How to Apply for a Korea Visa in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is the largest city in the state of Pennsylvania and is one of the oldest cities in the United States.  Founded in 1682 by Englishman William Penn, a social reformer and champion of liberty, he named the city Philadelphia using the Greek term meaning “brotherly love”.  Philadelphia has the nickname “City of Brotherly Love” and is nowadays more casually known by locals and non-locals alike as “Philly”.  The Philadelphia metropolitan area has over 6 million people (America’s eighth-largest metropolis) and includes cities and towns in the states of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, in addition to Pennsylvania.  The area is well known as a center of higher education and has more than 80 postsecondary institutions including the University of Pennsylvania, Temple, Drexel, and Villanova, all of which have a Korean Students Association.  Koreans have been coming to Philadelphia for well over a century as students and as entrepreneurs operating family-owned businesses.  In recent decades, as Korea’s economic strength has gained, Korean corporations have made major investments throughout the state of Pennsylvania.  There are over 40,000 Koreans in Philadelphia and Korean business districts located in Upper Darby, Olney, Cheltenham, and Cherry Hill (New Jersey). 

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 even smaller than the state of Pennsylvania, their economy is the 10th largest in the world, a reflection of the hard-working character of its citizens.  Korean consumer brands like Samsung, LG, and Kia products are an everyday part of the lives of Philadelphians.  Philadelphia manufacturers import Korean industrial products such as machinery, chemicals, plastics, but there is also a hefty flow of goods and services being exported to Korea.  In recent years Korea has become a popular destination for American college students 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 is also a popular destination for medical tourism and there are 45,000 Americans that travel here each year for cosmetic surgery and other procedures. 

Obtaining a Korean Visa from Philadelphia

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 Philadelphia, you will fill out the visa application and bring your original passport and supporting documents to the consulate located in New York City. 

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)

Emergency Assistance for Korean Citizens in Philadelphia 

If you are a citizen of South Korea living in the Philadelphia area with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the Korean consulate in New York 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 Philadelphia or anywhere in the state of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware 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