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 Nigeria, as well as 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.
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.
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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;
2025 Update: I paid 5400 Ksh for a single-entry 90-day visa.
- 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 ₦60,000 as of the time of this writing. Please visit the official website for updated figures, as this figure keeps changing due to fluctuating exchange rates.
South Korea Visa Application in Nigeria and Kenya Processing Time
The embassy states 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 applications will not be considered at all if they are not submitted within this timeframe.
2025 Update: This time has been updated to 7 working days
It is also important to note that the processing time may vary from one application to the next and 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. In 2025, you no longer need to leave your passport at the embassy.
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.
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Photo by Chan Young Lee, Daniel Bernard on Unsplash
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.