Visitors to South Korea are required to obtain a visa from one of the South Korean diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries, in which case they may apply for a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) instead.
Visa policy map
Visa exemption Korea Electronic Travel Authorization
The Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) is a mandatory requirement for visitors from visa exemption countries visiting South Korea, which came into effect on 1 September 2021. visitors 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, visitors have the option to apply for a visa instead.
Holders of ordinary passports of the following countries and territories may apply for a K-ETA:
6 months
90 days European Union member states (except Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Luxembourg and Netherlands)
3 months
60 days
30 days
* - Exempt from the K-ETA requirement from 1 April 2023 to 31 December 2026. 1 - 90 days within any 180 days. 2 - 60 days, 90 days within any 180 days. 3 - 30 days, 60 days within any 180 days. 4 - 30 days for British nationals other than British citizens.
Date of visa changesVisa exemption
12 April 1967: France 17 August 1969: Tunisia 1 October 1969: Denmark, Norway and Sweden 19 December 1969: United Kingdom 1 April 1970: Iceland 1 June 1970: Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands 5 September 1970: Lesotho 8 April 1972: Spain 3 May 1972: Turkey 24 January 1974: Germany 1 March 1974: Finland 5 May 1975: Italy 3 August 1976: Suriname 25 February 1979: Greece 5 April 1979: Mexico 25 June 1979: Austria 28 June 1979: Liechtenstein and Switzerland 19 September 1979: Portugal 22 October 1981: Costa Rica 9 December 1981: Thailand 25 December 1981: Colombia 4 March 1982: Dominican Republic 12 June 1982: Peru 23 September 1982: Liberia 1 November 1982: Singapore 9 September 1983: Malaysia 11 March 1984: Barbados 4 September 1988: Bahamas 12 July 1989: Ireland 21 March 1990: Haiti 30 March 1990: Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia 6 July 1990: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 27 January 1991: Grenada 25 April 1991: Hungary 1 September 1993: Morocco 23 October 1993: Malta 27 November 1993: Jamaica 24 December 1993: Poland 13 August 1994: Bulgaria 30 September 1994: New Zealand 15 October 1994: Trinidad and Tobago 5 November 1994: Czech Republic 29 December 1994: Antigua and Barbuda 8 April 1995: Nicaragua 24 May 1995: Israel 15 July 1995: Slovakia 22 May 1996: Romania 14 February 1997: El Salvador 9 August 2001: Panama 18 August 2001: Estonia 9 May 2002: Lithuania 20 May 2002: Brazil 27 June 2003: Latvia 17 December 2003: Guatemala 20 October 2004: Chile 1 March 2006: Japan 22 December 2007: Venezuela 10 January 2013: Uruguay
1 January 2014: Russia 29 November 2014: Kazakhstan 21 September 2016: United Arab Emirates 16 September 2022: Qatar
Cancelled: Pakistan: 1 October 2001Was applied under visa waiver agreement from 8 June 1985 Bangladesh: 15 July 2008Was applied under visa waiver agreement from 17 March 1983 Egypt: 1 September 2018 Liberia: 18 July 2019
Tour groups Citizens of China may visit South Korea without a visa for up to 15 days as part of a tour group of 3 or more people accompanied by a representative of a tour operator registered in both countries.
On 25 February 2026, South Korea announced that it will be expanding the tour group visa-free policy towards citizens of Indonesia in the future.
* - In effect from 29 September 2025 to 31 December 2026.
Non-ordinary passports
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):
6 months
180 days
3 months
90 days
60 days
30 days D - Diplomatic passports only. Sp - Special passports included. 1 - 90 days within any 180 days.
In addition, holders of United Nations Laissez-Passer are visa-exempt for up to 30 days.
APEC Business Travel Card 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:
Future changes South Korea has signed visa exemption agreements with the following countries, but they have not yet entered into force:
Country Passports Agreement signed on Diplomatic, official 29 May 2023
Transit In general, visitors 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.
Transit Tourism Program Visitors 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.
Citizens of the following countries and territories, as well as stateless persons and refugees, are not eligible for this service:
30-day visa exemption 1.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:
They are directly arriving in South Korea from one of these countries and going to a third country, or directly leaving South Korea to one of these countries after arriving from a third country; or, They are arriving in South Korea from one of these countries and have transited in a fourth country for less than 72 hours before entering South Korea, and continuing to a third country; or, They are leaving South Korea after arriving from a third country to one of these countries and will be transiting in a fourth country for less than 72 hours.
1 - Holders of an e-Visa or e-resident permit are only permitted visa-free entry if they depart from Australia.
② hold a visa (including permanent residency) to enter at least one of the 32 European countries and △ transit through Korea to enter one of the 32 European countries, or, △ departed from one of the 32 European countries and transit through Korea bound for the country of origin or a third country ** Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Romania, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Malta, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Iceland, Ireland, Estonia, United Kingdom, Austria, Italy, Czechia, Croatia, Portugal, Poland, France, Finland, Hungary
This policy does not apply to the citizens of the following countries and territories:
Nationality evaluation 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.
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). Descendants of first-generation Sakhalin Koreans may be eligible for South Korean nationality through either express naturalization or reinstatement.
Jeju Visa Waiver Program 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.
Visitors using this program must hold a K-ETA approval before their flight and enter Jeju via direct, international flights landing at Jeju International Airport 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 tours in designated areas Tourist groups from the following countries can travel visa-free to Gangwon province and the Seoul metropolitan area if arriving via Yangyang International Airport. This system is extended once a year from June of this year to May of the following year and the maximum stay period is 15 days.
Additionally, tourist groups from those countries (except Mongolia) can travel visa-free to South Jeolla, North Jeolla and Jeju provinces if arriving via Muan International Airport. Likewise, this system is extended once a year from April of this year to March of the following year and the maximum stay period is 15 days.
Citizens of mainland China who are traveling as part of a tourist group with an authorized travel agent may stay in Jeju island for up to 15 days and in mainland South Korea for an additional 5 days if traveling to Jeju International Airport via Seoul, Busan, Cheongju, Muan or Yangyang. Besdies, groups of tourists that hold Japanese group tour visas may stay for 15 days. Student groups of Chinese primary or high schools may stay for 30 days, provided the groups are supervised by authorized members of the school staff.
Visas
South Korea provides visas to cover various approved activities in country.
Working Holiday Visa (H-1) 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 initially up to 12 month and engage in some programs under employment or educational activities. However, the main purpose of the trip is intended to be vacation.
People at the ages between 18 and 25/30/34/35, 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.
Overseas Study (D-2) visa The Overseas Study (D-2) visa is issued to a foreigner who are planning to study at the undergraduate or above level of school.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In 2010, 68 illegal tutors on D-2 visas were caught by the immigration department.