South Korea Visa for Pakistani Passport Holders 2026-27 | Requirements, Fees, Processing Time
Quick answer: Pakistani passport holders need a visa before travelling to South Korea — there is no visa-free entry and no eVisa or K-ETA route for ordinary Pakistani passports. The tourist visa (C-3-9) costs PKR 12,000 for a single entry up to 90 days, and you should plan for at least 8 weeks of processing: the embassy’s December 2025 notice sets an 8-week minimum for Pakistan because every application goes through additional verification. You apply in person at the Korean Embassy in Islamabad or the Karachi office.
South Korea Visa at a Glance
| Topic | What you need to know |
|---|---|
| Who needs it | All ordinary Pakistani passport holders — no visa-free entry |
| Tourist visa code | C-3-9 (short-term visit) |
| Single-entry fee (up to 90 days) | PKR 12,000 |
| Single-entry fee (over 91 days) | PKR 18,000 |
| Processing | Plan for at least 8 weeks (embassy notice, Dec 2025) |
| Where to apply | In person — Embassy in Islamabad or Karachi office |
| K-ETA | Not a visa replacement for Pakistanis |
| Visa sticker | None — approved applicants print a Visa Grant Notice |
South Korea Visa Fee in PKR (Verified October 2026)
The fee is set by the Korean mission in Pakistan and published in PKR. Figures below were checked 17 October 2026 against the embassy notice of 23 December 2025 (as reported by visa-requirements.io, with independent corroboration from VisaBeat, VisaFeeCalculator, and Gulf Star) and the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs standard fee schedule.
| Visa type | Fee in PKR | USD equivalent (MOFA schedule) |
|---|---|---|
| Single entry, up to 90 days | PKR 12,000 | $40 |
| Single entry, over 91 days | PKR 18,000 | $60 |
| Double entry | Confirm at submission | $70 |
| Multiple entry | Confirm at submission | $90 |
Two things to know before you pay. First, the fee is non-refundable — you do not get it back if the visa is refused. Second, the PKR figures for double and multiple entry were not confirmed in the published PKR notice, so confirm the exact PKR amount at the mission before you pay. One agent site quotes PKR 13,500 for the short-stay fee; that does not match the embassy’s PKR 12,000 notice, so use the embassy figure. One more clarification: the Foreign Ministry’s fee schedule does list Pakistan under a fee exemption — but only for diplomatic and official passport holders (3 months), not ordinary tourist passports. And the much-publicised fee waiver for group tourists covers only six named countries (China, India, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia) — Pakistan is not among them. The same applies to frequent visitors: under MOFA’s frequent-visitor scheme, people who have visited Korea 4 or more times in the last 2 years (or 10 or more times in total) can apply for a multiple-entry visa — but the scheme covers eligibility, not a fee waiver, so the multiple-entry fee still applies. See the MOFA frequent-visitor multiple-entry guidelines.
Processing Time: Plan for 8 Weeks
This is the section where most guides mislead you. Many pages — including older versions of this one — quote a “3-week minimum.” That figure is stale for Pakistan. The embassy’s notice of 23 December 2025 sets a minimum of eight weeks from receipt for applications from Pakistan, because every application goes through additional verification. Three independent sources point the same way: a Karachi-based agent quotes 40–60 days, and two other visa guides independently report that processing for Pakistan can reach 8 weeks.
| What you plan around | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Embassy minimum (Dec 2025 notice) | 8 weeks |
| Agent-reported typical range | 40–60 days |
| If extra documents or an interview are requested | Longer — the clock can restart |
| Safe buffer | Apply at least 10–12 weeks before travel |
Do not book non-refundable flights until you have the decision. There is no published urgent or express service for Pakistan.
Who Needs a Visa — and the Codes That Matter
Pakistan is not on Korea’s visa-exempt list, so an ordinary Pakistani passport needs a visa for every purpose: tourism, business, study, work, family, medical, or transit.
The short-term codes you will see:
| Code | For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| C-3-9 | Tourism, short visits | The usual tourist visa, up to 90 days |
| C-3-1 | Family visits, events | Needs an invitation from Korea |
| C-3-4 | Business meetings, general business | Needs Korean-side company papers |
| D-2 | Degree study | Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD |
| D-4 | Non-degree study, training, language | Language courses and training |
Longer stays (study, work, marriage) use D-series and other long-stay categories, each with its own checklist.
Tourist Visa (C-3-9): Documents Checklist
The embassy decides tourist cases on documents alone — there is no routine interview, though the mission can call you in if it wants more information. Build the file so it answers every question on paper.
| Document | What the mission expects |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid at least 6 months, 2 blank pages, plus old passports showing travel history |
| Visa application form | Completed in English, signed to match your passport signature |
| Photograph | 35 × 45 mm, white background, taken within the last 6 months |
| CNIC copy | Clear copy of both sides |
| FRC (Family Registration Certificate) | From NADRA — agents report this is expected for Pakistani applicants |
| Cover letter | Addressed to the embassy: purpose, dates, places, ties to Pakistan, intention to return |
| Day-by-day itinerary | Specific places and dates, matching flights and hotels |
| Flight reservation | Round-trip, refundable until approval, dates matching everything else |
| Hotel booking | Covering every night, refundable until approval |
| Bank statements | Last 6 months, full transaction history, stamped by the bank |
| Account maintenance certificate | On bank letterhead, dated within 2 weeks of applying |
| Employment proof | Employer letter (designation, salary, joining date, approved leave) or business registration + NTN for self-employed |
| Tax documents | NTN certificate, tax returns for the last 2 years |
| Previous visa copies | US, UK, Schengen, Japan, Australia, or previous Korea visas with entry/exit stamps |
How much money should the bank statement show?
There is no official minimum balance published by the embassy. Agent guidance varies widely — one site suggests PKR 500,000 or more for a two-week trip, another suggests 15–20 lac closing balance. Treat both as opinions, not rules. What the embassy actually checks is six months of consistent income and transactions: regular salary credits, no sudden large deposits just before applying, and a balance that plausibly covers the trip. A steady PKR 500,000 built over six months beats a sudden 20 lac deposit every time.
Tips that matter
- Do not use fake hotel bookings. Refundable bookings from real platforms are fine.
- Keep every date identical across the form, cover letter, flights, hotels, and leave letter.
- Frequent visitors (4 or more visits in the last 2 years, or 10 or more visits in total) can apply for a multiple-entry visa — mention it in your cover letter.
- Young, single applicants get extra scrutiny on ties to Pakistan — if that is you, spell out your job tenure and family responsibilities in the cover letter.
- If you are staying with friends or family in Korea, add the original notarized invitation letter and guarantee letter from your host in Korea.
- Travel insurance is not listed as mandatory, but covering medical emergencies for the full stay strengthens the file — Korea’s healthcare is excellent and expensive for visitors.
Business Visa (C-3-4): What Korea Asks For
Business cases stand or fall on the Korean side’s papers. The mission’s checklist for business applicants includes:
- Original notarized invitation letter from the Korean company, stating purpose, dates, and who covers costs
- Original notarized guarantee letter from the Korean inviter
- Korean company registration certificate (copy)
- Your own company registration, NTN, and tax records
- Bank statements (usually last 6 months)
- Proof of the actual business relationship: sales contract, letter of credit, bill of lading, or past correspondence
The invitation must name the traveller, the company, and the purpose exactly as they appear everywhere else in the file. A vague “business discussion” with no paper trail behind it is a common refusal trigger.
Student Visa (D-2 / D-4)
- D-2 is for degree programs (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD). D-4 is for non-degree study, training, and language courses.
- The most important document is the admission letter from the Korean university or institute, plus previous academic documents (HEC or board attestation where needed), and financial proof.
- If parents or family are sponsoring, include sponsor documents and proof of the relationship.
- Weak financial proof is the most common problem in student files. A sponsor’s steady income record matters more than a single large deposit.
- TB screening is required for long-stay visas: Pakistan is on Korea’s high-TB-burden list, so applicants for visas over 90 days must submit a chest X-ray / TB certificate from a facility designated by the embassy — check the embassy’s current designated-facility list before you apply. For admission and stay rules, see Study in Korea.
Work Visa
A Korean work visa needs a Korean employer to sponsor you, in the right work category. “I will go and search for a job” is not a visa basis. The file needs employer-side documentation plus any category-specific approvals for the job. For some work and long-stay categories, your Korean sponsor may first obtain a Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance (CCVI) — ask your employer or sponsor whether your category needs one. If your visa is for more than 90 days, you will need a TB certificate (see above) — arrange it early, as it must come from a designated facility.
Family, Spouse, and Dependent Visas
Which visa you need depends on your relationship and why you are going: short family visits use C-3-1 with an invitation; spouse and dependent cases have their own routes. Expect to provide:
- Relationship proof (marriage certificate, NADRA family documents)
- Sponsor’s residence or status papers in Korea
- Invitation and guarantee documents where required
- Bank statements where requested
- MRC (Marriage Registration Certificate) from NADRA if married
Names and dates must match across every document — NADRA papers should be clear and easy to read.
Medical Visa
The medical visa covers treatment, medical examination, or travel with a caregiver. You will need a hospital letter (appointment or treatment acceptance), a treatment plan with specifics, proof you can cover treatment and stay, and caregiver proof if someone accompanies the patient. Avoid vague wording like “general checkup” — hospital documents should be specific.
Transit: Do Not Assume a Layover Is Visa-Free
Transit rules are route-specific. If you are only changing planes in Korea, check your exact route with the airline before travel — long layovers can be treated differently from short airport connections. Two waivers exist, but neither covers Pakistani passport holders:
- Jeju waiver: direct international flights to Jeju Island give up to 30 days without a visa — except for 23 listed nationalities, including Pakistan.
- Transit waiver: travellers holding a valid visa or residence for the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or one of 32 European countries may enter for up to 30 days in transit — again, Pakistan is on the excluded list.
If neither waiver covers you, you need a transit visa with a confirmed onward ticket and proof of entry permission for your final destination.
K-ETA: Not a Visa, Not for Pakistanis
K-ETA is a travel authorization for travellers from visa-free countries. It is not a visa and it does not replace one. Ordinary Pakistani passport holders cannot use it. The official K-ETA fee is KRW 10,000 with assessment usually around 72 hours — relevant only if you hold a second passport from a visa-exempt country. See the official K-ETA site.
How to Apply: Step by Step
- Decide your exact purpose — tourism (C-3-9), business (C-3-4), family (C-3-1), study (D-2/D-4), or work. The wrong category is a common reason files fail.
- Check the latest mission checklist — requirements change; verify against the embassy’s current notice before you spend money.
- Collect documents — passport, form, photo, CNIC, FRC, cover letter, itinerary, flights, hotels, bank statements, tax papers.
- Arrange Korea-side papers if your category needs them (invitation, guarantee, company registration, admission letter).
- Submit in person — at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Islamabad, or the Karachi office (for Sindh residents).
- Pay the fee — PKR 12,000 (up to 90 days) or PKR 18,000 (over 91 days), non-refundable.
- Wait — plan for 8 weeks. The mission does not publish an express service for Pakistan.
- Check the result on the Korea Visa Portal, then print your Visa Grant Notice.
No Gerry’s route — apply at the embassy
Do not go to Gerry’s for a South Korea visa. There is no Gerry’s (or other visa-centre) route for Korea in Pakistan: Gerry’s own site lists no Korea service, its published country list does not include South Korea, and the fee guide that tracks Korea’s centre arrangements country by country lists Pakistan as embassy in-person lodgement with no centre fee. The Korean Foreign Ministry’s own rule is that visa applications go to Korean embassies or consulates abroad.
One Karachi agent claims applications go through Gerry’s with fees paid there. That claim is wrong — it likely comes from confusion, because Gerry’s does handle visas for many other countries (the UK, Schengen states, Australia, and others). For South Korea, submit in person at the embassy in Islamabad or the Karachi office.
After Approval: Visa Grant Notice, Not a Sticker
South Korea has not placed visa stickers in passports since 1 July 2020. If your visa is approved, you print a Visa Grant Notice from the Korea Visa Portal and show it at check-in and at the border, along with your passport. Keep a printed copy with you.
At Incheon Airport (or another port of entry), immigration may ask for your return ticket, hotel confirmation, itinerary, proof of funds, and insurance documents. Keep them in your hand luggage. Also check whether you need to submit the e-Arrival Card online before you fly.
Common Rejection Reasons
Most refusals come down to a file that looks incomplete, weak, or inconsistent:
| Reason | What it means | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Incomplete documents | A required paper is missing | Work from the mission checklist, item by item |
| Weak financial proof | Funds do not plausibly cover the trip | Six months of consistent income, no sudden deposits |
| Weak ties to Pakistan | The officer doubts you will return | Job tenure, property, family, business obligations |
| Unclear purpose | Itinerary or invitation does not explain the trip | Day-by-day plan with real places and matching bookings |
| Inconsistent details | Names, dates, or sponsor info do not match | Align every document before submission |
| Wrong category | The visa code does not fit the purpose | Decide the exact purpose first |
| Suspected intent to work | File looks like a job search | Tourist file must read as tourism |
If refused — what to do next
- Work out which part was weak (finances, ties to Pakistan, purpose, or consistency) and fix that part properly — do not just resubmit the same file.
- Build travel history first: a clean trip to an easier visa country (for example the UAE, Malaysia, or Thailand) strengthens the next Korea application.
- If your trip has a genuine Korean host, a proper invitation and guarantee letter from that inviter can support a fresh application.
- There is no published waiting period — reapply once the file is genuinely stronger.
Need Help With Your File?
If you want someone to review your documents before submission, DUA Services — an Islamabad-based travel agency — can help you organize the checklist and check your file. Reach us through Contact Us. For a different destination, see our Japan visit visa guide, Thailand visa guide, Germany visit visa guide, or UK visit visa guide.
FAQs
Do Pakistani passport holders need a South Korea visa?
Yes. Ordinary Pakistani passport holders need a visa for every purpose — tourism, business, study, work, family, or transit.
What is the South Korea visa fee in Pakistan in 2026?
PKR 12,000 for a single-entry visa up to 90 days, PKR 18,000 for a single-entry visa over 91 days. The fee is non-refundable. Double- and multiple-entry PKR figures were not confirmed in the published PKR notice — confirm at the mission. Fees checked 17 October 2026.
How long does South Korea visa processing take in Pakistan?
Plan for at least 8 weeks. The embassy’s December 2025 notice sets an 8-week minimum for Pakistan because every application goes through additional verification. Older pages quoting 3 weeks are stale for Pakistan.
Is K-ETA the normal route for Pakistanis?
No. K-ETA is a travel authorization for travellers from visa-free countries. It does not replace a visa for ordinary Pakistani passport holders.
Do I need a visa for a layover in South Korea?
Usually yes. Pakistan is excluded from both the Jeju waiver and the transit waiver. Check your exact route with the airline before travel.
Is there a fixed minimum bank balance for a tourist visa?
No official minimum is published. Agent guidance ranges from PKR 500,000 to 15–20 lac for a short trip. What matters is six months of consistent income and transactions, not one large deposit.
Can I apply again after a refusal?
Yes. There is no published waiting period. Fix the weak point first — resubmitting the same file usually gets the same result.
Where do I check my result?
On the Korea Visa Portal. If approved, print the Visa Grant Notice — there is no sticker in your passport.
Can I work on a tourist visa?
No. The C-3-9 tourist visa does not permit work or paid activity.
Sources / Where to Verify
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Pakistan — visa requirements
- Karachi Office of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea — visa requirements
- Korea Visa Portal — application status and Visa Grant Notice
- Study in Korea — visa and stay
- Official K-ETA site
- South Korea tourist (C-3-9) visa: fees and processing, incl. embassy notice of 23 Dec 2025
- Visa fee schedule summary (US$40 / US$60 / US$70 / US$90) — secondary source, mirrors the official MOFA schedule
- South Korea visa for Pakistan — independent 8-week corroboration (VisaBeat)
- South Korea visa for Pakistan — independent 8-week corroboration (VisaFeeCalculator)
- Gulf Star — South Korea visa from Pakistan (agent guidance, 40–60 days)
- Gerry’s visa services — country list (South Korea not listed)
- MOFA — Guidelines on multi-entry visas for frequent visitors (4+ visits in 2 years / 10+ total)
- HiKorea — TB test certificate requirement for high-TB-burden countries (Pakistan listed)
Fees and processing checked 17 October 2026. Visa rules change — verify against the embassy’s current notice before you apply.