Nigerian citizens need a visa to visit South Korea and in this post, I’ll detail the South Korea visa requirements and application process. I’ll talk about how to apply in Kenya (as a resident) and in Nigeria and some important information you need to know. If you’re applying for a visa for the first time, be sure to read my guide, which details general rules about visa applications in Nigeria.
PS: I encourage you to check the South Korean Embassy’s website for updated information about the visa application process. All information presented in this post is correct at the time of this writing. They are subject to change without notice. Always confirm travel details and requirements with respective embassies & airlines before you apply or travel.
Dreaming of visiting South Korea? Here's everything you need to know about applying for a South Korean Tourist Visa in Kenya or Nigeria! Click To Tweet
What's Covered in this Post
How to Apply for a South Korean Visa from Nigeria or Kenya
The process of applying for a visa is pretty simple. Applicants need to put the South Korea visa requirements documentation together and submit them in person to the appropriate application centres.
South Korea Visa Requirements for Nigerian & Kenyan Citizens
The documents needed for your visa application include, but are not limited to the below;
- Visa Application form filled in English or Korean with black ink, downloaded from this site and personally signed by the applicant (Applicants must fill out the entire form completely). You may also choose to fill out and print the e-form instead.
- A valid passport with a minimum of two free leaflets and six months’ validity
- Photocopy of your international passport bio-data page
- Original letter of invitation (if applicable)
- Recently taken 1 passport-size photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm, colour), not older than 3 months and on white background, glued to the spot provided on the form
- Original and copy of Kenyan Work/Resident’s permit (for non-Kenyan citizens)
- Certified bank statements for the last 3 months (at least) issued within 14 days of your submission. I recommend submitting 6 months statement. This is also compulsory when applying in Nigeria.
- Return flight reservation
- Travel itinerary from a travel agent in Korea
- Hotel reservation, if applicable
- Travel medical insurance covering the whole duration of your stay in South Korea
- Documentation showing ties to home country
- Photocopy of National ID card or Driver’s licence or Voters card which is issued within last five years (For Nigerians)
Depending on your visa type, additional documents may be requested. See the South Korean Embassy’s website for more information and updates on requirements.
stay safe while you travel
Protect yourself from the unexpected while you travel by purchasing an Insurance Cover. I use SafetyWing, which is affordable and covers several travel-related risks, such as unexpected illness or injury, eligible hospital expenses, lost luggage and more. Click here to purchase a cover for your travel and visa application needs.
Other South Korea Visa Requirements…
- For employees: Introductory letter from your workplace. In English, on official company paper with a stamp, signature, and date – detailing your position, salary and the length of your employment, confirming that you have been given time off work and your position will be kept until your return, and stating whether this time off is paid or unpaid.
- Confirmation or promotion letters
- A valid tax certificate, work ID card
- Certificate of incorporation
Where is the South Korea Visa Submission Centre in Kenya Located?
The centre is located on the first and second floors of Misha Tower, Westlands, Nairobi. They are open on Mondays to Fridays (except weekends and public holidays) from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for submission and then from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for collection.
Where is the South Korea Visa Submission Centre in Nigeria Located?
Applicants may submit the South Korea visa requirements at the Lagos Office of the Embassy, located at 26 Oyinkan Abayomi Dr.(formerly Queens Dr.), Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. Alternatively, you may visit the Korea Visa Center(VFS): Sterling Bank Plaza, 3rd Floor, Plot No 1083, Mohammadu Buhari Way, Central Business District, Abuja, Nigeria. Business hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
South Korea Visa Fee in Kenya
A regular single-entry 90-day visa costs $40 or 5,600 Kenya Shillings at the time of this writing. (Please visit the official website for updated figures). This amount is not refundable even if you do not get the visa. It is also only payable via Mpesa. Other costs include;
- Single Entry Visa (More than 90 days): $60
- Double Entry Visa (two times entry within six months): $70
- Multiple Entry Visa (multiple entries within one year): $90
South Korea Visa Fee in Nigeria
A regular single-entry visa costs ₦36,000 as of the time of this writing. (Please visit the official website for updated figures). Other costs include;
- Single Entry Visa (More than 90 days): ₦54,000
- Double Entry Visa (two times entry within six months): ₦63,000
- Multiple Entry Visa (multiple entries within one year): ₦81,000
South Korea Visa Application in Nigeria and Kenya Processing Time
The embassy states that it takes a minimum of 14 working days to process a regular South Korean visa in Kenya and Nigeria. In Kenya, there is a notice that if applications are not submitted with this timeframe in mind, they will not be considered at all.
It is also important to note that the processing time may vary from one application to the next and is advisable to apply early enough to give enough time for the visa process. I submitted my application about a month before my travel date and my visa was processed in 6 working days.
What Next?
You can track the status of your South Korean visa via this site and print out the confirmation of the visa issuance document.
That’s it for the entire South Korea visa requirements and application process in Nigeria and Kenya. I hope you find this guide useful. Feel free to share your visa experience with me or ask any questions you might have in the comment section.
If you found this post helpful, please consider sharing it on Twitter | Following me on Instagram | or Buying me a coffee
Photo by Chan Young Lee, Daniel Bernard on Unsplash
Hello Amarachi.
I just read though your write up about South Korean visa
My brother had an agent arrange all document for him, he went to vfs centre in Abuja to submit his documents, he didn’t do thumb printing or any capturing.
4 days later he received his passport back with no decision whether it has been granted or denied. Now the agent is saying it seem they now do e-visa and to wait for another email
My question is is it possible not to have thumb printing and capturing for visa application?
Also is it possible to have passport back not stamped and no explanation on state of application?
Thank you as I await your response
Hello Precious,
At the time I applied (which I assume is still the status quo), there was no biometric capturing at the embassy. You just submit your documents and wait to get a response to pick your passport up.
There’s also no endorsement on the passport, even if you get the visa. They usually hand you a paper document (sort of like an evisa) which you travel with to obtain the small sticker visa at the airport in Korea.
You should be able to check the status of your application via this website. You will need to enter your passport number, application number, name and DOB. If the visa is approved, you will be able to download the paper document as well.
Amarachi, I have just sent you a mail. Thank you
Please amarachi, can we talk on Whatsapp?? I’ll need your assistance in traveling to south Korea from Nigeria, please chat me up [redacted] please amarachi thank you I’m waiting
Hello Hartley, please feel free to leave any questions you might have here. Alternatively, you can send me an email at [email protected].
please I would like to make enquiry about SK visa,I want to apply for tourist visa to visit SK do I need invitation letter from Korean citizen? An it’s easy to get visa, i am working in dubai an i have small company registered under Nigeria government, an company bank account
You don’t need an invitation letter if applying for a tourist visa. If someone is inviting you, you can include one. Also, if you meet all the requirements, it’s not very difficult to obtain (based on my experience). At the end of the day, whether you get it or not is dependent on the issuing visa officer.
Please, I wish to inquire if the six months international passport validity is reading from when you applied or the expected date of departure. As my passport will be expiring April 16th 2024 and I have invitation to Korea is on December 2023.
Can I apply now to meet up with the six months validity
It is for both. You can apply now (July/August) with your passport validity as it is still within the 6-months timeframe. However, you need to renew it before your trip in December or post that. You can attach both passports together as your visa for the old will still be valid. Many airlines will not allow you board with anything less than the required 6-months validity.
Under payer, I’m the one sponsoring my trip. What do I put in relationship to person? Should I just put, myself?
Yes, you can put ‘Self’
I’m going for surgery purposes, I can still use a tourist visa right?
I think you probably can but there’s also a visa category for Medical treatment, which is the G-1-10 visa.
Thanks Amy! Uhm, I wanted to ask, is there any travel agency you can recommend for Sk Visa processing. I’m scared that I’d get rejected. As this is my first time, do you feel I don’t need an agency? I can do it on my own.
Hi Ally, unfortunately, I don’t know any agents that process South Korean visas. I feel you can apply on your own if you meet all the requirements and if you have a strong travel history.
Hey please, uhm, how do you get an iternary from a travel agent in Korea?
Who do you use?
Hello Alwell, I used an itinerary I drew out for myself. I didn’t get one from an agent.
Hi Amarachi,
Did you provide any Invitation letter during your application?
I’m asking because there’s a section on the Lagos website that says “Please note that without inviter from Korea, the purpose of the visit may be difficult to be proven.”
For a tourist visa
Hi Soled, no I did not. I did provide an extensive itinerary I made myself, with a breakdown of each day’s activities, costs and accommodation. In addition to hotel and flight reservations. I also submitted in Kenya (and it might have been an easier process here).
Hi Amara. I intend to embark on a visit (tour) to SK. I have a friend (SK citizen) who is willing to provide me with Invitation Letter. What are the necessary requirement for Tourist visa
Hello Doncecey, this article details the South Korean tourist visa requirements. Kindly go through it and feel free to reach out if you need more clarification.
What are the requirements to get my manager business visa for goods purposes?
Please check the Korean visa website. This post focuses on tourist visas alone.
good evening my passport is expired and renewed this question of valid within 6months is what i dont really understand ,pls kindly clear me.
6 months validity of your passport simply means that the expiry date should be greater than 6 months. For example, if you plan on travelling this month of May, your passport should not be expiring on or before November. I hope this clarifies your question.
The list of South Korea visa requirements
They are listed in the article.
Working visa in South Korea like how many months will it take
This post is about tourist visas. Please check the South Korean embassy’s website for details on other visa types.
I love your blog and have been scouring every page since l found you last night as I decide on where to spend my birthday this year. I am based in Nigeria.
Could you please share more about the travel itinerary from a Korean agent. I’m an independent traveller and prefer to draw out my own itinerary.
Also, given it’s an evisa, did you need to drop your passport with the embassy?
Hi Mary, for the travel itinerary, I submitted one I made for myself, so that’s fine. Also, yes I needed to submit my passport to the embassy, even though there is no stamp endorsed in it.
Thanks a lot Amarachi – as I am travelling back to back, I hope the processing will be fast so my passport isn’t held up too long.
Will start the process ASAP and keep you posted on how things go.
What is the amount required for proof of funds for student visa
This post focuses on tourist visas only. Unfortunately, I cannot answer any questions about other visa types.
I absolutely love how detailed this blog is and the replies to comments. I don’t know if you made a post already on the cost of this trip. You’ve definitely put south Korea on my radar
Thanks, Angelfortune! I haven’t written the cost breakdown post but it is coming up in a few weeks 🙂
I have be denied a business visa to south korean and this are the reason for denying
1) you do not included the documents proving your purpose of entry
2)the statement on your documents can not be proved
3)your purpose of entry can not be explain in detail
4) your relationship with the invitee can not be proved
5) your current status ( family and economic conditions)does not prove your return within the period of stay
What does all this reason for denied means
Hi Ifeanyi, again, I think these points are all self-explanatory and you would need to address each of them adequately before you can apply again. Some documents you can include for each point are:
1) documents proving your purpose of entry: Letter of invitation including details of the transaction or business of the inviting company, Original and notarized guarantee letter, Photocopy of certificate of Korean business registration, your company’s registration docs, tax certificates, company bank statements with corresponding invoices, etc.
2)statement on your documents can not be proved: if you need to notarize some documents, do so. Make sure your personal and company bank statements are healthy, stamped and verified by the bank.
3)your purpose of entry can not be explained in detail: try including a cover letter to your application, stating your purpose of visit and any other points you would like to clarify or amplify.
4) your relationship with the invitee can not be proved: if you have an existing business relationship with a Korean-based business that has invited you, then include any document to show that. You may also choose to include email correspondences. Their letter of invitation to you should also be well detailed.
5) your current status: include your wedding certificate if you are married, state whether or not you have children or dependents, and include documents of businesses or any property you have.
In addition to this, make sure other parts of your application are strong. Having a good travel history could also help to improve your acceptance rate. You can check out my tips on building a strong travel history in this post.
Hope you get a favourable decision if you decide to apply again!
You have not included the documents proving your purpose of entry. What does this mean
I think the statement is quite self-explanatory. If you’re visiting for tourism, for example, you should submit docs that prove that. I.e. Return flight tickets, hotel accommodation, tour itineraries, proof of home ties and so on. What type of visa did you apply for and were you missing any documents?
Business visa i included the fight booking for 30days
and i also included the hotel reservation for 30days
Please is it compulsory that a person from for eg. must submit he/her application form at Abuja?.
Hello Anslem, there is a Lagos venue as well. Applications have to be submitted in person, so you can choose either location to apply.
What is the difference between self-employed and entrepreneur on the south korea visa application form?
I guess they can bed used interchangeably. I would advise that you select Self-Employed if you’re a freelancer or have a relatively small business that you manage solely. If you have a larger business and more employees working with you, then you can select Entrepreneur.
Please i’m from Nigeria and I want to travel to South Korea but I don’t know how to do it’s, this my first time traveling, I really need help, I need a working visa if possible, I want to go an work there that all pls somebody help me
Hello, this post is about applying for a tourist visa. Please visit the Embassy’s website for details about work and business visas.
Pls can my brother or friend sponsor my south korean tourist visa
Technically, yes (preferably your brother). However, you will also be considered based on your own merit and living situation.
Is South Korean embassy in Nigeria open for issuing of visas now
Hello Kingsley, I checked the notices on the Embassy in Nigeria’s website and there is no update on whether it is now open or not. Kenya recently posted a notice to say the Embassy here opened to receive applications from June 1.
My advice is to either keep checking for updates or call the embassy directly to confirm. There have been recent updates but none categorically stating that it is now open to issue visas.
Is Nigeria on the list of African countries banned from traveling to South Korea because of the omicron variant
Nigeria is currently not on any red list and travellers are allowed to visit. They must be fully vaccinated (complete shots + booster) and present a negative PCR test or will have to quarantine for 7 days.
How much does visa fees from Nigeria to south Korea cost.working visa
Please check the SK embassy’s website for details about the cost of a work visa. This article is limited to information about applying for a tourist visa.
I am the CEO of my company a limited company, my wife one of the director and my sister am I applying as self employed ? The last I was denied saying my purpose of entry was not explain in details what dose it also mean
You could apply as an Entrepreneur. I don’t know the full details of your application but did you include details of your itinerary? I mean a day by day breakdown?
Yes I did put the details of itinerary, I applied for c-3-4 visa for business transaction for short term visit
Hi Amara,
Thank you for your time.
Please what are the possibilities of getting a Job in SK if I travel with Tourist visa.
Hello Stanley, I think they are slim to none.