Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kara_gina]

Has anyone dealt with the Chinsese Embassy in Seoul recently??
My sister is coming over to visit Korea in 2 weeks and we've booked to go to Beijing for Lunar New Year...problem is she can't get a visa at home so we need to get in done in the 2 days before we leave. We booked through Hanatours, does anyone know how (and where) we can get the visa done quickly? I've heard you can't just go straight to the embassy but you need to go through a travel agency, is this true?

[Xuanzang]

You can go to the Myeongdong embassy and do it yourself.



http://www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/korea2.htm

Visa Fees

The embassy only accepts Cash as means of payment if you are individual applicant. The Checks and Credit Cards are not accepted. Please pay for your visa when you pick it up.

1. Regular Visa Fee per Person (the Currency is in Korean Won)
Visa Types Korean
Citizens American
Citizens Citizens of
Other
Countries
Single-Entry Visa 35,000 120,000 35,000
Double-Entry Visa 53, 000 120,000 53,000
Multi-Entry Visa with 6-month Validity 70,000 120,000 70,000
Multi-Entry Visa with 12-month Validity 100,000 120,000 105,000
Group Visa 15,000 100,000 N/A


2. Expedited Service Fee per Person
The regular processing time of a visa is 4 working days. For urgent cases, you can apply for the expedited service. In addition, more money will be charged as following:
1 working day processing
(Applications should be submitted between 09:00-10:00, and visas can be picked up between 11:30-12:00 at the same day) KRW 35,000
(for individual applicant)
KRW 32,500
(for group visa applicant)
2 working days processing KRW 24,000
(for individual applicant)
KRW 26,000
(for group visa applicant)

[tzechuk]

No.

You can not get it done yourself. You need to go through a travel agent.

However, there are many around the area and you can just pop into one and they will get it sorted for you. They speak pretty good English, too.

I just went through it in December... so my info is pretty up to date.

[TeeBee]

Why can't your sister get the visa in SA? I'd recommend doing that if at all possible. There are any number of things that could go wrong if you only have 2 days to arrange a visa while in Korea. I've gotten a Chinese visa twice in South Africa (both times in Cape Town) with no problems.

That said, I used Soho Travel to get my Chinese visa in July. They were very efficient. You can check out their details here:

http://www.sohoholiday.com/visa_information

I did the whole process by post, since I don't live in Seoul. I couriered it to Soho, they arranged the visa, and I got it back by courier within the same week.

[Xuanzang]

[kara_gina]

thanks everyone for the info!!
unfortunately she can't get it done in SA because she can't get to Cape Town and they require bank statements and a whole lot of other info.

[cheolsu]

You can't do it at the Chinese embassy. You have to go through a designated travel agency, of which there are lots. Xanadu Travel (www.xanadu.co.kr) is one, and there are many more.

Be wary of the agency trying to charge an exorbitant price for the visa. The visa costs 50,000 won unless you're an American, in which case it's 130,000. Xanadu charged an extra 10,000 since I didn't book my flight with them.