Scholar Invitations
Starting from next month, foreign scholars coming to South Korea to give lectures at the invitation of a non-profit organization will be able to enter the country without a short-term employment visa.
The South Korean government announced on July 22 that foreigners invited for public and academic purposes can use a short-term visit visa, such as C-3, B-1 and B-2, instead of C-4 under certain conditions from August 1.
At present,the C-4 visa is required for foreigners staying for a short time in South Korea to make money. Local government agencies and research institutes have pointed out that not a few foreign professors and scholars have turned down their invitations for lectures and research consultations due to the visa problem.
According to the new rule, the visa exemption is applied to those invited by a non-profit organization such as the central government, a local government, a government agency and a college and doing an activity such as lecturing for seven days or less at up to five organizations.
B-1 and B-2 are applied to those from countries subject to a visa waiver agreement or no-visa entry.C-3 visa issuance at diplomatic offices is required otherwise.