Do Vietnam Citizens Need a Visa for South Korea?
Yes. Vietnam passport holders require a visa to enter South Korea for most purposes, visitor, business, study, work, and family categories all need pre-approval. The information below describes the standard process and the most common refusal triggers on this corridor.
Before you apply: the refusal you have to beat
A South Korean C-3 short-term visa is refused when the consular officer is not satisfied you will return, weak evidence of ties to Vietnam, unclear or insufficient funds, or an inconsistent purpose. The decision is made on your documents at the embassy, and the fee is not refunded if you are refused.
The reassuring part: these refusals are almost always preventable. They come down to how your case is presented, not who you are:
- Insufficient or inconsistent proof of funds, single large deposits with no documented source, balances that don't match declared income
- Weak ties to Vietnam, no documented employment, studies, property, or family obligations to show you will return
- Incomplete or mismatched documentation, dates, names, and amounts that contradict between documents
- Unclear or implausible purpose, an itinerary or story the officer has to guess at
Step-by-Step: How to Apply
- Confirm you need a C-3 visa (no K-ETA / e-visa). As a Vietnamese passport holder you must apply for a C-3 short-term visa. You cannot use K-ETA, and there is no e-visa for individual tourists; the only electronic route is a group-tourist e-visa through a designated travel agency. Ignore third-party sites claiming to sell you one.
- Prepare your documents. Assemble your passport, application form and photo, proof of funds with a stable history, proof of employment or business or study, a travel itinerary and accommodation, and an invitation plus host documents if visiting family. Make sure everything is consistent.
- Apply at the Korea Visa Application Center. Submit your application at the KVAC in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, or through the Consulate General in Da Nang for central Vietnam. The KVAC service fee is VND 390,000 per application on top of the consular fee (USD 20 single entry under 90 days, USD 80 multiple entry); confirm current amounts before paying.
- Wait for the decision. Published processing is 16 working days for individual applicants, or 9 or 6 through an agency, and the consulate can extend it if it asks for more documents. Do not buy non-refundable flights until your visa is granted.
- Collect your visa and travel. Once approved, collect your passport with the visa. Check the entry type (single or multiple) and validity. The visa lets you travel to Korea; an immigration officer at the airport makes the final entry decision, so carry proof of funds, accommodation, and ties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Vietnamese citizens need a visa for South Korea?
Yes. Vietnamese passport holders need a visa to visit South Korea for tourism, the C-3 short-term visa. Vietnam is on Korea's full visa-requirement list, so you cannot use the K-ETA (which is only for visa-waiver nationalities), and there is no e-visa for individual Vietnamese tourists; the only electronic route is a group-tourist e-visa (C-3-2) arranged through a Ministry of Justice designated travel agency, whose visa fee is waived through 2026. Individual applicants apply through the Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC) in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, or the Consulate General in Da Nang for central Vietnam.
Where and how do Vietnamese citizens apply?
You apply at the Korea Visa Application Center in Hanoi (302 Cau Giay) or Ho Chi Minh City (now at 253 Dien Bien Phu), or through the Consulate General in Da Nang if you live in central Vietnam, submitting your forms and documents and, where required, attending in person. There is no e-visa route for individual Vietnamese tourists, so be wary of websites claiming to issue a Korean "e-visa" to Vietnamese passport holders; the only electronic visa is the group-tourist one issued through designated travel agencies.
How much does a Korean C-3 visa cost for Vietnamese applicants?
The consular fee is USD 20 for a single-entry visa under 90 days and USD 80 for a multiple-entry visa, plus the Korea Visa Application Center service fee of VND 390,000 per application. These amounts are set by the consulate and change periodically, so confirm the current figures with KVAC before paying rather than relying on third-party sites. The fee is generally non-refundable whether or not the visa is granted.
How long does a Korean visa take from Vietnam?
The published processing time for a C-3 tourist visa is 16 working days for an individual applicant, 9 working days through a registered travel agency, and 6 through a designated agency, counted from the submission day. The consulate can extend this if it asks for more documents or an interview. Apply well ahead of your travel date and do not buy non-refundable flights until the visa is granted. Because the decision is made on your documents, a complete, consistent file is the fastest route to a clean outcome.
Can Vietnamese travellers get a 10-year multiple-entry Korean visa?
Yes, for more people than before. From 30 March 2026 the Korean Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City widened who can be issued a multiple-entry C-3 visa, now with 10-year validity and up to 90 days per stay. Newly eligible groups include holders of a visa from one of 22 listed OECD countries used within the past year, staff of three years or more at Korean-invested companies, managers of a year or more at Top-100 Vietnamese companies, people aged 65 and over, holders of assets over USD 200,000, and spouses, minor children and parents of existing 10-year visa holders. First-time applicants outside these groups are more commonly issued a single-entry visa; confirm current eligibility with the consulate. Source: the Embassy and Consulate General visa notices dated 30 March 2026.
Why are Korean visas refused for Vietnamese applicants?
The consular officer must be satisfied that you are a genuine short-term visitor who will return to Vietnam. Common refusal grounds are insufficient or unexplained funds, weak evidence of ties to Vietnam (employment, business, family, property), an unclear or inconsistent purpose, and gaps or contradictions across documents. A sudden large deposit shortly before applying tends to raise concern rather than reassure.
What documents do I need for a Korean C-3 visa?
Typically: the application form and a photo, your passport, proof of funds (bank statements with a stable history), proof of employment or business or study, a travel itinerary and accommodation details, and, if visiting family or friends, an invitation and the host's documents. Requirements vary, so check the current checklist on the KVAC / Korean Embassy website and make sure every document is consistent.
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Last updated: September 2, 2026. Visa rules change without notice, always confirm the latest fee and processing time on the relevant embassy or immigration website before submitting.