South Korea Visa Requirements

Documents you need to entry to the Republic of Korea

If you’re planning a trip to South Korea, you need to understand the entry requirements.

South Korean entry requirements depend on:

  • Your nationality
  • How long you’ll stay
  • The reason for your visit

You can use the information on this page to find out what you need for your trip.

Documents You Need to Travel to South Korea

To travel to South Korea, all foreign nationals need:

You cannot board a flight or ship to South Korea without these essential documents.

korea requirements travel

Korean Entry Requirements for Your Nationality

Passport holders from more than 100 countries can travel to South Korea with a K-ETA. It’s quicker and easier to obtain an electronic travel authorization than a visa.

These are some of the countries eligible for the K-ETA. The maximum number of days you can stay in South Korea with a K-ETA is shown.

  • Andorra (30)
  • Argentina (30)
  • Australia* (90)
  • Austria* (90)
  • Belgium* (90)
  • Brazil (90)
  • Brunei (30)
  • Canada* (180)
  • Chile (90)
  • Colombia (90)
  • Costa Rica (90)
  • Croatia (90)
  • Cyprus (30)
  • Czech Republic (90)
  • Denmark (90 days in 180-day period)
  • Dominica (90)
  • Dominican Republic (90)
  • Finland (90 days in 180-day period)
  • France* (90)
  • Germany* (90)
  • Greece (90)
  • Guatemala (90)
  • Honduras (30)
  • Hong Kong* (90)
  • Hungary (90)
  • Iceland (90 days in 180-day period)
  • Ireland (90)
  • Israel (30)
  • Italy* (90)
  • Jamaica (90)
  • Japan* (90)
  • Lithuania (90)
  • Luxembourg (90)
  • Malaysia (90)
  • Mexico (90)
  • Netherlands (90)
  • New Zealand* (90)
  • Nicaragua (90)
  • Norway (90 days in 180-day period)
  • Poland (90)
  • Portugal (90 days in 180-day period)
  • Qatar (30)
  • Romania (90)
  • Russia (60/90 days in 180-day period)
  • San Marino (30)
  • Saudi Arabia (30)
  • Serbia (90)
  • Singapore* (90)
  • South Africa (30)
  • Spain* (90)
  • Switzerland (90)
  • Taiwan* (90)
  • Thailand (90)
  • Turkey (90)
  • Tuvalu (30)
  • United Arab Emirates (90)
  • United Kingdom* (90)
  • United States* (90)
  • Uruguay (90)
  • Venezuela (90)

(*)The K-ETA is not currently mandatory for nationals of this country but you can still apply. If you have a K-ETA you do not need to submit an Arrival Card allowing for a faster border crossing.

If your country is not on this list, contact us to find out whether you are eligible.

South Korea Tourist Visa Requirements

Foreigners need to apply for a tourist visa for South Korea if they are not eligible to travel with a K-ETA. A tourist visa for Korea is required if the visitor:

  • passport tourist visa
    Is not from a visa-exempt nation
  • days tourist visa
    Wishes to stay longer than the time permitted with the ETA (usually 90 days)
  • travelticket tourist visa
    Does not meet all of the other ETA requirements for South Korea

In these cases, visa-free entry is not permitted. Tourists must instead begin a South Korea travel visa application through the embassy or consulate.

Nationalities that need a tourist visa for South Korea

If you are not eligible for K-ETA, you need a tourist visa to travel to South Korea short term.

Some of the countries with visa requirements for Korea include:

Travelers who need a visa should contact the Republic of Korea embassy or consulate.

It takes longer to apply for a South Korea visa than an ETA. If you need a visa based on your nationality, get started with your application well ahead of your trip.

Passport requirements to travel to Korea

Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay in South Korea. You should also have at least 1 blank passport page for the entry stamp.

If your passport is about to expire, you should renew it before applying for a K-ETA. The electronic travel authorization is only valid with the passport you use to apply. The details on your ETA must match your passport exactly.

What You Need to Stay in South Korea Long-Term

You need to apply for a visa to go to South Korea for a long stay. All foreign nationals need a South Korean visa to stay long-term, regardless of nationality.

There are several different types of South Korean visa available including for:

  • Medical treatment
  • Work and job seekers
  • Study and training
  • Investment
  • International trade

You’ll need to meet all the visa requirements to apply. You must enter Korea for the purposes stated on your visa and abide by the visa conditions.

Health Requirements for South Korea

You need to meet the health requirements to travel to South Korea. Speak to a medical professional a few weeks before your trip and get any vaccinations you may need for Korea.

COVID-19 health requirements for South Korea have ended. You do not need vaccine certificates or a pre-departure test to travel.

Entering South Korea: Immigration Requirements

As well as your passport, you need these documents to clear Korean immigration.

  1. Arrival Card: You do not need to submit an arrival card if you’re traveling with a K-ETA. This entry requirement applies to visa holders only.
  2. Customs declaration form: All passengers need to fill out a customs declaration form for South Korea. If you’re entering Korea with your family, you can submit just one form. If you’re arriving in Korea via Incheon International Airport (ICN) Terminal 2 or Gimpo International Airport (GMP) you can complete the customs declaration online before you depart.

Note that holding these documents does not guarantee entry to South Korea. Korean border officials have the right to grant or deny entry based on immigration laws.