Vietnam
Korea Visa Guide
Korean Visa Guide for Vietnamese Citizens
Vietnam and South Korea have one of Asia's most dynamic bilateral relationships — Korea is Vietnam's largest foreign investor, and Vietnamese nationals form one of the largest foreign communities in Korea with over 200,000 residents. Vietnamese workers are the largest single nationality group in Korea's E-9 Employment Permit System.
Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed July 2026
Review & source basis
Reviewed against
James Chae, 행정사 (Korean Licensed Administrative Attorney). License No. 220-06-06463 · 대한행정사회 (Korean Administrative Agents Association). Reviewed against the HiKorea 사증·체류업무 자격별 안내 매뉴얼 and cross-checked with Ministry of Justice issuances.
Last reviewed
July 14, 2026
Source references
Nationality-specific issuance-manual sections covering Vietnam-linked entry control, document handling, and high-volume consular practice notes.
Visa-type issuance sections supporting the main Vietnam-facing routes on the page, including E-9, D-2, F-6, and E-7 pathways.
Filing caution
Requirements can change by nationality, local immigration office, and filing channel. Confirm exact requirements with HiKorea, the responsible Korean consulate, or a licensed immigration specialist before filing.
Visa required for all stays
Vietnamese general passport holders do not have a visa-free agreement with South Korea and are not eligible for K-ETA. A visa must be obtained at the Korean Embassy in Hanoi or the Korean Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City before travelling.
Key Facts for Vietnam Citizens
Visa-free stay
Not applicable — visa required
K-ETA eligible?
No — full visa required
EPS status
Largest E-9 source country
E-7-4 quota (2025)
35,000 positions (expanded)
Vietnamese in Korea
200,000+ residents
Korean Embassy in Vietnam
Hanoi + Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City
Important manual-based filing notes
These points are drawn from Korea immigration manuals and recurring filing rules that often affect higher-risk nationality pages.
Korea Immigration Service (출입국·외국인정책본부): Nationality-specific issuance sections on Vietnam-linked document handling and consular review.
Ministry of Justice Immigration Policy Bureau: Stay-manual sections supporting pending-filing travel risk and document-validity cautions.
- Vietnamese passport holders should expect full visa screening rather than a short-stay pre-clearance model. Purpose, sponsor documents, and financial consistency all matter.
- For F-6, D-2, and other long-stay applications, relationship records, school records, and other civil documents are often safest when recently issued rather than older archive copies.
- When medical or TB-related paperwork is requested, follow the exact hospital or sealed-document instructions. Some health documents lose usefulness if opened or issued in the wrong format.
- Do not make the mistake of treating a pending Korean extension or status-change filing as travel-safe. The stay manual warns that overseas departure during review can break the application.
Best next steps
Based on common visa paths for citizens of Vietnam, here are the most useful next steps.
E-9 Visa — Document Checklist
Complete printable document checklist for the South Korea E-9 visa. Check off items as you prepare your application.
Korean Visa Fee Guide 2026
Official fees charged by the Korea Immigration Service for visa issuance, extension, and status change. All amounts are in Korean Won (KRW).
Korea Visa Processing Times 2025 — How Long Does Each Visa Type Take?
Real-world Korean visa processing times by visa type — D-4, E-7, F-5, E-9 and more. Compare official estimates vs. practical wait times, understand document bottlenecks, and learn how to avoid delays.
Korean Visa Options for Vietnam Citizens
Non-professional Employment (EPS)
PopularVietnam is the largest single source country for Korea's EPS program. Manufacturing, construction, agriculture, fisheries, and service sectors. Pass the EPS-TOPIK and join the roster through DOLAB (Vietnam's overseas labor agency).
Marriage Migrant
PopularVietnamese-Korean marriages are one of the most common international marriage combinations in Korea. F-6 for Vietnamese spouses of Korean nationals; leads to F-5 after 2 years.
Skilled Worker
PopularVietnamese IT engineers, software developers, and business professionals are increasingly hired by Korean tech and manufacturing companies. Strong demand in electronics and automotive sectors.
Skilled Worker Transition
A pathway for E-9 workers advancing to skilled roles. Korea expanded this category to 35,000 positions in 2025 — highly relevant for long-term Vietnamese workers in Korea.
Short-term Visit
Short-term visits require a visa. Apply at the Korean Embassy in Hanoi or the Korean Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. Typically 5–7 business days processing.
Student
Country guideVietnamese students form one of the largest international student groups in Korea. Many attend on GKS scholarships or through Korean language programs (D-4).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Vietnamese citizens need a visa for South Korea?
Yes. Vietnamese general passport holders must apply for a visa at the Korean Embassy in Hanoi or the Korean Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. There is no visa-free arrangement for general passports.
How do Vietnamese EPS workers apply to go to Korea?
Through DOLAB (Department of Overseas Labour of Vietnam). The process: pass the EPS-TOPIK Korean language test, register on the EPS roster maintained by DOLAB and HRD Korea, wait for employer matching, and receive your E-9 visa once matched. Total time: 6 months to 2 years.
Can I visit Korea as a Vietnamese tourist?
Yes, but you need a C-3 tourist visa. Apply at the Korean Embassy in Hanoi or the Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. Processing typically takes 5–7 business days.
What is the E-7-4 pathway for Vietnamese workers?
E-7-4 is a skilled worker visa for E-9 holders who have worked in Korea and gained skills. Korea expanded the E-7-4 quota to 35,000 positions in 2025 (up from ~2,000). Vietnamese workers who qualify can transition to a higher-status work visa and eventually apply for F-2-7 long-term residency.
How many Vietnamese people live in South Korea?
Over 200,000 Vietnamese nationals are estimated to reside in Korea, making Vietnam one of the top source countries. The community is concentrated in Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi-do, and industrial cities like Ulsan, Changwon, and Ansan.
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