The visa policy of South Korea allows citizens of certain countries to enter South Korea without a visa (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) or without a K-ETA at all.
Citizens of certain other countries are required to have a visa from one of the South Korean diplomatic missions.[1] [2]
The Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) is a mandatory requirement for travelers from visa exemption countries visiting South Korea, which came into effect on 1 September 2021.[3] Travelers holding ordinary passports from eligible countries and territories must obtain a K-ETA before their departure to South Korea. If the K-ETA application is rejected, travelers have the option to apply for a visa instead.[4] [5]
Holders of ordinary passports of the following countries and territories may apply for a K-ETA:
| 6 months
90 days
3 months 60 days
30 days |
1 - Except Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Luxembourg and Netherlands.
2 - For citizens of Portugal and Romania: 90 days within 180 days.
3 - 90 days within any 180 days.
4 - 60 days, 90 days within any 180 days.
5 - 30 days, 60 days within any 180 days.
6 - 30 days for British nationals other than British citizens.
Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports of the following countries may enter South Korea without a visa for a maximum period of 90 days (unless otherwise stated):[30]
| Indefinite stay 6 months 180 days 3 months 90 days 60 days 30 days |
D - Diplomatic passports only.
S - Service passports included.
Sp - Special passports included.
1 - 90 days within any 180 days.
In addition, holders of laissez-passers are visa exemption for 30 days.
South Korea and Cameroon signed a visa exemption agreement for diplomatic and service passports in June 2024 and it is yet to be ratified.[31]
Holders of passports issued by the following countries who possess an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) containing the "KOR" code on the reverse that it is valid for travel to South Korea can enter without a visa for business trips for up to 90 days.
ABTCs are issued to citizens of:[32]
South Korea has signed visa exemption agreements with the following countries, but they have not yet entered into force:
| Country | Passports | Agreement signed on |
|---|---|---|
 Indonesia | Diplomatic | 15 May 2023 |
 Iraq | Diplomatic | 31 August 2023 |
 Papua New Guinea | Diplomatic, official | 29 May 2023 |
In general, travelers in transit do not require a visa to transit through South Korea for less than 24 hours (for Incheon Airport) or when departing on the same calendar day (for all other airports) as long as they stay within the transit area.
The South Korean government has special visa waiver policies for passengers in transit, which are listed below.
Travelers who are in transit through Incheon International Airport can participate in an organized transit tour group within Seoul.
The service is free but an entry-procedure fee of 10,000 KRW or 10 USD applies. The tour can be registered in advance or joined after the traveler's arrival, and the shortest tour lasts for an hour while the longest will not exceed 5 hours.[33]
Citizens of the following countries and territories, as well as stateless persons and refugees, are not eligible for this service:
Non visa exemption citizens who are in transit through South Korea are exempt from visa requirements for 30 days, provided they hold a physical visa or a residence permit issued by the following countries, and meet one of the routing requirements:
1 - Holders of an e-Visa or e-resident permit are only permitted visa-free entry if they depart from Australia.
This policy does not apply to the citizens of the following countries and territories:[34]
Under article 20 of the Nationality Act, North Koreans and Sakhalin Koreans are eligible for the evaluation of nationality. The evaluation is used to determine whether one possesses South Korean nationality based on the Nationality Act of South Korea.[35]
As a part of the evaluation process, the applicant's personal history, family ties, migration history and current nationality (if any) will be examined by the Ministry of Justice. Successful applicants will be allowed to acquire South Korean nationality (in case of North Koreans) or have their South Korean nationality reinstated (for first-generation Sakhalin Koreans).[36] Descendants of first-generation Sakhalin Koreans may be eligible for South Korean nationality through either express naturalization or reinstatement.[37]
The Jeju Visa Waiver Program allows all holders of ordinary passports, except of the following citizens of other countries and territories, to stay without a visa for 30 days in Jeju Province.[38]
Travelers using this program must hold a K-ETA approval before their flight and enter Jeju via direct flights only.
However, the above-mentioned nationalities are eligible if holding a Certificate of Invitation issued by Jeju Government or Jeju Island Immigration Office, or have previously visited South Korea for 3 times since 1996 or once since 2006 while holding permanent residence permits issued by Five Eyes countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States).
Group tourists of the following countries can travel visa-free to 'Gangwon-do' region of South Korea and the Seoul metropolitan area through Yangyang International Airport. The maximum stay period is 15 days.
And group tourists of the following countries can travel visa-free to 'Jeollanam-do', 'Jeollabuk-do' and 'Jeju-do' regions of South Korea through Muan International Airport. The maximum stay period is 15 days.
| If traveling by air to Jeju Island via Seoul, Busan, Cheongju, Muan or Yangyang, citizens of China who are traveling as part of a tourist group with an authorized travel agent may stay in mainland South Korea for up to 5 days. They may also remain in Jeju for 15 days. |
South Korea provides visas to cover various approved activities in country.
The Working Holiday Visa (H-1) is issued to young-adult foreigners in some countries which have reciprocal agreements with South Korea. Holders are allowed to stay in the country for up to one year and engage in some employment activities as well as some educational activities. However, the main purpose of the trip is intended to be vacation.
People between the ages of 18 and 25 or 30, depending on the country, are eligible for a South Korean working holiday visa. A working holiday visa holder cannot be employed in certain jobs such as receptionist, dancer, singer, musician, acrobat, or in places of entertainment where they may endanger good morals and manners.[39] [40]
The Overseas Study (D-2) visa is issued to a foreigner who are planning to study at the undergraduate or above level of school.[41]
Due to the high cost of education and difficulty in attracting foreign students the government considered granting special work visas to parents of students on D-2 visas in 2006. Parents would have been able to remain and work in the country for up to five years.[42]
In the same year it was noted that foreign students often taught illegally to keep up with their finances. Immigration law allowed D-2 visa holders only to work part-time in some businesses which paid an average of 3000W per hour. Students were allowed to work only 20 hours per week. However, students could earn 30000-50000W per hour teaching languages as tutors.[43]
In 2007 over 1800 foreigners on D-2 visas were found to be working illegally. Foreigners who have a D-2 visa are prohibited from working full-time.[44]
2009 saw concern raised over Chinese nationals who overstayed their visas. There was an 11.7 times increase in overstays on the D-2 and other visas. It was also reported that "a number" of those entering on D-2 visas from China were doing so only to find a job illegally.[45]
In 2010, 68 illegal tutors on D-2 visas were caught by the immigration department.[46]
The Corporate Investment (D-8) visa is issued to foreigners who are going to own and manage a small or medium business in South Korea or who are sent as specialists to work at businesses owned by companies outside Korea., individuals wishing to apply for this visa on their own must invest a minimum of 50 million won.[47] [48]
The amount of money required as an investment by foreigners to obtain the visa has risen over the years. In 1991 a foreign investor was required to invest only 25 million won, then in 2001 this was raised to 50 million won. In 2010 the government announced that it was looking to increase this further to 100 million for a number of reasons. Due to inflation, a rise in the cost of living and other costs they felt that 100 million was more representative of what was required as a minimum investment to start a business in Korea. However, there was also concern that some foreigners were taking advantage of the visa and using it to reside permanently in Korea without actually creating any business. Once the visa has been issued the government doesn't keep track of the investment, so some foreigners were using agents who provided the investment money for a fee in order for them to obtain the visa. Concern was raised that the increase would do nothing to deter abuse of the visa and would instead discourage foreign investment in Korea.[49] The regulations surrounding the visa and foreign business ownership have been criticized for requiring a Korean guarantor even though the foreigner has invested a large sum of money and been given permission to open nearly any business they wish.[50]
The Foreign Language teaching (E-2) visa is issued to foreign language teachers who work in South Korea. Applicants are required to be native residents of a country whose mother tongue is the same as the language they will teach and they are also required to hold a bachelor's degree from that country. Applications are required to submit criminal background checks, health checks, sealed transcripts, verified copies of their degree, contracts and a fee to obtain the visa.[51]
In 2007, the government introduced several new regulations to the E-2 visa. Included in these were a criminal record check, health check, and consulate/embassy interview for first-time applicants.[52] In 2008 several English-speaking countries that were disqualified from applying for the E-2 visa denounced it as discriminatory. The Philippines ambassador met with Korean Immigration officials to try to persuade them to change the policy and allow teachers from the Philippines to teach English in South Korea.[53] However, the government had already indicated earlier in the year that they planned to look at expanding E-2 visas to additional countries but it required the approval of various government agencies, so there was no timeframe for when it would come to fruition.[54]
In 2010, foreign instructors already working in Korea on E-2 visa also called the rules surrounding the visa discriminatory because they were subject to criminal background checks and tests for HIV and drug use, unlike other foreign teachers on different visas, such as ethnic Koreans born abroad or foreigners married to Korean citizens.[55] Korean Immigration responded that it was their policy to favour ethnic Koreans and that other nations and territories followed similar policies.[56] Increasing crime was cited as a reason for the regulations, but some teachers felt it was a moral panic reaction to the arrest of pedophile Christopher Paul Neil who had taught in South Korea, but did not have a criminal record at the time of his arrest and had never worked on an E-2 visa.[57] Immigration again claimed the right to decide how and to whom it issued visas.[58] Later in 2009, a challenge was filed with the National Human Rights Commission in Korea over the checks by law professor Benjamin Wagner.[59] [60] Professor Wagner represented two foreign teachers in cases against the allegedly discriminatory requirements that reached the Korea Constitutional Court[61] and went on to be decided in favour of the foreign teachers by the United Nations Human Rights Committee[62] and the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.[63] [64] In 2017, the Korean government subsequently announced that it was eliminating the HIV test requirement for foreign teachers on the E-2 visa.[65]
The Residency (F-2) visa is issued to spouses of Korean nationals or holders of the F-5 permanent residency visa. Applicants must provide documents proving financial ability and relationship.[66] The visa is also issued to refugees who gain permanent residence status in Korea.[67]
Concern was raised in 2008 that "unqualified foreigner teachers" were using F visas like the F-2 to gain employment in Korea.[68] The government passed a law in 2009 that would change the visas issued to government employees of foreign countries from E7 to F2.[69] In 2010 the government announced that foreigners who invested over 500,000 USD on Jeju Island can also obtain an F-2 residency visa.[70] It was also announced in 2010 that foreigners already on certain visas would be given an opportunity to change their visa to an F-2 visa after meeting certain criteria and accruing a certain number of points.[71] [72]
Citizens of North Korea seeking to visit South Korea cannot use a North Korean passport to travel to South Korea. They must instead submit a North / South Korea visitation verification certificate as well as a departure card to the South Korean immigration officer at the port of entry and go through immigration inspection in South Korea. They must also seek authorization from the North Korean government prior to departure.
Most visitors arriving to South Korea were from the following countries of nationality:[73]
| Origin | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 686,430 | 6,023,021 | 4,789,512 | 4,169,353 | 8,067,722 | 5,894,170 | 6,126,865 | 4,326,869 | ||
| 430,742 | 3,271,706 | 2,948,527 | 2,311,447 | 2,297,893 | 1,837,782 | 2,280,434 | 2,747,750 | ||
| 220,417 | 1,044,038 | 967,992 | 868,881 | 866,186 | 767,613 | 770,305 | 722,315 | ||
| 166,716 | 1,260,493 | 1,115,333 | 925,616 | 833,465 | 518,190 | 643,683 | 544,662 | ||
| 115,696 | 503,867 | 460,168 | 448,702 | 556,745 | 403,622 | 434,951 | 400,786 | ||
| 88,878 | 694,934 | 683,818 | 658,031 | 650,676 | 523,427 | 558,377 | 400,435 | ||
| 81,939 | 553,731 | 457,818 | 324,740 | 251,402 | 162,765 | 141,504 | 117,070 | ||
| 76,568 | 571,610 | 558,912 | 498,511 | 470,107 | 371,769 | 466,783 | 372,878 | ||
| 73,086 | 343,057 | 302,542 | 270,427 | 233,973 | 188,106 | 214,366 | 175,360 | ||
| 66,762 | 278,575 | 249,067 | 230,837 | 295,461 | 193,590 | 208,329 | 189,189 | ||
| 48,550 | 408,590 | 382,929 | 307,641 | 311,254 | 223,350 | 244,520 | 207,727 | ||
| Total | 2,519,118 | 17,502,756 | 15,346,879 | 13,335,758 | 17,241,823 | 13,231,651 | 14,201,516 | 12,175,550 |
Canada
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Botswana
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Grenada
Guam
Guatemala
Haiti
Hong Kong
Iceland
Israel
Jamaica
Japan
Kuwait
Macao
Morocco
Nicaragua
Norway
Panama
Peru
Qatar
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Serbia
Singapore
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Belgium
Greece
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Suriname
Switzerland
Lesotho
Albania
Andorra
Bahrain
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cyprus
Fiji
Guyana
Honduras
Kazakhstan
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Monaco
Montenegro
Nauru
New Caledonia
Oman
Palau
Paraguay
Samoa
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Seychelles
Solomon Islands
South Africa
Tonga
Tunisia
Tuvalu
Germany
Philippines
Austria
Pakistan
Algeria
Armenia
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bulgaria
Cape Verde
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Finland
France
Gabon
Georgia
Hungary
India
Ireland
Italy
Jordan
Latvia
Liberia
Lithuania
Malta
Mongolia
Mozambique
Myanmar
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Tajikistan
Timor-Leste
Ukraine
Vanuatu
Cambodia
Uzbekistan
Angola
Azerbaijan
China
Kyrgyzstan
Lebanon
Turkmenistan
Afghanistan
Cameroon
Cuba
Gambia
Ghana
Nepal
Nigeria
Senegal
Somalia
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Yemen