C-3-6 (Preferred-Company Invited Business) Korea Visa Guide | 2026

1. What C-3-6 Is

C-3-6 covers those invited by an enterprise or organisation selected as a preferred company. It sits alongside the other business routes in the short-term visit family: C-3-4 일반상용 for ordinary business visits, and C-3-5 for business visits made under an international agreement. The advantage of this code is the standing of the inviting company, which is what the designation exists to recognise.

2. Eligibility Checklist

• Invited by an enterprise or organisation officially selected as a preferred company (우대기업) via the Korea Visa Portal.
• Purpose fits the short-term business scope of the invitation.
• Invitation/employment-affiliation records are valid and specific.
• Return-intent evidence supports a short-stay business profile.
• No unresolved immigration-history issues affecting credibility.

3. Criteria Summary

• C-3-6 is not points-based.
• Review is invitation-document and inviting-company-standing driven.
• The preferred-company designation is what distinguishes this from ordinary C-3-4 business visits.
• Purpose drift toward non-business activity is a refusal risk factor.

4. Salary and Contract Rules

• C-3-6 is not salary-floor or employment-contract based — it is a short-term visit status, not a work visa.
• Financial capability for the stay should be evidenced if requested.
• Sponsor/support claims (from the inviting company) should be internally consistent.
• Conflicting invitation/affiliation records can trigger refusal risk.

5. Employer and Workplace Change Rules

• C-3-6 is a temporary visit status, not an employment category — it does not authorise ongoing work in Korea.
• Permitted activity scope is limited to the declared business visit purpose tied to the inviting preferred company.
• Unauthorized work/activity can impact current and future applications.
• Maintain clear invitation and institutional contact records.

6. Required Documents

• Visa application form, passport, photo, and fee proof.
• Invitation letter from the designated preferred company.
• Employment/affiliation certificate.
• Business-purpose itinerary and return-related evidence.
• Any additional documents requested by reviewing mission/office.

7. Fees and Processing

• Fees follow current short-stay issuance schedules.
• Stay/validity per current guidance: 90-day stay, 5-year visa validity — confirm current figures with the Korea Visa Portal before applying.
• Processing varies by consulate and case completeness.
• Apply with consistent purpose and invitation documents.

8. Common Rejection Reasons

• Purpose does not satisfy C-3-6 scope, or the inviting company isn't a designated preferred company.
• Invitation/affiliation evidence is weak or inconsistent.
• Business-purpose evidence conflicts with declared itinerary.
• Short-stay intent is not credibly established.
• Material contradictions exist across core records.

9. FAQ