Mr. Visa Korea • PSEO Subtype

C-3-1 (Short-Term Visit Subtype) Korea Visa Guide | 2026

C-3-1 is a short-term visit subtype under Korea's C-3 framework for specific temporary purposes. This page is structured from 2026 Ministry/KIS manuals and focuses on practical purpose matching, supporting documents, and compliance boundaries.

View parent visa: C-3 — Short-Term Visit Visa

A small gift box wrapped in bojagi cloth on a wooden table beside an open passport, a folded note with a Korean address, a tin of ginseng tea and a bag of dried persimmons, a face-down family photograph and a carry-on suitcase in soft afternoon light — Korea C-3-1 short-term family visit visa preparation

1. What C-3-1 Is

C-3-1 is a purpose-limited short-stay category under C-3. It is distinct from tourism-focused C-3-9 and business-visit-focused C-3-8, and it is not intended for long-term work or residence activity.

2. Eligibility Checklist

Declared purpose clearly fits the current C-3-1 permitted scope.
Trip plan and intended stay period align with short-stay purpose limits.
Can prove financial support and return/onward travel intent.
Host/invitation records are credible where required by case profile.
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 a standard employer-sponsored work visa.
Stay is tied to declared temporary purpose and supporting documents.
Material post-issuance scope changes may require authority confirmation or re-filing.
Frequent short-stay patterns can trigger de facto work/long-stay suspicion.

6. Required Documents

Application form + passport + photo + applicable fee proof.
Purpose-specific evidence supporting C-3-1 eligibility.
Travel itinerary and return/onward evidence.
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 C-3-9?

C-3-1 is a purpose-specific short-stay subtype, while C-3-9 is tourism-focused.

Can I work in Korea on C-3-1?

Ordinary employment is generally outside C-3-1 scope and requires the appropriate work-authorized status.

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: 2026-04-16

• 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.

Related Tools and Guides

C-3-2 Subtype C-3-9 Subtype C-3 Subtypes Guide

2. Eligibility Checklist

Declared purpose clearly fits the current C-3-1 permitted scope.

Trip plan and intended stay period align with short-stay purpose limits.

Can prove financial support and return/onward travel intent.

Host/invitation records are credible where required by case profile.

No unresolved immigration violations that materially raise short-stay risk.

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.

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.