C-3-1 (Short-Term General Visit) Korea Visa Guide | 2026
C-3-1 (단기일반) is the residual code of Korea's short-term visit (C-3) framework. The manual defines it by exclusion: everyone whose purpose falls within the C-3 activity scope, other than those covered by the specific codes C-3-2 through C-3-9.
C-3-1 is the general short-term visit code. The C-3 scope covers business activity such as market research, business liaison, consultation and contract signing; tourism, transit, convalescence, visiting relatives, friendly matches, and attending or observing events and conferences; and culture and arts, general training, short courses, attending religious ceremonies, and collecting academic materials — for a stay not exceeding 90 days. If your purpose matches one of the specific codes, you use that code instead; C-3-1 is what is left.
2. Eligibility Checklist
Purpose falls within the C-3 activity scope AND is not covered by one of the specific codes below.
The specific codes that take precedence: C-3-2 group tourism, C-3-3 medical tourism, C-3-4 general business, C-3-5 business under an agreement, C-3-6 business by invitation of a designated preferred company, C-3-7 arrival tourism, C-3-8 overseas Korean visit, and C-3-9 general tourism.
Intended stay does not exceed 90 days.
The activity is NOT profit-making — see the dispatched-worker rule under workplace rules, which is the most common way applicants fall outside C-3 without realising.
Can evidence financial support and return or onward travel intent.
No unresolved immigration violations that materially raise short-stay risk.
3. Criteria Summary
C-3-1 is not a points-based category.
Review is purpose-credibility and document-consistency focused.
Category mismatch (filing C-3-1 for out-of-scope activity) is a common refusal reason.
Always verify current C-3 subtype boundaries before filing.
4. Salary and Contract Rules
C-3-1 does not use long-stay work salary-threshold criteria.
Ordinary employment activity is generally outside C-3-1 scope and requires appropriate status.
If invitation/contract-style documents are filed, they must support temporary permitted purpose only.
Unclear compensation or role language commonly triggers additional scrutiny.
5. Employer and Workplace Change Rules
C-3-1 is not an employer-sponsored work visa.
THE DISPATCHED-WORKER TRAP: being sent to a Korean public or private institution under a service, purchase or project contract to provide actual services or perform actual work counts as profit-making activity and falls OUTSIDE the short-stay C-3 scope — and the manual is explicit that this holds even where your remuneration is paid abroad rather than in Korea. Installing or maintaining imported machinery, and shipbuilding or industrial-plant fabrication and supervision, are the examples it gives.
Where that applies, the correct status is short-term employment (C-4) or trade management (D-9), not a C-3 short-stay visa.
Stay is tied to the declared temporary purpose and its supporting documents.
Frequent short-stay patterns can trigger de facto work or long-stay suspicion.
6. Required Documents
Application form + passport + photo + applicable fee proof.
Financial support evidence for intended stay period.
Any additional mission-specific supporting documents requested.
7. Fees and Processing
C-3 issuance fees follow official short-stay visa schedules.
Processing varies by mission workload and applicant profile.
Purpose-document inconsistencies often lead to supplement requests.
Apply with sufficient lead time ahead of departure.
8. Common Rejection Reasons
Purpose does not clearly satisfy C-3-1 permitted scope.
Supporting records are weak, inconsistent, or unverifiable.
Financial/return-intent evidence is insufficient for risk profile.
Filed under C-3-1 where another status should be used.
Application relies on outdated C-3 subtype assumptions after guidance updates.
9. FAQ
How is C-3-1 different from the other C-3 codes?
C-3-1 단기일반 is the residual one. The manual defines it as everyone within the C-3 activity scope EXCEPT those covered by C-3-2 group tourism, C-3-3 medical tourism, C-3-4 general business, C-3-5 business under an agreement, C-3-6 preferred-company invitation, C-3-7 arrival tourism, C-3-8 overseas Korean visit, and C-3-9 general tourism. Check whether a specific code fits first — if one does, use it.
Can I work in Korea on C-3-1?
No, and the boundary is stricter than most people expect. If you are dispatched to a Korean institution under a contract to provide real services or do real work — installing imported machinery, supervising industrial-plant fabrication and the like — that is profit-making activity outside C-3 scope EVEN IF you are paid from abroad. You need short-term employment (C-4) or trade management (D-9) instead.
Can C-3-1 be extended in Korea?
It is limited and case-specific; extensions depend on lawful purpose continuity and immigration discretion.
Do visa-exempt nationals always need C-3-1?
Not always. It depends on nationality-specific policy and the exact activity purpose.
10. Last Verified From Official Manual
Last verified: 2026-07-27
• Primary support includes C-3 short-stay subtype guidance and common issuance rules.
• This page provides operational guidance only, not legal advice. Reviewing officers may request additional documents.
Internal review revision log
Internal visa issuance guidance
Internal stay and residence guidance
11. Subtype-Specific Filing Notes
Frame purpose-specific short visit clearly with supporting itinerary documents.
Avoid sponsor/contract language that implies long-term or paid activity.
