Visa issuance confirmation in Korea is a certificate, or in some cases an approval number, that Korean immigration authorities issue before a foreign national’s visa is actually granted at a Korean consulate abroad. It comes from a preliminary inspection carried out by the Minister of Justice or the head of an Immigration Office, including the branch offices in Sejongno, Ulsan, and Donghae. If the inspection finds no problem, the office issues the certificate or the approval number so the visa can be processed at the consulate.
This guide explains who can request visa issuance confirmation in Korea, which visa categories qualify, and how the certificate or approval number is used once it reaches the person applying for a visa. It also covers the difference between the certificate and the approval number, and how long each one stays valid.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| What it is | A certificate of visa issuance approval (or a visa issuance approval number) issued before the actual visa is granted abroad, as part of visa issuance confirmation in Korea |
| Who applies | A foreigner who intends to enter Korea, or a Korean national who is inviting that foreigner |
| Where to apply | The competent Immigration Office, or its branch office for the Sejongno, Ulsan, or Donghae areas |
| Validity | 3 months, for a single visa issuance only |
| Eligible visa categories | Mainly D-1 to G-1 categories listed by HI KOREA, plus nationals of countries without diplomatic relations with Korea or specially designated countries |
| Not eligible | A-1, A-2, A-3, B-1, B-2, E-8, F-5, and H-1 status holders, plus certain F-2 cases |
| How to check progress | ARS number 02-2650-6363 |
| Cost | Not stated on the official page; confirm the current amount before you apply |
What Is Visa Issuance Confirmation in Korea
This process lets the Minister of Justice or the head of the Immigration Office — or its branch office for Sejongno, Ulsan, or Donghae — do a preliminary inspection on the applicant before the actual visa is issued abroad. If the inspection shows it is necessary, the office issues a certificate of visa issuance approval, or in some cases a visa issuance approval number, ahead of the visa being granted at the overseas consulate.
According to HI KOREA, the objective is to make visa issuance more convenient. The competent Immigration Office receives the application, carries out the inspection, and then issues the certificate or approval number so the consulate abroad can process the visa once the applicant presents it.
Who Can Apply for Visa Issuance Confirmation in Korea
Either side of the relationship can start the application. A foreigner who intends to enter Korea, or a Korean national who is inviting that foreigner, can apply for a certificate of visa issuance approval at the competent Immigration Office, along with the documents required for the visa itself. For the visa issuance approval number procedure, HI KOREA specifies that the application is made by the Korean national inviting the foreigner.
Not every visa category qualifies, and nationality also plays a role. The following groups are eligible:
- Nationals of countries that lack diplomatic relations with Korea, or otherwise specially designated countries
- Cultural Arts (D-1), Study Abroad (D-2), Industrial Training (D-3), General Training (D-4), Journalism (D-5), Religious Affairs (D-6), Supervisory Intra-company Transfer (D-7), Corporate Investment (D-8), Trade Management (D-9)
- Professorship (E-1), Foreign Language Instructor (E-2), Research (E-3), Technological Transfer (E-4), Professional Employment (E-5), Arts Performance (E-6), Special Occupation (E-7), Internship (E-8), Non-professional Employment (E-9), Vessel Crew (E-10)
- Family Visitation (F-1), Residential (F-2), Dependant Family (F-3), Overseas Koreans (F-4)
- Miscellaneous (G-1)
- A person whose necessity is acknowledged by the Minister of Justice
⚠️ Residential (F-2) status only qualifies if the applicant is the spouse of a Korean national or of a permanent resident (F-5) holder.
HI KOREA also lists categories that are not eligible for visa issuance confirmation:
- Diplomacy (A-1), Official Business (A-2), Conventions/Agreements (A-3)
- Visa Waiver (B-1) and Tourist in Transit (B-2)
- Internship (E-8)
- Permanent Residency (F-5) and Working Holiday (H-1)
- Residential (F-2) holders who are recognized as a refugee, are a large-scale investor, have lived in Korea over 7 years, or have lost permanent residency (F-5) status
What You Need and Where to Apply
The Immigration Office asks for the same documents needed for the visa issuance itself, so the exact list depends on the visa category and the individual case. Apply at the competent Immigration Office, or its branch office for Sejongno, Ulsan, or Donghae.
⚠️ Because document requirements vary by visa type and by case, confirm the current list with your competent Immigration Office before you submit anything.
Step by Step: How the Confirmation Reaches the Visa Applicant
The general procedure described by HI KOREA runs as follows:
- The foreigner planning to enter Korea, or the Korean national inviting them, applies at the competent Immigration Office (or its Sejongno, Ulsan, or Donghae branch) with the documents required for the visa.
- The Immigration Office carries out a preliminary inspection and, if deemed necessary, issues a certificate of visa issuance approval or a visa issuance approval number.
- The certificate or approval number is sent to the person who intends to enter Korea.
- That person presents the certificate, or the approval number, to the Korean consulate abroad to obtain the visa.
For nationals of certain countries, HI KOREA issues a visa issuance approval number instead of a physical certificate. The steps for that procedure are:
- A Korean national inviting a foreigner applies for the approval number.
- The approval number is notified by ARS registration e-mail (or by text message if no e-mail is available).
- The inviting party receives the approval number and relays it to the person being invited.
- The invited person applies for the visa using the approval number.
- The Embassy or Consulate issues the visa.
| Document type | Who receives it | How it is delivered |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of visa issuance approval | Eligible applicants not covered by the approval-number list | Sent to the person planning to enter Korea, for presentation at the consulate |
| Visa issuance approval number | Nationals of China, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Philippines, India, U.S.A, Canada, Panama, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Mexico, France, Austria, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, England, Germany, Norway, Czech Republic, Portugal, Sweden, Ireland, Finland, Israel, Greece, Denmark, Hungary, and Switzerland | Notified by e-mail, or by text message if no e-mail is available, instead of a physical certificate |
⚠️ HI KOREA notes that this list of countries is subject to change, so confirm it on the official page before you rely on it.
Validity and How Long It Lasts
Once issued, the certificate of visa issuance approval is valid for 3 months and can be used for a single visa issuance only. After the visa is granted using it, the certificate cannot be used again for another application.
You can check the progress of an approval-number application through the ARS number 02-2650-6363. HI KOREA advises applicants to check their e-mail or phone, since the inviter is notified by e-mail or text message rather than being issued a physical certificate.
Common Mistakes and What Depends on Your Case
Eligibility depends on the visa category, and not every status qualifies. Checking the eligible and not-eligible lists above before you apply can save time, since the Immigration Office will not issue a certificate or approval number for excluded categories such as A-1, A-2, A-3, B-1, B-2, F-5, or H-1.
The type of confirmation you receive also depends on nationality. If the applicant is a national of one of the listed countries, HI KOREA issues an approval number instead of a physical certificate, and that list can change, so confirm it on the official page.
⚠️ Because the certificate is valid for only 3 months and one visa issuance, timing the application close to the planned visa application date matters.
Frequently asked questions
Who applies for visa issuance confirmation in Korea, the inviter or the foreigner?
Either one can apply. HI KOREA states that a foreigner who intends to enter Korea, or a Korean national who is inviting that foreigner, can apply at the competent Immigration Office. For the visa issuance approval number procedure, the application is made by the Korean national inviting the foreigner.
How long is the certificate of visa issuance approval valid?
It is valid for 3 months and can be used for a single visa issuance only.
What is the difference between a certificate and a visa issuance approval number?
Most eligible applicants receive a certificate of visa issuance approval. Nationals of a specific list of countries named by HI KOREA, including China, Japan, the U.S.A, and several European countries, receive a visa issuance approval number instead, which is sent by e-mail or text message rather than as a physical certificate.
Who is not eligible for visa issuance confirmation in Korea?
Holders of Diplomacy (A-1), Official Business (A-2), Conventions/Agreements (A-3), Visa Waiver (B-1), Tourist in Transit (B-2), Internship (E-8), Permanent Residency (F-5), and Working Holiday (H-1) status are not eligible. Certain Residential (F-2) holders are also excluded, including those recognized as a refugee, large-scale investors, those who have lived in Korea over 7 years, or those who have lost F-5 status.
How can I check the progress of my application?
You can check progress through the ARS number 02-2650-6363, and you should also check your e-mail or phone for the approval notification.
If you are inviting a foreigner to Korea, or applying for a visa from abroad, start by checking whether your visa category qualifies for visa issuance confirmation in Korea on the official HI KOREA page. Rules, eligible countries, and document requirements can change, so verify the current details with your competent Immigration Office before you apply.
Last checked: October 1, 2026. Rules, fees and required documents in Korea change often, and some depend on your visa type and district office. Always confirm the current details on the official pages below before you go.