How to Apply for a Korean Visa in Atlanta

Atlanta has a population of over 6 million people, making it the 9th most populous metropolitan area in the United States.  Atlanta is the capital of Georgia, which is the 8th most populous of the 50 states.  The city and surrounding area—known as the Atlanta metropolitan area—is also the commercial capital of the Southeast United States and has the third-largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the country.  The metropolitan area includes the municipalities of Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Chamblee, Roswell, Alpharetta, Marietta, Duluth, Norcross, Tucker, Lithonia, Decatur, Mableton, Clarkston, Conyers, and others.  Atlanta has become an extremely diverse and international city that includes one of the largest Korean immigrant communities in the country.  There are nearly 150,000 Koreans in Georgia and Korean is the third most spoken language in the state after English and Spanish.  The Korean immigrant community is centered in the town of Duluth and stretches into Johns Creek, Suwanee, and Norcross.  There are hundreds of Korean restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, grocery stores, ‘noraebangs’, and ‘jimjilbangs’ in these neighborhoods.  Georgia is also home to Korean companies like Kia, LG, Hyundai, Kumho, Doosan, Shinhan Bank, Korean Airlines, and many others.

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 less than three-fourths the size of Georgia, their economy is the 10th largest in the world, making this country an important destination for Atlanta companies that provide educational and professional services and those manufacturing industrial, food, and agricultural products.  Korean companies employ nearly 10,000 workers in the state of Georgia, and thousands of Koreans have sent their sons and daughters to study at Atlanta area colleges and universities, adding even more money into our economy.  Influenced by the popularity of Korean pop music, dramas, and food, Korea has become an increasingly popular destination in recent years for American college students.  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.  Seoul is also a great place to explore on foot and has the longest subway system in the world, making it a very easy and inexpensive city to get around.

Obtaining a Korean Visa from Atlanta

Visas for South Korea are issued by the Korean government in the United States.  The government of South Korea is represented by their embassy in Washington, D.C. along with twelve consulates located throughout the United States, including one in Atlanta.  To apply for a visa from Atlanta, you will fill out the visa application and bring your original passport and supporting documents to their office in downtown Atlanta.  You can also send your application by US Mail or courier service using FedEx or UPS.  Here is the address:

Consulate General of the Republic of Korea
Attn: Visa Services
229 Peachtree St NE
Suite 2100 International Tower
Atlanta, Georgia 30303                                                                                                                          

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: General Infromation about Visa Issuance 상세보기|Visa IssuanceConsulate General of the Republic of Korea in Atlanta (mofa.go.kr)

You should include a self-addressed USPS (US Postal Service Express Mail or Priority Mail), FedEx, or UPS prepaid envelope (please make note of the tracking number) so the consulate can return your passport and visa to your home or office.  The consulate does not accept FedEx or UPS shipping labels where the account or credit card information has been written in -- all return airbills must be prepaid.

The government’s visa fee is $45 for U.S. citizens and the processing time can take up to 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 Atlanta 

If you are a citizen of South Korea living in the Atlanta area with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the Korean consulate in downtown Atlanta by calling 404-522-1611 or by email at atlanta@mofa.go.kr.  If you need to renew your Korean passport, you must visit the consulate in person to fill out the application form and have your fingerprints taken.  More information can be found using this link: PassportConsulate General of the Republic of Korea in Atlanta (mofa.go.kr)

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in Atlanta or anywhere in the state of Georgia 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 the city of Sandy Springs (located 14 miles north of the Korean consulate's office in downtown 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 Korean 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