South Korea visa for Russian citizens is available for citizens of the Russian Federation who wish to make the trip east to the Far East Asian nation for any reason as long as their reasons are legal.
Do Russians Need A Visa To Enter South Korea?
Russians don’t need a visa to enter South Korea because Russia is on the visa-exempt list. As a Russian, you only need a visa if you want to stay more than 90 days. For short visits, you only need to travel with your passport. Another reason you may need a visa besides for long visits is if you are coming to South Korea to work.
For employment, all foreigners must apply for a work visa before they can work legally in the country. Visa applicants may apply for a visa by visiting the South Korean embassy in Moscow or any of the Consulates in Vladivostok, St Petersburg or Irkutsk.
The South Korean Electronic Travel Authorization
Also called the K-ETA, this electronic travel authorization permit is only available to citizens of selected countries. Although Russians may not need a visa to enter South Korea if they will only stay for a short while, they still need to apply for this permit. The K-ETA is an electronic initiative introduced by the government of South Korea to simplify the tourist visa application process of applicants from visa-exempt countries.
Applicants don’t need to visit the embassy or consular offices to submit a physical application form and documents; the K-ETA application is done online, and the approval timeline takes between 24 and 72 hours. Furthermore, this travel authorization permit is only meant for short-term trips like tourism, business, transit or short-term family visits. For visits that will last more than 90 days, you need to apply for a visa.
It is also important to note that this eta is valid for two years and can be used multiple times to enter South Korea.
How To Apply For K-ETA Online
Russians may apply for a K-ETA permit online by doing the following.
Visit VisaHQ
Select South Korea at the destination
Select Russia as your country
Choose the ETA you want
Complete the eta application form
Upload all required documents
Pay the processing fee
Submit for approval
The eta will be forwarded to your email address within 72 hours if your application is accepted. Endeavor to print it out and travel with it to South Korea.
South Korea ETA Requirements
Here are the requirements for this electronic travel authorization permit.
Passport: A valid Russian passport with at least 6 months of validity left from the planned date of arrival in South Korea. The passport must have at least 2 blank pages for visa stamps.
Photograph: A recent photograph is required for the application. The photograph must meet eta requirements.
Email Address: A valid email address that the applicant has access to. This is where all correspondence and the eta will be sent if approved.
Credit/Debit Card: The processing fee must be paid online using a valid credit or debit card. The card must have sufficient balance.
Additional information about their reasons for the trip, current occupation, and other details may be required. At the airport, the immigration officers will also ask important questions before they stamp your passport, so endeavor to provide honest answers.
Processing Time
After submitting your eta application, it will take between 1-3 days to get your Permit as long as your documents are valid and you meet all the requirements. The process may take a little longer if there is a backlog of unprocessed applications.
South Korea Visas
Russians who plan to stay longer than the 90 days allowed will have to apply for a conventional visa. Here are the visas available to Russians.
Student visa: This is for Russian students studying at any South Korean tertiary institution
Work Visa: Russians arriving as expatriate workers must get a work visa before travelling to South Korea. Their employers can help them with the process.
Family Visa: Russians who have family members domiciled in South Korea may apply for a family visa so they can visit them. This visa is valid for more than 90 days and may extend for up to 2 years or more.
Work Holiday Visa: This is a special visa which allows the holder to work while enjoying their holidays in South Korea at the same time
All visa applications must be done in person at the embassy or any of the consulates in Russia. Also, note that the process may take up to 15 working days before the South Korea visa for Russian citizens will be out. To avoid delays, make sure you only submit valid documents.