visa (long term)	Typically valid for more than 90 days from the date of issuance
Double Entry Visa	Stay for 30 days. The visa is valid for 6 months
For all multiple-entry visas (granted to mainly businessmen)	The duration specified in the agreement

Embassy of India in South Korea 

Now you know the South Korea work visa requirements for Indian citizens. For further details you can contact the embassy. The details of the South Korean embassy are provided below:

Embassy	Address	Contact Number
Embassy of South Korea in India	9, Chandragupta Marg, Chanakyapuri Extension, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi	011 4200 7000

South Korean Visa Application Centres in India

The following are the South Korean visa application centres in India

Visa Application Centre	Address	Email
Delhi	Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Mezzanine Level, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi, 110001	[email protected]
Kolkata	4th Floor, Plot No. AA-I, 1842, Rene Tower, Rajdanga Main Road, Kasba, Kolkata, West Bengal (700107)	[email protected]

Steps to Take After You Reach South Korea

The following are the steps you need to take to reach South Korea-

1. Complete the immigration formalities and the security checkings at the airport 
2. Get the Alien Registration Card. You need to apply for it within 3 months of reaching South Korea, It can take 3 to 5 weeks to get this card processed.
3. Understand the South Korean culture. This will make your stay comfortable.

To learn the latest update for South Korea work visa, watch this video:

Is IELTS Required for South Korea for a Job?

You need to clear an English language proficiency test to get a job in South Korea. This can be any recongised exam like IELTS or TOEFL.  Although you need to show your langauge score to get a job, the same is not required for a visa. Your job contract, proof of employment and invitation letter are sufficient for you to get a visa.

How Much is Monthly Salary in South Korea?

The average salary of the people in South Korea is provided below. It is important to know that the average salary can differ based on gender, location, experience and education.

Particulars	Average Salary
Average monthly salary	WON 3.27 million
Average annual salary	USD 47,715

Learn How to Get Part time Jobs in South Korea for International Students?

Is it Hard to Get a Work Visa in Korea?

Yes. Getting a South Korean work visa is easy. The Visa rejection rate for a South Korean visa is 10%. This means as long as you meet the South Korea work visa requirements for indian citizens you will get the visa. To ensure your visa application is approved submit all the relevant documents, and make sure you meet all the South Korean visa requirements for Indian citizens. You must also not engage in fraud and only submit accurate information. 

Understand Why Would a Work Visa Be Denied to Indians 

FAQs

We hope now you understand the South Korea work visa requirements for indian citizens. Want to apply for a Visa for your study abroad journey? Drop us a comment in the section below, or visit our visa page for more such articles. You can also connect with a visa expert at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you on your dream journey!