South Korea Visa and Passport Requirements
| Passport required | Return ticket required | Visa Required | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | Yes | No | No |
| USA | Yes | No | No |
| Canadian | Yes | No | No |
| Australian | Yes | No | No |
| British | Yes | No | No |
Passports
To enter South Korea, a passport valid for a minimum of three months is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.
Visas
Visas for South Korea are not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for the following durations:
• Nationals of Australia, the United Kingdom, the USA and EU countries can stay visa-free in South Korea for up to 90 days, except nationals of Cyprus who may stay for up to 30 days.
• Nationals of Canada can stay for up to six months.
Please note: Applying for a Korean ETA (K-ETA) is mandatory for visa-free travel for some nationals referred to in the chart above and for other for eligible nationals.
Nationals not referred to in the chart are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements for South Korea.
Visa Note
All foreign visitors to South Korea are biometrically registered, and are required to have fingerprint samples and a digital photograph taken by an inspector upon entry. Children under 17 and officials of international governmental organisations are exempt from this requirement.
Validity
Validity of visa and of ETA (K-ETA) usually begins from the date of issue. ETA (K-ETA) is valid for a maximum of 3 years or it expires earlier if the passport used for the ETA (K-ETA) application expires in less than 3 years.
Transit
Some nationals who would normally require a visa may enter South Korea without a visa provided they are in transit to a third country, remain in the Seoul area, and leave South Korea within 24 hours; check with the embassy for eligibility.
Application to
Consulate (or consular section at embassy).
Working days
Allow five days for visa processing.
This page reflects our understanding of current rules for the most common types of travel to the said country. However, please note that each authority sets and forces entry rules, hence we strongly recommend that you verify critical information with the relevant embassy before travel.
Embassies and tourist offices
Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA
Telephone: +1 202 939 5600 (consular section).
Website: http://usa.mofa.go.kr/english/am/usa/main/
Address: NW, 2370 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, 20008,
Opening times:
Mon-Fri: 0900-1200, 1330-1730
Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the UK
Telephone: +44 207 227 5500.
Website: http://gbr.mofat.go.kr/eng
Address: , 83 Victoria Street, 5th Floor, London, SW1H 0HW,
Opening times:
Mon-Fri 1000-1200.
