Visas for the UK

From 12th January 2009, all United Kingdom visa applications have been processed by the regional visa centre at the British Embassy in Manila. This will not change the application process for customers in the Republic of Korea who should continue to apply at the UK Visa Application Centre at:

U.K Visa Application Centre
5F Danam Building
Namdaemun-Ro 5Ga 120, Jung-Gu
Seoul, South Korea
www.vfs-uk-kr.com

Documents and passports will be forwarded by commercial courier to the British Embassy in Manila, where the application will be processed and a decision taken. In most cases, passports and documents will be returned and ready for collection in Seoul in 5 working days. More complex applications should take no longer than 15 working days. Should an interview be needed, this will take place at the British Embassy in Seoul. Applicants will not be required to travel to Manila.

From 12 January 2009 visa applications will require at least 5 working days to be processed so please apply early - you can apply up to 3 months in advance.

Details on how to apply for a UK visa can be found at www.vfs-uk-kr.com

Frequently Asked Questions

I am a South Korean national, do I need a visa for travel to the UK?

Visits for less than six months:

South Korean nationals are non-visa nationals, which means that you do not require a visa if you are visiting the UK for less than six months. But you must still satisfy Border Force Officers that you are only coming to the UK for the period you have stated, and that you will maintain and accommodate yourselves without working or needing UK government support. The Border Force Officer must, particularly, be satisfied that you will leave the UK when you have said you will.

To prove this, you can show evidence of the funds available to you, a return ticket, evidence of your employment and domestic circumstances in Korea and a good explanation of how you plan to spend your time in the UK. Admission to the UK as a visitor is not, however, merely a formality based upon, for example, a return ticket and available funds. In each case, the UK Border Officer will assess each passenger on their individual merits and decide whether their account of their reasons for coming here is reasonable and credible. There is, therefore, no prescriptive list of evidence which will guarantee admission to the UK as a visitor.

Visits over six months or for study/work:

If you are visiting for more than six months or if you are travelling to the UK to work or to study, you are likely to require a visa. To find out whether you need a visa for your visit to the UK, please use our 'Do I need a visa?' questionnaire.

Where can I get information?

UKBA and the British Embassy, Seoul work in partnership with a commercial organization: VFS Global. You can find out whether you need a visa and how to apply through VFS's website VFS's website.

VFS Global also provides information through e-mail (info.ukkr@vfshelpline.com) and telephone enquiry service, the number is (callers from Seoul) 6926 5050 or (callers from outside Seoul but within Korea) 02 6926 5050. A single call with unlimited call time costs KRW6, 600 (Only Local Korean Credit Cards Accepted)

Please note that the Embassy is unable to provide visa information to personal callers. Please contact VFS as described above.

All the information provided is supplied and approved by UK Border Agency.

Do I have to pay?

Website and email information is free of charge but there is a charge for using the telephone service (see above).

Where can I get advice?

VFS Global and its staff cannot give you advice on how to complete your application, or what type of visa you should apply for. If you need help with your application or advice about the UK's immigration rules and requirements, you should seek advice from a qualified immigration adviser. In the UK these are immigration advisers regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) or legally qualified professionals regulated by designated professional bodies. Their websites are:

How do I submit my application?

VFS Global manages the Visa Application Centre in Seoul, where you should submit your application and your biometric finger scans. (See link for details).

Who decides whether I will get a visa?

Your visa application will be processed and decided by UKvisas staff. Neither VFS Global nor any of its staff play any part in, nor can they influence the outcome of your visa application. If any member of staff employed by VFS Global claim to be able to influence your application you should inform the British Embassy as soon as possible.

Service standards - complaints and compliments

UK Border Agency aims to offer a fair and professional service to all our customers. We welcome feedback which helps us to focus on where we need to improve.

If you have any comments, or are concerned about the standard of service you received, please let us know. We investigate all complaints fully and will send you a reply within 20 working days

If you wish to complain about the service you received from UKvisas at this Embassy, please address your complaint to the Entry Clearance Manager directly at: British Embassy in Manila, 120 Upper Mckinley Road, McKinley Hills, Taguig City 1634, Philippines, or through U.K Visa Application Centre in Seoul at: 5F Danam Building, Namdaemun-Ro 5Ga 120, Jung-Gu, Seoul, South Korea; by e-mail to manilavisaenquiries@fco.gov.uk.

If you wish to complain about the service you received from VFS Global, you may submit it direct to their website, in person, or to the Entry Clearance Manager.