South Korea visa requirements and entry rules

Headline

30-90 days visa-free depending on nationality

Pre-arrival card

K-ETA (currently suspended for 22 nationalities through 2025)

Official portal

https://www.k-eta.go.kr/

Specifics

Visa-free 90 days for most Western Europeans; 60 days for U.S.; 30 days for some others.
K-ETA suspended through December 2025 for U.S., Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, Australia, NZ among others. Verify live status before booking.
Korean drug law applies extraterritorially to Korean citizens (not foreign visitors).

By passport nationality

Headline rule for the nine most-trafficked passport groups. Always confirm on South Korea’s immigration portal before booking; visa policy changes frequently.

US passport
ETA required
Up to 90 days · KRW 10,000
Pre-arrival: K-ETA (currently suspended for U.S. through 2025)
- K-ETA suspended for U.S. through December 2025; visa-free entry direct.
UK passport
ETA required
Up to 90 days · KRW 10,000
Pre-arrival: K-ETA (currently suspended through 2025)
- Visa-free 90 days; K-ETA suspended for UK through 2025.
EU passport
ETA required
Up to 90 days · KRW 10,000
Pre-arrival: K-ETA (suspended for many EU through 2025)
- Visa-free 90 days for most EU; K-ETA suspended for many through 2025.
CA passport
ETA required
Up to 90 days · KRW 10,000
Pre-arrival: K-ETA (suspended through 2025)
- Visa-free; K-ETA suspended through 2025 for Canadians.
AU passport
ETA required
Up to 90 days · KRW 10,000
Pre-arrival: K-ETA (suspended through 2025)
- Visa-free; K-ETA suspended for Australians through 2025.
IN passport
Consular visa required
Up to 90 days
Pre-arrival: Korean consular visa
- Consular visa for Indian passport-holders.
BR passport
ETA required
Up to 90 days · KRW 10,000
Pre-arrival: K-ETA
- K-ETA required for Brazilian passport-holders.
JP passport
ETA required
Up to 90 days · KRW 10,000
Pre-arrival: K-ETA (suspended through 2025)
- Visa-free; K-ETA suspended for Japanese through 2025.
CN passport
Consular visa required
Up to 30 days
Pre-arrival: Korean consular visa
- Consular visa for Chinese passport-holders.

Practical guidance

For most short-stay tourists

The headline rule for South Korea is 30-90 days visa-free depending on nationality. US passport-holders specifically get eta required for up to 90 days at KRW 10,000, with K-ETA (currently suspended for U.S. through 2025) required pre-arrival. See the by-passport block above for your specific nationality.

Pre-arrival documentation

South Korea requires K-ETA (currently suspended for 22 nationalities through 2025) before boarding. Airlines check this at the gate; without it you will be denied boarding even if your visa is in order. Allow at least 72 hours for processing in case the portal queues, longer if you are travelling on a national holiday in South Korea.

When to apply

For visa-required nationalities, apply at least 4 to 6 weeks before departure. Visa-on-arrival and e-Visa systems process in 1 to 7 days typically but can stall around major holidays or political events; do not book non-refundable travel against a pending application. South Korea’s official portal is www.k-eta.go.kr; only apply through that portal or through your nearest South Korea embassy or consulate. Third-party visa services charge for what the government provides at cost.

Common rejection reasons

Passport with under 6 months validity from intended exit date. Fewer than two blank visa pages. No confirmed onward or return ticket. Travel insurance not naming South Korea explicitly (Schengen-style coverage minimums apply for many European destinations). Prior visa overstays anywhere, especially in neighbouring countries. Most rejections cite one of these five rather than a substantive concern about the traveller.

Related for South Korea

More on South Korea

Read the South Korea visa and entry requirements chapter →

South Korea is among the safest large countries in the world by general crime measures, with infrastructure and traveller experience comparable to Japan, Singapore, or Switzerland. The risks are concentrated and specific: the K-ETA pre-travel registration mechanics (suspended for many nationalities through 2025 but worth verifying), the seasonal yellow dust and PM2.5 pollution from spring through early summer, the typhoon season July through September, a small drug-law severity that catches casual visitors off guard, and a North Korean border tension that produces dramatic headlines and essentially zero practical visitor risk. The 2022 Itaewon Halloween crowd crush and the December 2024 Jeju Air crash reset crowd-safety and aviation-safety baselines respectively. This guide unpacks the K-ETA, the regional risk map, the KTX and metro systems, the typhoon calendar, the healthcare landscape, and the practical contacts that shape a Korean itinerary.

Frequently asked about South Korea

Do I need a visa to travel to South Korea?

The headline rule is: 30-90 days visa-free depending on nationality. Specific allowance depends on your passport nationality; the by-passport block on this page covers the 9 most-trafficked passports (US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, India, Brazil, Japan, China). Always confirm on South Korea's official immigration portal before booking, visa policy changes frequently.

How long can I stay in South Korea on a tourist visa?

30-90 days visa-free depending on nationality. K-ETA (currently suspended for 22 nationalities through 2025) is required pre-arrival. For per-passport specifics see the block above. Overstaying carries fines and re-entry bans across most jurisdictions.

Can I extend my visa once I'm in South Korea?

Most countries allow a one-time extension via the local immigration office for an additional 30 to 90 days, processed within 7 to 14 working days. South Korea's policy varies; the safety guide's Getting In chapter covers it where applicable. Apply at least 2 weeks before your existing visa expires.