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South KoreaEntry and visas

South Korea entry rules

Citizens of the UK, the US, Canada and Australia do not need to arrange a visa for South Korea in advance: the stay is 90 to 180 days depending on the passport. Citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan, Israel, the EU, Türkiye and Serbia need an electronic travel authorisation, applied for online before the trip: the stay is 30 to 90 days depending on the passport. Citizens of Belarus, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova need a visa from a consulate before the trip.

Checked against official sources on 9 October 2026.

Entry rules by passport

For a tourist trip. Checked on 9 October 2026 against the official sources listed below the table.

  • RussiaVisa-free with K-ETA

    60 days. K-ETA required: KRW 10,000 (≈ $7), apply at least 72 hours before departure; no more than 90 days in 180.

    Source: Consulate in St Petersburg

  • BelarusVisa required

    90 days. C-3 visa from a Korean embassy, $40 fee; visa-free only to Jeju Island on a direct flight, up to 30 days.

    Source: Embassy in Minsk

  • UkraineVisa required

    30 days. 30-day C-3 tourist visa, no consular fee; visa-free only to Jeju Island on a direct flight, up to 30 days.

    Source: Embassy in Kyiv

  • KazakhstanVisa-free with K-ETA

    30 days. K-ETA required: KRW 10,000 (≈ $7); no more than 60 days in 180.

    Source: K-ETA website

  • UzbekistanVisa required

    C-3 visa from a Korean embassy; the Jeju visa-free scheme does not apply to Uzbek citizens.

    Source: Embassy in Tashkent

  • KyrgyzstanVisa required

    C-3-9 tourist visa from a Korean embassy, $50 fee; the Jeju visa-free scheme does not apply to Kyrgyz citizens.

    Source: Embassy in Bishkek

  • TajikistanVisa required

    30 days. C-3-9 tourist visa (under 30 days), $50 fee; visa-free only to Jeju Island on a direct flight, up to 30 days.

    Source: Embassy in Dushanbe

  • TurkmenistanVisa required

    C-3-9 tourist visa from a Korean embassy, $40 fee; visa-free only to Jeju Island on a direct flight, up to 30 days.

    Source: Embassy in Ashgabat

  • ArmeniaVisa required

    C-3 visa from a Korean consulate required; visa-free only to Jeju Island on a direct flight, up to 30 days.

    Source: Korea Visa Portal

  • AzerbaijanVisa required

    90 days. C-3 visa from a Korean embassy, $50 fee; visa-free only to Jeju Island on a direct flight, up to 30 days.

    Source: Embassy in Baku

  • GeorgiaVisa required

    90 days. C-3-9 tourist visa from a Korean embassy, $40 fee; visa-free only to Jeju Island on a direct flight, up to 30 days.

    Source: Embassy in Tbilisi

  • MoldovaVisa required

    C-3 visa from a Korean consulate required; visa-free only to Jeju Island on a direct flight, up to 30 days.

    Source: Korea Visa Portal

  • IsraelVisa-free with K-ETA

    90 days. K-ETA required: KRW 10,000 (≈ $7), valid 3 years; not needed under 17 or from 65.

    Source: K-ETA website

  • EU countriesVisa-free with K-ETA

    90 days. K-ETA (KRW 10,000) is required for 16 EU countries; Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden are exempt until 31 Dec 2026; Cypriots get 30 days.

    Source: K-ETA website

  • United KingdomVisa-free

    90 days. K-ETA temporarily not required until 31 Dec 2026; if the exemption is not extended, a KRW 10,000 (≈ $7) K-ETA will be needed.

    Source: Embassy in Switzerland

  • United StatesVisa-free

    90 days. K-ETA temporarily not required until 31 Dec 2026; if the exemption is not extended, a KRW 10,000 (≈ $7) K-ETA will be needed.

    Source: Embassy in the USA

  • CanadaVisa-free

    180 days. Up to 6 months; K-ETA temporarily not required until 31 Dec 2026.

    Source: Embassy in Canada

  • TurkeyVisa-free with K-ETA

    90 days. K-ETA required: KRW 10,000 (≈ $7), valid 3 years; not needed under 17 or from 65.

    Source: K-ETA website

  • SerbiaVisa-free with K-ETA

    90 days. K-ETA required: KRW 10,000 (≈ $7), valid 3 years; not needed under 17 or from 65.

    Source: K-ETA website

  • AustraliaVisa-free

    90 days. K-ETA temporarily not required until 31 Dec 2026; if the exemption is not extended, a KRW 10,000 (≈ $7) K-ETA will be needed.

    Source: Embassy in Switzerland

Sources: Korean Consulate General in St Petersburg — entry rules: 60/90-day visa waiver, K-ETA, passport, arrival card · Korean Embassy in Belarus — C-3 short-term visa (up to 90 days, $40 fee) · Korean Embassy in Ukraine — visas: 30-day tourist visa, no fee · Official K-ETA website (Korean Ministry of Justice) — passports eligible for visa-free entry with K-ETA and periods of stay · Korean Embassy in Uzbekistan — visa document lists (2024) · Korean Embassy in Kyrgyzstan — C-3-9 tourist visa, $50 fee · Korean Embassy in Tajikistan — C-3-9 tourist visa (under 30 days, $50) · Korean Embassy in Turkmenistan — C-3-9 tourist visa, $40 fee · Korea Visa Portal — list of visa waiver agreements (PDF, 2018 edition) · Korean Embassy in Azerbaijan — visa issuance (visa waiver only for diplomatic and service passports) · Korean Embassy in Georgia — C-3-9 tourist visa (up to 90 days, $40) · Korean Embassy in Switzerland — full list of countries exempt from K-ETA until 31 Dec 2026 · Korean Embassy in the USA — no K-ETA for US citizens until 31 Dec 2026 · Korean Embassy in Canada — no K-ETA for Canadians until 31 Dec 2026

What is checked at the border

  • Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months on the date of entry, plus a document matching your purpose — K-ETA, a visa or a residence card.
  • Your purpose of travel must match your status (tourists may not take paid work); if you cannot show that it does, you can be refused entry.
  • The trip details in your K-ETA — purpose, address of stay, dates — must be up to date: if plans change, update them on the K-ETA website or you may be refused entry.
  • Without a K-ETA you fill in an arrival card — online in advance (e-Arrival Card) or on paper on arrival; with a K-ETA no card is needed.
  • Fingerprints and a face photo are taken at passport control (except children under 17); refusing can mean being denied entry.

How to extend your stay

A visa-free stay can only be extended through an immigration office before the permitted stay ends. For B-2 status (visa-free by Korea's own decision), only for a compelling reason and no later than 90 days from entry.

Overstay penalties

Overstaying is an offence: up to 3 years in prison or a fine of up to KRW 30 million (≈ $21,000). In practice a fine is set by a schedule: under a month — KRW 500,000 (≈ $360), 1–3 months — KRW 1 million (≈ $710), 3–6 months — KRW 2 million (≈ $1,400), up to a year — KRW 5 million (≈ $3,600); it can be cut or raised by up to half. Overstayers can be deported and then barred from entry for up to 5 years.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for South Korea?
Citizens of the UK, the US, Canada and Australia enter without a visa. Citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan, Israel, the EU, Türkiye and Serbia apply for an electronic travel authorisation. Citizens of Belarus, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova get a visa from a consulate before the trip.
How long can I stay in South Korea without a visa?
60 days for citizens of Russia. 30 days for citizens of Kazakhstan. 90 days for citizens of Israel, the EU, the UK, the US, Türkiye, Serbia and Australia. 180 days for citizens of Canada.
Can the stay be extended?
A visa-free stay can only be extended through an immigration office before the permitted stay ends. For B-2 status (visa-free by Korea's own decision), only for a compelling reason and no later than 90 days from entry.
What happens if I overstay?
Overstaying is an offence: up to 3 years in prison or a fine of up to KRW 30 million (≈ $21,000). In practice a fine is set by a schedule: under a month — KRW 500,000 (≈ $360), 1–3 months — KRW 1 million (≈ $710), 3–6 months — KRW 2 million (≈ $1,400), up to a year — KRW 5 million (≈ $3,600); it can be cut or raised by up to half. Overstayers can be deported and then barred from entry for up to 5 years.
What is checked on entry to South Korea?
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months on the date of entry, plus a document matching your purpose — K-ETA, a visa or a residence card. Your purpose of travel must match your status (tourists may not take paid work); if you cannot show that it does, you can be refused entry. The trip details in your K-ETA — purpose, address of stay, dates — must be up to date: if plans change, update them on the K-ETA website or you may be refused entry. Without a K-ETA you fill in an arrival card — online in advance (e-Arrival Card) or on paper on arrival; with a K-ETA no card is needed. Fingerprints and a face photo are taken at passport control (except children under 17); refusing can mean being denied entry.
How can I stay in South Korea longer?
A visa-free stay does not give the right to live in the country. A longer stay needs a long-term visa or a residence permit: skilled work — E-7 Special Occupation: professionals and skilled workers, 3 years, extendable, investor — D-8 Corporate Investor: key staff of foreign-invested companies and venture founders, up to 5 years, study — D-2 Student at a college or university, 2 years, extendable, marriage to a Korean citizen — F-6 Marriage Migrant, 3 years, work allowed, resident and permanent residence — F-2 Resident (5 years) and F-5 Permanent Resident (no time limit), digital nomad — F-1-D Workation: remote work for a foreign employer, 1 year; income from KRW 52.57 million a year (≈ $37,000), higher in the Seoul area and from age 35.

Sources

Checked on 9 October 2026. Entry rules change: check them on the consulate website before you travel.