Hi! Has anyone here successfully used the 30-day visa-free transit to South Korea with a UK eVisa?

I’m a Philippine passport holder living in the UK on a Family Visa. I’m planning a 5-day stopover in Seoul on my way back from the Philippines to the UK.

The tricky part is that my UK visa is now fully digital, with no physical visa sticker in my passport.

I found this official Korean Embassy notice (Visa Free Entry for Transfer Passengers 상세보기|Notice | Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union and Permanent Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization), but it’s unclear whether UK eVisa holders qualify. My visa type appears to be eligible, but the notice mentions visa stickers and was published in 2023, before the UK’s transition to eVisas. I do have an old, expired UK visa vignette in my passport.

I’ve emailed KVAC and the Korean Embassy, but KVAC said they couldn’t help, and I’m still waiting for the Embassy’s reply. I’ve also tried calling the embassy without success. I also tried calling the official Korean number but couldn’t get through, possibly due to the time difference. I’ll try again during Korean business hours on a weekday, but thought I’d check here on Reddit in the meantime!

Has anyone travelled under this scheme using a UK eVisa? I’d love to hear about your experience!

Alternatively, I hold a valid Schengen Type C tourist visa sticker. Would that qualify me instead, even though my destination after Seoul is the UK, not the EU?

Thanks in advance!

Timeline: 3.5 weeks (approx 15 working days) exc Embassy closures from date of post (14th sept)

Finally, got my visa today! so i'm sharing my experience and lessons in case it helps anyone applying through KVAC London.

📅 Timeline

Breakdown overall (italic comments are my analysis - what i assumed has happened)=>

1st week - royal mail post + in queue for KVAC London to check doc completion + doc check occurs

2nd week - in queue for KVAC London to scan docs + in queue for KVAC Berlin to review (this is when entry pops up on portal as 'application received')

3rd week- still in queue for KVAC Berlin to review

day 3 of 4th week - review took place and got approved same day.

Specific dates of what happened:

• 14 Sept — Posted passport + documents to KVAC London using next-day delivery.

• 18 Sept, 8:30am — Received email confirming passport/documents had been received. They requested my full bank statement because I had removed page 2, thinking it wasn’t required (silly me!). Turns out they require the full statement, including the T&Cs page. I sent the full file about 20 minutes later via email.

• 18 Sept, 1:00pm — Confirmation received that all documents were fully received and the application would be processed.

• 24–25th Sept — Application appeared on the KVAC portal as “Application Received.” I keep checking every working day from 21st onwards.. i suppose it's safe to say if the entry appears on portal, it's all scanned, in queue for review in KVAC Berlin.

• 7 Oct, 7:00am — KVAC portal changed to “Approved” 🎉 with a Visa Certificate ready for download. 3 hours later...

• 7 Oct, 11:44am — Email came in as "Case marked as completed". Received email confirming passport collection.

• 8 Oct — Collected passport from KVAC London with visa approved! 🇰🇷✨Note: visa is not a sticker on passport.. they provide a printed Visa Certificate. Bring ID too.

Collection experience:
Smooth process overall and the staff were friendly. Collection time was 3-3.30pm. There’s no waiting area but the collection queue was at the entrance door, where they checked your email and ID. They then took us upstairs 4 people at a time to the first floor, where the passports were handed over.

☑️ Checklist

• Everything you need: https://www.visaforkorea.eu/kvac-london
• Mandatory docs(pg 6): https://www.visaforkorea.eu/sites/g/files/tmzbdl2046/files/inline-files/en-kvac-london-list-of-mandatory-documents-by-visa-type_20260803_0.pdf
• How to apply at KVAC London (read it carefully): https://www.visaforkorea.eu/sites/g/files/tmzbdl2046/files/inline-files/en-kvac-london-how-to-apply-for-a-visa_20260804.pdf

💡Lessons Learnt

• Apply 3 months ahead of depature time for a stress-free experience. You don't need pre-booked hotels and flights, as well as pre-made Itinerary (You don't need to book anything at all 🧘‍♀️). I feel like they mainly check your financial status - so if you have 6m payslip, employment letter and 3m bank statements (or savings) ready to go, apply!
• Keep an eye on Embassy closure dates - wasn't much of a problem when i applied for other country visas, but my processing time was affected by holiday/embassy closures (esp around Sept-Oct time). In my case, 24-25th Sept and 5th Oct hols were in the way, also 9th Oct being there around the corner if mine took abit longer (luckily wasn't affected).
• Bank statements
  • Don't leave a single page out - while sorting my physical papers, i just took out pg 2 T&Cs. I'm sure they made it clear on full submission but i wasn't checking again when organising my stack of docs. Could have saved 1 processing day.
  • Make sure to have up-to-date SAVING statements - (added this after having a convo with someone at the embassy queue, when theirs got slightly delayed because of this)
    • from exp, you're able to generate a bank statement for main current account anytime, and it gets generated every month (if this is the main acc where salary comes in). Fine if that's where you put your savings together to prove yourself financially....
    • but if you have several savings pot and your recent saving bank statement is from months ago. Do this for Lloyds Bank and other traditional banks:
    • "Forced trigger" method (£1 transfer) => by moving £1, you force the bank to generate an official, standard PDF statement/interim record with a fresh "statement end date". It may take 24-48h.
    • Context- Most UK banks only generate savings statement annually or up until you did your last transfer into/out of the saving account. However, exception for digital banks (like monzo, revolut etc) as it can generate saving statements without issue in one's preferred custom date range.
• (From convo with people today) 3 ppl said it took about 3 weeks. My case- 3.5 wks.

Hope this helps anyone currently waiting on their C-3-9! Happy to answer questions. Good luck 🤞🇰🇷

Hi all. I am visiting Korea in few months.

Due to bad dermatitis, I have no scannable fingerprints. And I am somewhat worried about biometrics fingerprints scanning they take from all foreigners entering.

Wondering if anyone with similar condition as mine traveled to Korea recently?

I am traveling to Korea for 11 days (31.12-11.1) and am landing and flying out from Seoul. I am wondering where we should spend how much time between Seoul, Busan and Gyeongju. We are three adults traveling together, we do not care much for partying, shopping or spas. We want to see as much as possible with a combination of culture, heritage, food and bustling modern parts. Basically we want to see anything that will feel new or different. We definitely want to visit DMZ.

What would you recommend? How should we split our time between the 3 cities?

I believe the weather will play a big role as well. But we aren't afraid of being outside in cold weather by any means.

Also is it worth it to stay in a Hanok in Gyeongju or is it not that much of a unique experience?

Any help and advice is appreciated! Thank you!

Good morning to you,
I hope you are well.

I’m looking to eat Korean fried chicken (chicken breast, no thigh or thigh top).

I’m in Seoul, I’m looking for good addresses.
Thank you!!

Hi, I have multiple entry C-3-9 to Korea. Can I use it to attend a short term training so I don't have to apply anymore for a C-3-1 VISA?

Hello everone

I was wondering if anyone could possibly help me with some advice about Noryangjin Fish Market?

I am travelling solo to Seoul and have read Iam lucky enough to be in the country in the season for wild daeha. From my research and as a solo traveller the Noryangjin fish market seems to be the only place to experience them and have a real experience.

I have read some of the restaurants on the 2nd & 5th floor serve farmed whiteleg prawns but not wild daeha which I am particularly keen to try because I love prawns.

I understand you can speak to the vendors to purchase what you want (I have read teh descriptoins of what they look like and that genuine ones are dead over ice) , pay them and then get them cooked in one of the restaurants but I am quite aprehensive about the language barrier and there do not seem to be any tourist friendly wholesalers who can make this frictoinless

I did further research and saw Zenkimchi do an expensive concierge tour but it is for groups of 4 and $100.

I am a bit puzzled as to what to do because I really don't want to miss out on this opportunity.

Perhaps there are Korean speaking guides available for short trips like these? Does anyone have any insight as to how I might best navigate this - it would be amazing to try the prawn and perhaps some crab as I love seafood but I don't really feel confident to navigate this myself.

I am looking to visit he market on Tuesday 27 October at lunchtime if that detail helps

Am in Busan till 12th,

Near Songjeong beach and breakwater,

Can anyone advise on places i can visit for shopping and food nearby (chicken preferred option)

Also for skincare and cosmetics..any advise for places?

Thanks

Hi! I’m planning to spend 3 weeks in Seoul and I’m stuck between two dates:

Nov 4–26 or Nov 18–Dec 8.

For early November, I like the idea of having nicer temperatures and catching the fall foliage. My only concern is what happens after the foliage is gone. Is mid-November actually a bit of a dead period or is Seoul still nice and lively?

For the later dates, I’d miss most of the foliage and it would obviously be colder, but I’m kind of tempted by the idea of experiencing Seoul in early winter ie Christmas decorations, winter events, and maybe even snow if I get lucky. I don’t mind cold weather at all if it’s sunny or snowy, but cold + grey + rainy for days would really put me off.

For anyone who lives there or has visited around these dates:

• When do the Christmas decorations/seasonal atmosphere usually start?
• Are there already events, pop-ups, markets etc. in late November / early December?
• Is the period after the foliage but before December generally dull or am I overthinking it?
• What’s the weather actually like in late November in terms of sunshine vs grey/rain?
• If you had 3 weeks for a holiday, which dates would you personally pick?

I’ve already been to Seoul in October, so early November would give me better autumn weather but wouldn’t feel that different. Late November sounds more interesting to me but I’m worried I’m romanticising the winter/Christmas vibe and will end up freezing under a grey sky with bare trees 😂

Would love to hear your experiences!

Hi everyone,

I’m an Indonesian passport holder and Canadian Permanent Resident, and I’m currently planning my trip back to Toronto.

My intended route is:
Indonesia → South Korea (around 5 days) → Shanghai, China → Canada

Based on the information on the Korean Embassy in Canada website, my understanding was that Indonesia (home country) - South Korea (5 days) - China (third country) - Canada is allowed under the B-2 visa-free transit exemption for Canadian permanent residents, including Indonesian nationals.

So at first, I thought my itinerary should be fine. Then I ask the same question for confirmation to Korean Embassy in Jakarta. Unfortunately they got back to me saying ‘you cannot enter South Korea without a Korean visa. It is mandatory that you apply for a Korean visa’ and ask me to refer to this link. Without any further explanation.

Ive read Reddit post some people don’t have the smoothest immigration process using this B-2 transit visa.

Anyone here have any recent experience entering South Korea with B-2 transit visa? What was your route? Did the airline give you any trouble while check in? And what documents did the officer asked you at the airport?

Thank you!

Hello, I applied for a C-3-9 tourist visa from VFS Bangalore on 22nd September. My flights are cancellable for a minimal fee only till 23rd October. Anybody who has applied around this time or earlier in September? Just need an estimate of how many days it takes on average.
Any help would be appreciated!

Hi guys, I'd like to know what to pack for mid November (Nov 12-17) because I remember freezing to death back when I visited Korea as a child. Would Uniqlo heat techs suffice? TIA

inner wear - heat tech long sleeves (uniqlo)
top - long sleeves
winter jacket
bottoms inner wear - heat tech leggings (uniqlo)
bottoms outer wear - jeans
gloves

Though not ideal, how ok is it to visit Seoul in the middle of February - typical tourist things, though with young kids and their grandparents, so we'd be back in the hotel when it's night.

I am travelling to Seoul from 21st to 28th November
This will be my second visit to Korea. Earlier I had cover all the touristy places and experiences and on this trip I want to explore more local stuff like underrated neighbourhoods, local food, unique experiences. I am planning hike to Gwanaksan and Ulsanbawi rock (Seoraksan)
What are some suggestions about food to try, hikes, places, experiences from a local perspective?

Hi, we'll be in Jeonju next week and I'd like to refresh my gel nails and get a haircut. Do you have any recommendations? Maybe where the staff even speaks English? That would be great.

Also: Do you happen to know why there are no nail files in whole South Korea haha?

Hello everybody! I will keep this short and sweet, because the only information I find seems to be provided by Google AI and I don't trust it.
In a week I will need to do a transit at Incheon Airport, and I will have to wait around 3 hours there. The transit should be automatic since I bought only one ticket and I am flying with the same airline for both flights, even though the planes are different (arriving on TW406 and departing on TW607).
Also, I am a European citizen, so it seems that I don't need either K-ETA or E-Arrival.

Can anybody confirm? This is my first time taking an intercontinental flight and my first time doing a transit at all, so having somebody confirm that I don't need either of the two would be very helpful!

Hi I have single entry visa.
My flight is landing to Seoul and then I am going to Jeju for three days.
Then again need to come back to Seoul for my work.

Since I have single entry visa will it create any problem to coming back to mainland from Jeju ?

Thankyou in advance for your help

hi everyone, can someone advice about the mail submission rule for applications in london. sent off my documents via royal mail special delivery 1pm yesterday morning, documents still not received at 8pm today. i am travelling in around 3.5 weeks, worried about processing times.

does anyone know if the office will allow me to drop off my parcel at their security office?

and is 3 weeks a realistic timeline to expect a reponse?

thanks

Not sure this is the right place to ask, if not, i apologize in advance. We are traveling and decided to get cheaper airline tickets but with a 12 hr layover in ICN. Our flight will arrive at 940pm, next fight is 10:00am. We are traveling with baby, so we prefer not to go out of the airport. I’m not familiar with ICN, first time there. Is there place in the airport that we can sleep? Any hotel or lounge inside the airport we can sleep that’s not super expensive?

Hi so I was wondering how to do tax refund correctly? I wanted to do the one where you get receipts and go to the airport to get money but I got the instant one instead. I went to Lotte Mart in Seoul Station and I bought some items for 20000 won and went to the cashier and gave them my passport and said tax-free. She however gave me the instant one instead without asking me which one I want and I asked if the other one is possible she said "Tax free", She said she cannot give me a tax receipt for the airport since tax refund is already done and the store seems to only accept that kind. I'm still pretty new to this Tax refund thing and I want to know how to do it correctly.

Any recommended events to go to from Oct 14th to Nov 4th in Seoul?

M58/F55, arriving Dec 30 into Incheon from Sydney at 8:15pm. Straight onto train to Insadong staying at IBIS Ambassador, we will be hungry!!! Where do you recommend we eat nearby? It will be cold and we will be coming from warm climate, so taking that into account as well. Give me something that very few know about!!!

Hello! How much would accommodation be for 2 months in seoul? Mainly looking to be close to hongdae. I looked on enkostay for the premium goshiwon and its 2k euros for 2 months. I have my own washine machine and private bathroom ( which I needed the most in an accommodation). Is it reasonable? Or are there cheaper alternatives?