Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Chicago

Previous Korea Citizen / descendants, please check whether you have a Korean nationality or not 

before submitting a visa application.

 ● Parent(s) or grandparent(s) of foreign nationality who once held Korean nationality

 ● Person who had had Korean Nationality and then acquired foreign nationality

If you have any visa question, please send us the email ☞ chicagovisa@mofa.go.kr

● Frequently Asked Questions ☜☜ click 

1. Visitors who plan to stay in Korea must obtain visas before entering Korea

● U.S. Citizens Visa Fees: US$45 (regardless of number of entry)

● Non US Citizens Fees vary.

■ Chinese citizens(C-3) : US$40

■ Indian citizens(C-3) : US$40

■ Vietnamese citizens(C-3) : US$20

■ Philippines citizens(C-3) under 59 days : Visa Fee Waived

■ Mongolian citizens : Visa Fee Waived

● Please check the visa fee at Korea Visa Portal (click here)

● Money Order Only (pay to Korean Consulate General) (Cash accepted only in person)

● Single entry visa for a stay of no more than 90 days : US$30 – US$130

● Single entry visa for a stay of more than 90 days : US$50 – US$200

● Please note Applicants who do not live in the states above must apply to other consulates.

■ At least one contact number is needed.

■ Our jurisdiction is IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI.

2. Following information is for U.S. citizen

● U.S. CITIZEN DOES NOT REQUIRE K-ETA UNTIL December 31st, 2024

● Previous Korea Citizen / Korean descendants, please check whether 

    you have a Korean nationality or not  before submitting a visa application.

● Parent(s) or grandparent(s) of foreign nationality who once held    Korean nationality

● Person who had had Korean Nationality and then acquired foreign nationality

● Even though applicants were born outside Korea, they might have Korean citizenship if their parents/grandparents didn’t make everything clear regarding the nationality.

● If applicants’ parents were Korean national when they were born, they cannot apply for visa since they were inherited Korean citizenship from their parents.

●  For those who have Dual-citizenship are not eligible to apply for visa. Their birth must be registered to Korean government(출생신고) and have done a loss of nationality(국적이탈).

●  For those who were Korean national and acquired foreign nationality(i.e. U.S. citizenship) later, they must have applied for a renunciation of Korean nationality in order to apply for visa.

●  Additionally required documents can be found on our website. click here

VISA DEPARTMENT IS NOT IN CHARGE OF NATIONALITY. PLEASE CONTACT THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENT FOR THE DETAILS. 

Nationality: chicagonat@mofa.go.kr

Birth Register: chicagoconfirm@mofa.go.kr

3. Notice for Non-US Citizens applying for a Korean Visa in the U.S. 

● A Korean entry visa must be applied for and issued in your home country. However, If you have a valid green card(re-entry permit) or valid entry visa to the U.S for a long term stay, you can apply for the visa at the Korean consulate.  

4. General Required Documents

1. Actual passport (should be valid more than 6 months) and a copy of biographical (personal info.) pages of passport

2. Completed Visa Application form with one photo attached

3. For Non US Citizens, must submit their U.S. permanent resident  card ORIGINAL & copy or valid U.S.A. visa copy.

 (F visa holders should submit I-20 copy, J visa holders should submit DS-2019 copy, H visa holders should submit I-797 copy)

4. Visa Fee : Money order only (check with section 1) 

   - Pay to : Korean Consulate General   - Cash accepted in person

5. Self-addressed, pre-paid envelope for return of the passport unless picking up in-person.

- Must include tracking number from UPS or USPS Express (check section 6)

6. Copy of Driver's License as proof of residency(any legal document which can prove your residency)

   Visa Application Form ☜☜ click

   Visa Application Form with Issuance Number ☜☜ click

※ All Submitted documents will not be returned to the applicant except your passport & U.S. permanent resident card.

※ Please check "Short-Term Visa" section or "Long Term Visa" section for additional documents depending on the purpose of visiting.

5. Processing Time

The visa processing time is 7 business days (not including mailing time)

※ The visa process can be delayed due to various reasons 

※Processing time may change depending on the volume of applications  received and are not guaranteed.

6. If an applicant is requesting a visa by mail, please enclose self-addressed, prepaid envelope for the passport to be returned. Please include a PREPAID Envelope from a mail delivery service (UPS or USPS Express ONLY). We do not accept credit card numbers as a way to pay for shipment. Please write your return address clearly.

The Korean consulate is not responsible for lost mail 

Mailing Address :

Korean Consulate General

NBC Tower Suite 2700,

455 N. Cityfront Plaza Dr. Chicago, IL 60611

※ Please make an appointment through consul.mofa.go.kr before visiting our office if you want to come in person.

7. In regard to work visas, you are required to obtain a certificate number of certificate for confirmation of Visa Issuance, except the type C-4 visas.

If there is a subsidiary company established in Korea, the president of the company( as long as he/she has the necessary documents) can apply for your work permit at the Immigration Office and obtain the certificate number of the Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance.

8. Photo Requirements for Korean Visa Application

Beginning September 9, 2015, photographs must conform to the following requirements.

Photos must be color neutral, size 35x45mm, with a length of full face 25x35mm or 2inchx2inch

Photos must be taken against a plain, evenly lit and light background, without any mark or creases

Photos must be taken within the last 6 months

Applicant must be shown looking directly at the camera

No sunglasses or hats, except for medical/disability reasons

Photographs will be returned(and applications will be delayed) for the following reasons:

• The same photograph has been submitted as the previous passport, alien registration card, refugee travel certificate, flight attendant ID, etc. those were issued before six months

• It is too difficult to judge that photograph is of the same person, (e.g. significant changes of face, hair color, lack of quality, without showing ears)

• Photo Standards for Religious Apparel
  

• Head coverings(such as Hijab, Veil, Turban, etc.) are permitted for religious purposes under the following conditions :

• Facial features should not be covered from bottom of chin to top of forehead.

• Full face should be visible without any shadows.

• Full face, eyebrows, eyes, nose, or mouth must not be covered, yet covering ears are permitted.

9. Transit tourists bound for another country

Eligible countries(Updated in Sep. 2019., Please confirm with immigration offices or call +82-2-1345)

• Applicable to all countries, except for the 24 excluded countries(Syria, Sudan, Iran, Macedonia, Cuba, Kosovo, Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Ghana, Yemen, Gambia, Senegal, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Somalia, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Cameroon, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Egypt) that are not granted visa-free entry into Korea.

Applicable to…..

• Persons holding a visa(re-entry permit, permanent residency, etc.) to enter the U.S. (including Guan and Saipan), Canada, Australia, or New Zealand (hereinafter referred to as “the four advanced countries”)

• 1) Who transit through Korea to go to one of the four advanced countries.

• 2) Who stay in one of the four advanced countries and take a flight from the country to Korea to go to a country of origin or a third country.

• If you are a Chinese group tourist holding a group-tourist visa to Japan and certain requirements(e.g. using a travel agency that only attracts Chinese group tourists), you are permitted to enter Korea without a visa.

• If you hold an e-visa to Australia and a visa label is attached to your passport, you are permitted to enter Korea without a visa. However, if the label is not on your passport, you are granted no-visa entry only when you depart from Australia transit through Korea. Japanese individual visa holders are excluded as of 1 May, 2016

Requirements

• Must have a confirmed onward flight ticket for departure within 30 days after entering Korea, in addition to having no record of criminal offence in the five countries mentioned above.