Article 1 (General Matters)
1-1. This agreement is to regulate the rights, duties, and responsibilities of the embassy, consulate, visa application center, and visa applicants in Korea when the visa application center provides visa-related services to the applicant.
Article 2 (Definition)
1) ‘Embassy’ indicates the embassy in Korea.
2) ‘Consulate’ indicates the consulate in Korea.
3) ‘Visa application center’ indicates an organization providing various services related to Korea visa application to an applicant according to an order of procedures determined by embassy and consulate.
4) ‘Visa applicant’ indicates a person concerned who applies for a Korean visa or a third party entrusted for the application to the visa application center including individuals, travel agencies, or other visa agency organizations.
5) ‘Personal information’ indicates all the personal information written when an applicant submits the visa application data including information related to name, gender, data of birth, passport, nationality, telephone number, address, and work place.
6) ‘Visa application commission’ indicates a fee received from an applicant after the visa application center serves as an agent of embassy or consulate according to regulations determined by embassy or consulate.
7) ‘Visa receipt’ indicates a proof document representing that a visa applicant has submitted a Korea visa application to the visa application center and paid the visa commission. This is the one and only proof document that can track passport or visa-related documents after issuing the visa.
Article 3 (Visa Application Center Services)
The visa application center performs following tasks.
1) The visa application center only serves the role of a visa service agent of the embassy and consulate in Korea and hence is not involved in any of the decision making process of the embassy and consulate in Korea.
2) Accept the visa application from an applicant on behalf of the embassy and consulate.
3) Enter and manage basic and additional information related to the visa application.
4) Provide services for submitting related resources (passport, visa, and other documents) to the embassy and consulate on behalf of a visa applicant.
5) Receive a payment of visa fees on behalf of the embassy and distribute the visa to the applicant.
6) Notify of visa-related information and provide services for responding to inquiries via the official website, customer service, telephone, and email to the visa application center
7) Provide services needed for a visa applicant
Article 4 (Rights and Duties of the Embassy and Consulate in Korea)
1) The embassy and consulate in Korea have the right to approve or deny the visa application of an applicant, and the visa application center is not involved in any of the decision making process of embassy and consulate in Korea.
2) The embassy and consulate in Korea are eligible to request additional documents, information, or resources (hereinafter referred to as “additional documents”) to an applicant for screening the visa application.
3) Time consumed by the embassy and consulate in Korea when deciding issues related to visa issuance or matters related to an applicant is approved by the embassy and consulate in Korea on their own rights.
Article 5 (Rights and Duties of Visa Applicants)
1) The visa applicant is required to provide accurate information according to the facts when preparing for the visa application.
2) The visa applicant is required to pay a visa fee depending on the type of visa. However, the visa applicant is required to pay the visa fee to the visa application center regardless of visa approval, and this fee is non-refundable.
3) The visa applicant is eligible to make inquiries to the official website, customer service, telephone, and email the visa application center. However, information provided to the visa applicant is general and limited and hence is not a promise or guarantee for the visa application. The visa application center is not legally responsible for this matter.
4) When receiving the visa receipt, the visa applicant is required to confirm whether the received contents are consistent with the applied contents. If they differ, they are required to immediately request for modification to the visa application center.
5) When the visa is issued and received by an applicant, the visa applicant is required to see if the issued contents are consistent with the applied contents. If they differ, an applicant is required to immediately notify the visa application center. However, if the cause of fault is attributed to the applicant, the visa applicant is responsible for the fee paid for the modification and reissuance of the visa.
6) The visa applicant is required to determine a period of visa application according to their departure schedule. The period required for screening the application that is specified on the official website is a general criterion without any issue for the visa application. If there are specific requirements such as supplementary documents or confirmation whether submitted documents are authentic or not, the screening period is subject to change.
7) The visa applicant is required to receive the issued visa along with the passport submitted when applying for the visa prior to the expiration of the visa. The visa application center is not responsible for preserving the passport and visa that have expired for collection.
Article 6 (Additional Services)
The visa applicant is eligible to use additional services including photograph, translation, copy and print, writing, and parcel delivery by paying a separate fee other than the one for the visa. However, relevant additional services are provided by a separate organization from the visa application center for the convenience of visa applicants. Therefore, service is provided upon the agreement of the relevant organization.
Article 7 (Responsibility)
1) If the passport submitted by a visa applicant is lost or damaged while the visa application center is in possession of it, the visa application center is required to pay for the expenses in reissuing the passport. However, the visa applicant is required to submit a receipt for fees in reissuing the passport. This does not mean that the visa application center is liable for all responsibilities.
2) If the visa issuance is postponed or denied because the visa applicant did not follow visa application procedures, the visa application center is not responsible for anything regarding the relevant issue.
3) In case of loss or damage of visa application documents or passport due to unavoidable causes including natural disaster or war, the visa application center is not liable.
Article 8 (Personal Information)
1) The visa application center collects personal information of a visa applicant to provide visa receipt service.
2) If an applicant does not provide personal information or agree with collection, usage, and disclosure of personal information, the visa application center is not eligible to provide visa service.
3) The applicant is required to read personal information protection policies provide by the visa application center prior to submitting the visa application documents. Personal information protection policies provided by the visa application center are available at www.visaforkorea-mn.com.
4) Personal information protection policies state the rights of an applicant in regard of collection, usage, and disclosure of personal information of an applicant.
5) Phone calls with the visa application center may be recorded for the purpose of improving the service quality, and CCTV is in operation in the visa application center for security maintenance.
Article 9 (Fees and Currency)
1) All the fees paid by an applicant to the visa application center are indicated in PHP including VAT.
2) Visa application is not available if making a payment in currency other than PHP.
3) All the fees specified on the official website are subject to be modified without notification.
Article 10 (Modification or Removal of Agreement)
It is possible to modify, cancel, or delete the articles of agreement of the visa application center without advance notification.
Article 11 (Resolution of Conflict)
All conflicts or lawsuits that occur in regard to visa applications are resolved in a competent court of ‘the visa application center.’