How to Apply for a Korea Visa in New York

New York is America’s most-populous city, and its metropolitan area has over 20 million people.  New York City contains the five boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx.  The New York metropolitan area includes New York City, Long Island, and the Mid and Lower Hudson Valley.  It also includes several large cities in New Jersey such as Newark, Edison, Elizabeth, Paterson, Jersey City, and Hoboken, along with several large cities in Connecticut that include New Haven, Bridgeport, and Stamford.  New York is one of the most important economic regions in the world and has the highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the United States. It is also one of the most linguistically diverse cities in the world with over 800 languages spoken in the metropolitan area, including Korean.  There are over 150,000 Korean people living in New York and there are large Koreatowns located in Flushing (Queens) and Fort Lee, New Jersey.  There is also a small Koreatown in Manhattan with several excellent restaurants and Korean chain stores like Caffe Bene, Tous les Jours, and Nature Republic.  The New York area has several community and cultural organizations representing Korean interests, and the city is home to the Korean Society.

South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea, is an East Asian country on the Korean Peninsula between the Yellow Sea and East Sea, wedged between China and Japan.  Although Korea is a small country of only 51 million people that is less than three-fourths the size of New York state, their economy is the 10th largest in the world, a reflection of the hard-working character of its citizens.  Korea is a great place for American businesses, especially for New York brands offering fashion and luxury products, along with those providing entertainment, education, and financial services.  The Korean government—through the Seoul Global Center—even offers programs for foreign entrepreneurs interested in starting a business in Korea.  In recent years Korea has become an increasingly popular destination for young people interested in studying Korean language and culture, influenced by the popularity of Korean pop music, dramas, and food.  Seoul, South Korea’s capital and most populous city, is one of the most exciting and vibrant places in the world.  Neighborhoods like Hongdae, Itaewon, Gangnam are packed with nightclubs, bars, singing rooms, eateries, and boutique shops.  Korea also has lots of natural beauty and is a great place for hiking, especially during the spring and fall months.

Obtaining a Korean Visa from New York

Visas for South Korea are issued by the Korean government in the United States.  The government of South Korea is represented by their embassy located in Washington, D.C. along with twelve consulates located throughout the United States.  To apply for a visa from New York, you will fill out the visa application and bring your original passport and supporting documents to the consulate located on Park Avenue in Manhattan. 

You can also send your application by US Mail or courier service using FedEx or UPS.  Here is the address:

Korean Consulate General
460 Park Ave. 6th Floor
New York, NY 10022 

It is important to review the requirements for visas on the Korean consulate website and ensure your application and all supporting documents are accurate.  Here is the link to the consulate website with detailed information:  Visa InformationConsulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York (mofa.go.kr).  Please note that in-person visits to the consulate are by appointment only.

When applying for your visa by mail, you will send a notarized copy of the data page of your passport—it is unnecessary to send a return shipping envelope because you will print out your visa form this website: KOREA VISA PORTAL.  The consulate no longer issues traditional sticker-type visas that are attached to one of the visa pages of your passport. 

The government’s visa fee is $45 for U.S. citizens and the processing time usually takes about 3 weeks.  If you need the visa faster, please contact our company to inquire about expedited services.

Other things to consider:

  • U.S. citizens do not require a visa for stays of up to 90 days if they are traveling for tourism, pleasure, short-term business meetings, or visiting family, however, they must apply for the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) on this website: Welcome - K-ETA
  • U.S. citizens must have a valid passport that does not expire within six months of your date of entry into South Korea.
  • All visitors to Korea are currently subject to a 14-day mandatory quarantine at a hotel assigned by the government and a negative COVID-19 test (PCR) result is required for all foreigners entering the country. For more information, please visit the Korean embassy website: Notice 목록Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA (mofa.go.kr)
  • It is recommended to purchase travel insurance before any international trip in case of medical emergencies.  We advise getting the Geo Blue Voyager Single Trip Plan.

Emergency Assistance for Korean Citizens in New York

If you are a citizen of South Korea living in the New York area with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the Korean consulate in Manhattan by calling 646-674-6000, or by calling 646-965-3639 for emergency after hours service.  You can also contact the consulate by email at this address: kcg_ny@mofa.go.kr.    

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in New York City or anywhere in the state of New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut and have difficulty applying for a Korean visa or require assistance with any part of the visa process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company.  We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Korean visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the Korean government.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans. 

We provide the following Korea visa services for our customers:

  • Korean Tourist Visa
  • Korean Business Visa
  • Korean Official Duty Visa
  • Korean Student Visa
  • Korean Work Visa (English Instructor / University Professor / Specialty Occupation / Religious Worker / Military)
  • Korean Working Holiday Visa
  • Korean Journalist Visa (Temporary News Coverage / Residence Reporter)
  • South Korea Hotel Accommodations