Visa to South Korea

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Visa to South Korea

 
 
Passport & Visa
 
Passport Validity Requirements:
 
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your planned departure date from South Korea. It’s also recommended to have at least six blank pages in your passport for immigration stamps.

For holders of United States and Canadian passports

You do NOT need a visa to enter South Korea and do NOT need to apply for a K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) until December 31, 2025.
For holders of other countries' passports

Please visit the official Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) website here immediately to check if your nationality requires a visa to enter Korea.
 
If a visa is required for your nationality, please contact the nearest Korean Embassy or Consulate to check the application process and required documents.
 
 

List of Countries with Visa Exemption
(No visa required for entry to South Korea)
 
Designated Countries & Regions Granted Visa-Free Entry to South Korea: allowed to stay in South Korea for 90 days 
 
ASIA
Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, China P. R. (Hongkong), China P. R. (Macao), Taiwan
EUROPE
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom
NORTH AMERICA
Canada (6 months), United States
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARRIBEAN
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago
SOUTH AMERICA
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela
AFRICA
Botswana, Morocco
OCEANIA
Australia, New Zealand
MIDDLE EAST
Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates
 
Remarks:​  
  • Visitors from countries highlighted in green color do NOT need to register the K-ETA until December 31, 2025.
  • Visitors from countries in black must apply for the K-ETA online at least 10 days before arrival. For more information, see below.
 

Countries Requiring a Visa
 
Visitors from countries not listed in the visa exemption list above are required to apply for a visa in order to enter South Korea.
 
Please take immediate action to check your visa requirements and submit your application by June 10, 2025 to avoid any travel issues.
 
What you need to do:

STEP 1: Please check visa requirements with the Korean Embassy or Consulate in your country or state of residence.
 
STEP 2: Apply for a Tourist Visa (C-3-9)
  • Many Korean Embassies/Consulates require advance appointments—don’t delay!
  • Processing typically takes 5–6 weeks or more, so plan accordingly. 
 
Important Notes:
  • If you live in the United States or Canada:
    Apply at your nearest Korean Embassy or Consulate. CLICK HERE for North America contact details.
  • If you reside outside North America:
    Visit the Korean MOFA site, select your continent and country from the drop-down menu, and locate your nearest embassy/consulate: https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/us-sanfrancisco-en/brd/m_24317/view.do?seq=16&page=1
  • You do not need a K-ETA if you have a valid visa entry Korea. 
  • Visa approval is at the sole discretion of the Korean authorities, and Journey Beyond Asia (JBA) is not responsible for the outcome of your visa application. In the event of a visa denial and subsequent tour cancellation request, applicable cancellation charges will apply.
 

Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) 
for Visa-Exempt Countries Entry to South Korea
 
 
K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) allows visa-free countries entry for K-ETA eligible nationals. Without K-ETA, visitors from visa-free countries cannot board planes or ships heading to South Korea.
  • From 1st January to 31st December 2025, citizens of 22 countries/regions temporarily have NO NEED to apply for K-ETA: USA (including Guam), Canada, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Taiwan, Denmark, Germany, Macau, Belgium, Sweden, Spain, Singapore, UK, Austria, Italy, Japan, Poland, France, Finland, Australia, Hong Kong.
  • You can visit the official Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) website to check the visa and K-ETA requirements. The website provides guidelines on how to apply for the K-ETA.
  • The assessment can take more than 72 hours depending of the situation. Therefore, you should apply for K-ETA with sufficient time. 
  • The K-ETA fee is 10,000 KRW per person (approximately USD 9~10, additional fee excluded) and is non-refundable even if the application is denied. 
You do not need a K-ETA if you have a valid visa.



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