The south korea visit visa from pakistan requires careful planning because Pakistani ordinary passport holders must obtain a visa before travelling. South Korea attracts Pakistani visitors for Seoul, Busan, Jeju Island, cherry blossom season, autumn colours, family visits and business meetings. However, Pakistani passports are not eligible for K-ETA, and Pakistan is also excluded from Jeju Island’s visa-free entry arrangements. For most applicants, this means preparing a proper embassy file and submitting it in person. The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Pakistan states a minimum processing time of 8 weeks, so applying early is important. This guide explains the main visa categories, documents, fees, application process and common mistakes for Pakistani travellers in 2026.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Visa needed? | Yes, Pakistani ordinary passport holders need a visa before travel |
| Main tourist category | C-3-9 short-term general tourist visa |
| Where to apply | Korean Embassy Islamabad, or the Karachi office where applicable to its jurisdiction |
| Submission hours | Monday-Friday, 9:30-11:30 AM. Hours can change |
| Processing time | Minimum 8 weeks after the embassy receives the application |
| Visa fee | US$40 single entry under 90 days, US$60 single entry over 91 days, US$90 multiple entry |
| K-ETA / Jeju visa-free | Not available for Pakistani ordinary passport holders |
Do Pakistanis Need a Visa for South Korea?
Yes. Pakistani ordinary passport holders must obtain a visa before travelling to South Korea. There is no normal visa-on-arrival option for Pakistani tourists, and Pakistan is not eligible for the K-ETA system.
K-ETA is designed for nationals who can already enter South Korea without obtaining a visa. The official K-ETA website confirms that the system is for travellers from visa-exempt countries. Since Pakistani ordinary passport holders are not visa-exempt, a K-ETA cannot replace a Korea visa from Pakistan.
Pakistani travellers should also not assume that flying directly to Jeju Island allows visa-free entry. Pakistan is among the nationalities excluded from Jeju’s visa-free arrangement (see this Korean Embassy notice on Jeju visa-free entry), so a Pakistani passport holder still needs the appropriate Korean visa even for a Jeju-only trip.
The official requirements and current notices should always be checked on the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Pakistan visa requirements page before applying.
Diplomatic and official Pakistani passport holders are visa-exempt for stays of less than 90 days under the applicable arrangement.
If you are planning a wider East Asia trip, you may also find our guides to the Japan visit visa from Pakistan and China visit visa from Pakistan useful for comparing documentation and planning timelines. Travellers adding a Southeast Asia stop can also read our Singapore visit visa from Pakistan guide.
A visa allows you to travel to a Korean port of entry, but it does not guarantee admission. The final decision to allow entry is made by Korean immigration authorities when you arrive.
South Korea Visit Visa Types for Pakistanis: C-3-9, C-3-1 & C-3-4
C-3-9 Tourist Visa
The C-3-9 category is the standard short-term general tourist category and is normally the right South Korea tourist visa for Pakistani applicants travelling for holidays and sightseeing.
Your application should clearly show that your purpose is tourism, that you have sufficient financial and professional ties to Pakistan, and that your travel plans are credible. A practical itinerary covering Seoul, Busan or other destinations should match your hotel reservations and proposed travel dates.
C-3-1 Family Visit or Conference
C-3-1 is used for certain short-term visits including family visits and conferences. Applicants visiting relatives or attending an event may need supporting documents from both the Korean-side inviter and the applicant in Pakistan.
Invitation and guarantee letters must be notarized in Korea by the inviter and submitted in original form. If the inviter is a Pakistani national living in Korea, copies of their Alien Registration Card or Korean visa may also be required.
C-3-4 Business Visa
C-3-4 is the short-term business category for visits of less than 90 days. It is appropriate for genuine business activities such as meetings with a Korean company, commercial discussions or activities supported by a business relationship.
The Korean company normally provides an original notarized invitation letter, an original notarized guarantee letter and a copy of its company registration certificate. The Pakistani applicant must provide substantial company, tax, financial and business relationship evidence.
Multiple-Entry and Frequent Visitor Rules
Applicants who have visited Korea more than four times during the recent two years without immigration violations may be eligible to apply for multiple entry.
A visa-fee-free C-3-1 multiple-entry visa valid for five years, with a maximum stay of 30 days per visit, may be available to qualifying frequent visitors who have visited Korea more than four times during the recent two years, or more than ten times in total with at least one visit during the recent two years.
Eligibility should be confirmed with the embassy before relying on the frequent visitor provision.
Work visas such as EPS/E-9, study visas including D-2/D-4 and marriage visas such as F-6 are separate categories and are outside the scope of this visit visa guide.
Documents Required for South Korea Visit Visa from Pakistan
Documents for All Applicants
The exact Korea visit visa requirements depend on your category, but the embassy lists several basic requirements applicable to applicants.
- Passport valid for at least six months.
- One visa application form completed personally by the applicant.
- An e-Form can be prepared through Korea Visa Portal or HiKorea.
- One recent passport-size coloured photograph.
- Documents required for the specific visa category being requested.
- For stays exceeding 91 days, a medical certificate and TB test report are required.
Tourist C-3-9 File
For a tourist application, the following documents are commonly requested for Pakistani applicants. Requirements can change, so confirm the latest embassy checklist before submission.
- Covering request letter explaining the purpose of travel and intended dates.
- Personal bank statement for the previous six months.
- Bank account maintenance certificate.
- Employment letter or NOC and recent salary slips for salaried applicants.
- NTN, business registration or chamber certificate for business owners where applicable.
- FBR income tax returns.
- Return flight reservation.
- Hotel booking or accommodation evidence.
- Day-by-day South Korea travel itinerary.
- NADRA Family Registration Certificate where relevant.
- Copies of previous visas and evidence of travel history.
- Polio vaccination certificate, which is commonly requested for Pakistani travellers.
There is no fixed official minimum bank balance that applicants should blindly target. Your financial documents should instead show genuine, stable funds appropriate for your income, travel duration and proposed trip expenses.
Business C-3-4 Extra Documents
For a C-3-4 business application, the Korean company should provide:
- Original invitation letter notarized in Korea.
- Original guarantee letter notarized in Korea.
- Copy of the Korean company’s registration certificate.
The Pakistani invitee should normally prepare:
- Company NTN certificate.
- Personal NTN certificate.
- Company tax payment receipts.
- Personal tax payment receipts.
- Company registration certificate.
- Company bank statements for the previous six months.
- Personal bank statements for the previous six months.
- Proof of the business relationship, such as L/C, B/L or sales contract.
Family Visit C-3-1 Documents
For family visits or similar C-3-1 applications, the inviter may need to provide:
- Original invitation letter notarized in Korea.
- Original guarantee letter notarized in Korea.
- Copy of Alien Registration Card or Korean visa if the inviter is a Pakistani national living in Korea.
- Six months of bank statements if the inviter will financially support the applicant.
- Documents explaining the purpose of the visit.
The applicant in Pakistan may need:
- Job certificate or recommendation letter.
- Six months of personal bank statements.
- Relationship evidence such as NADRA FRC or marriage certificate.
Important: invitation and guarantee letters required from Korea must be notarized there by the inviter and submitted in original. A scanned invitation may not satisfy the requirement where an original notarized document is requested.
How to Apply for a South Korea Visit Visa from Pakistan (Step by Step)
- Choose the correct visa category. Use C-3-9 for normal tourism, C-3-1 where applicable for family visits or conferences, and C-3-4 for genuine short-term business travel.
- Complete the visa application form. You can prepare the electronic form through visa.go.kr. Print the completed form and sign it as required.
- Gather your supporting documents. Your employment, business, tax, banking, family and travel documents should support the same purpose stated in your application.
- Reserve your flight and accommodation. Use genuine flight and hotel reservations, but avoid buying expensive non-refundable tickets before the visa decision. Most itineraries from Pakistan to Seoul connect through a Gulf or East Asian hub, and you can check Korean Air’s airline codes and hubs on IATA.co when comparing routings into Incheon.
- Visit the Korean Embassy for submission. Applicants normally have to appear in person and submit their own application. Application acceptance is Monday-Friday from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, although hours may change.
- Pay the applicable embassy fee. Visa fees are non-refundable, including if the application is refused.
- Keep your receipt or submission slip. Retain any documents provided by the embassy for tracking and passport collection.
- Track the application. Visa application results can be checked through the Korea Visa Portal at visa.go.kr.
- Collect your passport. Passport return hours are normally Monday-Friday from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Once returned, check the visa details carefully before making final travel arrangements.
There is an exception to the normal personal appearance requirement for applicants visiting Korea for a second time. An Authority Letter may be used, and physical appearance is not required in that situation.
The Embassy of the Republic of Korea is located at Block 13, St. 29, Diplomatic Enclave II, G-5/4, Islamabad. Visa enquiries can be made at 051-227-9385~6 or pakistan@mofa.go.kr.
A Korean Embassy office also operates in Karachi. Residents of Sindh and Balochistan should check the Karachi office website to confirm which office handles their application.
If you are travelling from Lahore or another city, EasyVisa.pk can review the structure of your file, supporting documents and itinerary before you travel to Islamabad for submission.
South Korea Visa Fee & Processing Time for Pakistanis
| Visa Category | Embassy Fee |
|---|---|
| Single entry, stay under 90 days | US$40 |
| Single entry, stay over 91 days | US$60 |
| Multiple entry | US$90 |
| Qualifying frequent visitors | Gratis where applicable |
The embassy lists the South Korea visa fee in Pakistan in US dollars. Applicants should confirm the exact PKR amount or payment method accepted at the time of submission because exchange rates and collection procedures can change.
The visa fee is non-refundable. Paying the fee does not guarantee approval.
For Korea visa processing time, Pakistani applicants should plan around the embassy’s stated minimum of 8 weeks after it receives the application. This is much longer than many other short-term visit visa processes.
Because eight weeks is the minimum rather than a guaranteed completion date, planning approximately 10 to 12 weeks before your intended travel date is sensible where possible. This gives you more room for the application process without relying on an unrealistic last-minute decision.
The embassy is not obligated to explain the reason if a visa application is denied. Applicants should therefore focus on presenting a clear, consistent and well-supported file from the beginning.
Common Mistakes That Weaken a Korea Visa File
- Assuming K-ETA is available: Pakistani ordinary passport holders cannot use K-ETA as a substitute for a Korean visa.
- Assuming Jeju is visa-free: Pakistani passports are excluded from the Jeju visa-free arrangement.
- Applying only two or three weeks before travel: the embassy states a minimum processing period of eight weeks.
- Large unexplained cash deposits: suddenly inflating a bank balance shortly before applying can make the financial profile harder to understand.
- A weak cover letter: the purpose, travel dates, who pays and intended activities should be clear and consistent.
- An unrealistic itinerary: your day-by-day plan should match your trip duration, reservations and stated purpose.
- Using copied or non-notarized invitation letters: where an original notarized Korean invitation or guarantee is required, submit it in the required format.
- Choosing the wrong category: attending genuine commercial meetings while presenting the trip as pure tourism can create a mismatch.
- Buying non-refundable tickets too early: flight reservations can support a file without exposing you to unnecessary financial loss.
- Missing tax or family documents: FBR returns, NTN evidence, NADRA FRC or relationship documents can be important depending on the applicant and purpose.
- Fake bookings or exaggerated finances: documents should be genuine and consistent. Misrepresentation can seriously damage an application.
If you want a second review before submission, you can contact EasyVisa.pk on WhatsApp and discuss your South Korea visit visa documentation.
FAQs: South Korea Visit Visa from Pakistan
Can Pakistanis get a South Korea e-visa or K-ETA?
Pakistani ordinary passport holders are not eligible to use K-ETA for normal tourism because K-ETA is for eligible visa-exempt nationals. A Pakistani traveller should apply for the appropriate Korean visa before travel.
How long does a South Korea visit visa take from Pakistan?
The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Pakistan states a minimum processing time of 8 weeks after receiving the application. Applicants should therefore avoid planning a Korea trip around a quick two or three-week visa decision.
What is the South Korea visa fee in Pakistan?
The embassy lists US$40 for a single-entry visa under 90 days, US$60 for a single-entry visa over 91 days and US$90 for multiple entry. The fee is non-refundable. Confirm the PKR amount and payment procedure at the time of submission.
Can I visit Jeju Island without a visa on a Pakistani passport?
No. Pakistan is on the list of nationalities excluded from Jeju Island visa-free entry. Pakistani ordinary passport holders should obtain the appropriate South Korean visa before travelling, including for a Jeju-only itinerary.
Do I have to visit the Korean Embassy in person?
Normally, yes. Applicants must appear in person to submit their own application. For a second visit to Korea, an Authority Letter can be used and physical appearance is not required under the stated exception.
How much bank balance is needed for a Korea visa?
There is no fixed official minimum bank balance that should be quoted for every applicant. Your six-month bank history should show genuine and reasonably stable funds sufficient for the proposed trip, taking your income, travel duration and circumstances into account.
Does EasyVisa.pk guarantee a South Korea visa?
No. EasyVisa.pk can help you organize, review and strengthen the presentation of your application, but no consultant can legitimately guarantee approval. The final visa decision belongs to the Korean authorities, and even an issued visa does not guarantee entry because immigration officers make the final admission decision at the port of entry.
Planning a South Korea trip from Pakistan? EasyVisa.pk helps Pakistani travellers review visa documents, itineraries and supporting files before submission. You can also contact us on WhatsApp at +92 331 1442249 or visit our office at Office #13L, Block L, DHA Phase 1, Lahore.
