South Korea has issued some new visa requirements for Vietnamese citizens who travel to the country via tour packages.

Illustrative photo.

Accordingly, Vietnamese applicants from November 18 have to attach their original passbooks to their visa applications instead of their photocopies or confirmation from banks.

According to the official website of Korea Visa Application Center in Hanoi, all tour operators must submit their clients’ original passbooks, which will be returned after verification.

For a trouble-free verification of the financial situation, Vietnamese visa applicants must submit proof of their savings of at least US$5,000. The sum of money must be deposited into their savings account at least one month before the submission.

A tour operator recommended tourists prepare additional documents including copies of their labor contracts, the original leave permission letter, business license, among others, to increase the chance of being approved of their applications.

The South Korean government decided to temporarily waive fees for short-term visa applications for citizens from ASEAN countries to increase the chances of ASEAN countries' visitors to South Korea since October 1st this year.

The end of the year is the peak time for tourists to visit South Korea to sightseeing the maple tree forests.