South Korea

1. Passport Requirements

• Your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your intended stay in South Korea.
• It should have at least one blank page for entry stamps.
• No strict 6-month validity rule beyond your stay (passport just needs to be valid during your visit).
• Machine-readable passports are required for visa-exempt entry and K-ETA.

2. Visa or K-ETA – What You Need Depends on Your Nationality

South Korea offers visa exemption for short-term stays to citizens of 112 countries and regions (with K-ETA required for most of them since 2021).

• Visa-exempt nationalities (K-ETA required for air/sea arrival) (112 countries/regions as of March 2026 – full list): Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Eswatini, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau SAR, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam.
  
  → No visa required for tourism, business meetings, short visits, transit.
  → Allowed stay: usually 90 days (some countries 30 days – check official list).
  → K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) mandatory for most visa-exempt travelers arriving by air or sea.
  → Apply online: www.k-eta.go.kr
  → Cost: KRW 10,000 (~USD 7–8).
  → Valid for 3 years (or until passport expires) — multiple entries, up to 90 days per visit.
  → Exempt from K-ETA: diplomatic/official passport holders, certain transit passengers, children under 17 in some cases (check latest exemptions).


• Countries requiring a visa in advance (countries not eligible for visa exemption – full list as of 2026): Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China (People’s Republic – ordinary passports), Comoros, Congo (Democratic Republic), Congo (Republic), Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia (ordinary passports), Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Korea (North), Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Russia (ordinary passports), Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa (some categories), South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
  
  → Apply for a short-term visitor visa (C-3-9) at a Korean embassy/consulate before travel.
  → Processing time: usually 5–15 working days.
  → Required documents: application form, passport, photos, proof of funds, onward ticket, invitation letter (if applicable).

Quick check: Official K-ETA eligibility & visa exemption list → www.k-eta.go.kr or www.visa.go.kr

3. Length of Stay

• Most visa-exempt visitors (with K-ETA): up to 90 days.
• Some nationalities: 30 days (check your country on official site).
• Extensions: rarely granted for tourism; apply at Immigration Office if justified (e.g. medical reasons).
• You cannot work or study long-term without separate visas/permits.

4. Other Important Requirements

• Proof of onward/return ticket — frequently checked at check-in or immigration.
• Proof of sufficient funds and accommodation — may be requested (rarely strict).
• No COVID-19 vaccination, testing, or quarantine required (rules fully removed since 2022–2023).
• Customs: Declare cash over USD 10,000 (or equivalent), restricted items (food, plants, medicines, weapons, etc.). Fill out customs declaration on arrival.
• Fingerprinting & photo: taken on arrival for most non-Korean nationals.

5. Practical Tips for a Smooth Trip

• Apply for K-ETA at least 72 hours before departure — ideally 1–2 weeks earlier to avoid delays.
• Verify latest rules directly on official sites (rules can change):
  → K-ETA official portal: www.k-eta.go.kr
  → Visa & immigration: www.visa.go.kr
  → Korea Tourism Organization: english.visitkorea.or.kr
• Admission is at the discretion of immigration officers — answer questions honestly.
• K-ETA is mandatory for most visa-exempt air/sea arrivals in 2026 — exemptions are limited and can change.

Safe travels to South Korea — whether you're heading to Seoul, Busan, Jeju Island, Gyeongju or the DMZ!