C-3-5 (Agreement-Based Short-Term Business) Korea Visa Guide | 2026

1. What C-3-5 Is

C-3-5 is a sub-code of 단기방문(C-3) for short-term business travelers whose entry is grounded in a specific bilateral trade/investment agreement, rather than the generic C-3-4 short-term business category. The manual defines it for two named agreement populations: (1) Korea–India — Indian-corporation-affiliated applicants visiting to negotiate the sale of goods/services or to prepare to establish an investment company, and (2) Korea–Chile FTA — applicants engaged in research and design, manufacturing/production, marketing/sales, distribution, after-sales service, or general services under that FTA. It is cross-confirmed in both the issuance manual (visa-2.txt) and the stay-management manual (visa-3.txt), which list it identically in the C-3 세부 약호·구분 table.

2. Eligibility Checklist

• Declared purpose fits current C-3-5 permitted scope.
• Host invitation and activity evidence are specific and coherent.
• Duration and itinerary match supporting records.
• Financial/support documents are sufficient for temporary stay.
• Return-intent profile is clear and credible.

3. Criteria Summary

• C-3-5 is not points-based.
• Review emphasizes purpose legitimacy and documentary consistency.
• Host-side invitation quality strongly impacts decisions.
• Over-broad or ambiguous activity descriptions increase refusal risk.

4. Salary and Contract Rules

• C-3-5 is not evaluated by salary-floor rules.
• No ordinary employment contract is expected for this short-visit type.
• If sponsorship exists, support terms should be transparent and consistent.
• Compensation-like records that imply work can create risk.

5. Employer and Workplace Change Rules

• C-3-5 is a short-stay visit type, not employment authorization.
• Activity must remain within declared and permitted short-term scope.
• Unauthorized work activity may trigger violations.
• Keep invitation and itinerary records aligned throughout stay.

6. Required Documents

• Visa application form, passport, photo, and fee proof.
• Host invitation and purpose-specific activity records.
• Travel itinerary and accommodation details.
• Financial/support evidence for the planned short stay.
• Additional mission-requested documents as needed.

7. Fees and Processing

• Fees follow current short-stay issuance schedules.
• Processing time varies by mission and workload.
• Supplements are common when purpose wording is vague.
• Submit a concise, evidence-first purpose package.

8. Common Rejection Reasons

• Purpose does not fit C-3-5 permitted scope.
• Invitation/activity records are weak or inconsistent.
• Financial/support evidence is insufficient.
• Short-stay intent is not credibly established.
• Documents imply unauthorized work intent.

9. FAQ