South KoreaAsia · East Asia
10 visa-free · Data updated 2026-09-09
Entry overview
Electronic authorisation
Apply online for an electronic travel authorisation (ESTA, eTA, K-ETA…) before departure.
Permitted stay
90 days
Policy note：K-ETA required; waived for some nationalities until end-2026
Entry overview
South Korea requires K-ETA for most visa-exempt nationalities (waived for some until end-2026). Jeju Island has separate arrangements for mainland China group tours; Seoul and Busan are the main gateways.
Visa categories available
Electronic travel authorisation (eTA / ESTA)
Not a visa but a pre-screening for visa-exempt travellers. Most decisions arrive within minutes to 72 hours, the authorisation is electronically linked to your passport, and it is usually valid for 2–5 years with multiple entries. Examples: US ESTA, Canada eTA, Korea K-ETA, UK ETA, New Zealand NZeTA.
Mandatory for visa-exempt travellers heading to countries that pre-screen arrivals electronically — without it you will be denied boarding.
Transit visa / transit without visa
Needed when connecting through a third country. Some places offer 24–240 hours of transit without visa (China 240 hours, Singapore 96-hour VFTF, Japan shore pass), usually requiring onward tickets and staying within a designated area.
Long layovers, airport changes, or a short stopover en route.
Work, study and residence permits
For long-term work, study or residence. Usually requires sponsorship from an employer or school, qualifications, a police clearance certificate and a medical exam, plus residence registration after arrival.
When staying longer than a visa-free or short-stay entry allows.
Standard documents
- 1Passport valid at least 6 months beyond arrival with two blank pages
- 2Recent passport photo on a white background (35×45mm or as required)
- 3Return or onward flight booking
- 4Proof of accommodation for the whole stay
- 5Proof of funds covering the trip (3–6 months of bank statements, deposit certificate or payslips)
- 6Travel medical insurance for the whole trip (Schengen requires €30,000 minimum cover)
- 7Approved authorisation confirmation
- 8A card to pay the application fee
Application process
- 1
Step 1
Fill in personal, passport and trip details on the official site or app.
- 2
Step 2
Pay the fee online and keep the application number.
- 3
Step 3
Wait for the decision (minutes to 72 hours) and check your email or the app.
- 4
Step 4
No printing needed — it is linked to your passport, but keep a screenshot.
FAQ
Do United States passport holders need a visa for South Korea?+
According to our policy database, United States passport holders enter South Korea under “Electronic authorisation”, normally for 90 days. Rules change — always confirm with official sources before you fly.
Are visa validity and permitted stay the same thing for South Korea?+
No. Validity is the window in which you may use the visa; permitted stay is how long you may remain per entry. Multi-entry visas may also cap total days (for example 90 days in any 180).
Can I extend my stay or change my status in South Korea?+
Some places allow in-country extensions or a change of status, usually with a valid reason, proof of funds and an application before your current stay expires. Check with the local immigration authority before travelling.
Do I need a transit visa to connect through South Korea?+
If you stay airside and do not change terminals, most countries do not require one. If you need to enter the country, collect baggage or change airports, a transit visa or transit exemption may apply.
Can I work or study long term in South Korea on this basis?+
Visa-free, VOA and tourist entries normally exclude paid work and long-term study — you need a dedicated work, study or residence permit.
Entry rules by passport
South Korea · 233
(233)- 🇧🇳BruneiVisa free · 90d
- 🇰🇭CambodiaVisa free · 90d
- 🇮🇩IndonesiaVisa free · 90d
- 🇱🇦LaosVisa free · 90d
- 🇲🇾MalaysiaVisa free · 90d
- 🇲🇲MyanmarVisa free · 90d
- 🇵🇭PhilippinesVisa free · 90d
- 🇸🇬SingaporeVisa free · 90d
- 🇹🇭ThailandVisa free · 90d
- 🇻🇳VietnamVisa free · 90d
- 🇦🇽Åland IslandsElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇦🇸American SamoaElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇦🇩AndorraElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇦🇼ArubaElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇦🇺AustraliaElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇦🇹AustriaElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇧🇭BahrainElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇧🇪BelgiumElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇧🇬BulgariaElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇨🇦CanadaElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇨🇱ChileElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇨🇽Christmas IslandElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇨🇨Cocos (Keeling) IslandsElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇭🇷CroatiaElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇨🇼CuraçaoElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇨🇾CyprusElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇨🇿CzechiaElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇩🇰DenmarkElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇪🇪EstoniaElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇫🇮FinlandElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇫🇷FranceElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇬🇫French GuianaElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇩🇪GermanyElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇬🇷GreeceElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇬🇱GreenlandElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇬🇺GuamElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇬🇬GuernseyElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇭🇰Hong KongElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇭🇺HungaryElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇮🇸IcelandElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇮🇪IrelandElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇮🇲Isle of ManElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇮🇱IsraelElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇮🇹ItalyElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇯🇵JapanElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇯🇪JerseyElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇰🇼KuwaitElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇱🇻LatviaElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇱🇮LiechtensteinElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇱🇹LithuaniaElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇱🇺LuxembourgElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇲🇴MacaoElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇲🇹MaltaElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇾🇹MayotteElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇲🇽MexicoElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇲🇨MonacoElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇳🇱NetherlandsElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇳🇿New ZealandElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇲🇵Northern Mariana IslandsElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇳🇴NorwayElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇴🇲OmanElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇵🇱PolandElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇵🇹PortugalElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇵🇷Puerto RicoElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇶🇦QatarElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇷🇴RomaniaElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇵🇲Saint Pierre and MiquelonElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇸🇲San MarinoElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇸🇦Saudi ArabiaElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇸🇽Sint MaartenElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇸🇰SlovakiaElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇸🇮SloveniaElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇪🇸SpainElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇸🇪SwedenElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇨🇭SwitzerlandElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇹🇼Taiwan, ChinaElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇹🇷TürkiyeElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇻🇮U.S. Virgin IslandsElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇦🇪United Arab EmiratesElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇬🇧United KingdomElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇺🇸United StatesElectronic authorisation · 90d
- 🇦🇫AfghanistanVisa required
- 🇦🇱AlbaniaVisa required
- 🇩🇿AlgeriaVisa required
- 🇦🇴AngolaVisa required
- 🇦🇮AnguillaVisa required
- 🇦🇬Antigua and BarbudaVisa required
- 🇦🇷ArgentinaVisa required
- 🇦🇲ArmeniaVisa required
- 🇦🇿AzerbaijanVisa required
- 🇧🇸BahamasVisa required
- 🇧🇩BangladeshVisa required
- 🇧🇧BarbadosVisa required
- 🇧🇾BelarusVisa required
- 🇧🇿BelizeVisa required
- 🇧🇯BeninVisa required
- 🇧🇲BermudaVisa required
- 🇧🇹BhutanVisa required
- 🇧🇴BoliviaVisa required
- 🇧🇦Bosnia and HerzegovinaVisa required
- 🇧🇼BotswanaVisa required
- 🇧🇷BrazilVisa required
- 🇻🇬British Virgin IslandsVisa required
- 🇧🇫Burkina FasoVisa required
- 🇧🇮BurundiVisa required
- 🇨🇻Cabo VerdeVisa required
- 🇨🇲CameroonVisa required
- 🇰🇾Cayman IslandsVisa required
- 🇨🇫Central African RepublicVisa required
- 🇹🇩ChadVisa required
- 🇨🇳ChinaVisa required
- 🇨🇴ColombiaVisa required
- 🇰🇲ComorosVisa required
- 🇨🇬CongoVisa required
- 🇨🇰Cook IslandsVisa required
- 🇨🇷Costa RicaVisa required
- 🇨🇺CubaVisa required
- 🇩🇯DjiboutiVisa required
- 🇩🇲DominicaVisa required
- 🇩🇴Dominican RepublicVisa required
- 🇨🇩DR CongoVisa required
- 🇪🇨EcuadorVisa required
- 🇪🇬EgyptVisa required
- 🇸🇻El SalvadorVisa required
- 🇬🇶Equatorial GuineaVisa required
- 🇪🇷EritreaVisa required
- 🇸🇿EswatiniVisa required
- 🇪🇹EthiopiaVisa required
- 🇫🇰Falkland IslandsVisa required
- 🇫🇴Faroe IslandsVisa required
- 🇫🇯FijiVisa required
- 🇵🇫French PolynesiaVisa required
- 🇬🇦GabonVisa required
- 🇬🇲GambiaVisa required
- 🇬🇪GeorgiaVisa required
- 🇬🇭GhanaVisa required
- 🇬🇮GibraltarVisa required
- 🇬🇩GrenadaVisa required
- 🇬🇹GuatemalaVisa required
- 🇬🇳GuineaVisa required
- 🇬🇼Guinea-BissauVisa required
- 🇬🇾GuyanaVisa required
- 🇭🇹HaitiVisa required
- 🇭🇳HondurasVisa required
- 🇮🇳IndiaVisa required
- 🇮🇷IranVisa required
- 🇮🇶IraqVisa required
- 🇨🇮Ivory CoastVisa required
- 🇯🇲JamaicaVisa required
- 🇯🇴JordanVisa required
- 🇰🇿KazakhstanVisa required
- 🇰🇪KenyaVisa required
- 🇰🇮KiribatiVisa required
- 🇽🇰KosovoVisa required
- 🇰🇬KyrgyzstanVisa required
- 🇱🇧LebanonVisa required
- 🇱🇸LesothoVisa required
- 🇱🇷LiberiaVisa required
- 🇱🇾LibyaVisa required
- 🇲🇬MadagascarVisa required
- 🇲🇼MalawiVisa required
- 🇲🇻MaldivesVisa required
- 🇲🇱MaliVisa required
- 🇲🇭Marshall IslandsVisa required
- 🇲🇷MauritaniaVisa required
- 🇲🇺MauritiusVisa required
- 🇫🇲MicronesiaVisa required
- 🇲🇩MoldovaVisa required
- 🇲🇳MongoliaVisa required
- 🇲🇪MontenegroVisa required
- 🇲🇸MontserratVisa required
- 🇲🇦MoroccoVisa required
- 🇲🇿MozambiqueVisa required
- 🇳🇦NamibiaVisa required
- 🇳🇷NauruVisa required
- 🇳🇵NepalVisa required
- 🇳🇨New CaledoniaVisa required
- 🇳🇮NicaraguaVisa required
- 🇳🇪NigerVisa required
- 🇳🇬NigeriaVisa required
- 🇳🇺NiueVisa required
- 🇰🇵North KoreaVisa required
- 🇲🇰North MacedoniaVisa required
- 🇵🇰PakistanVisa required
- 🇵🇼PalauVisa required
- 🇵🇸PalestineVisa required
- 🇵🇦PanamaVisa required
- 🇵🇬Papua New GuineaVisa required
- 🇵🇾ParaguayVisa required
- 🇵🇪PeruVisa required
- 🇷🇪RéunionVisa required
- 🇷🇺RussiaVisa required
- 🇷🇼RwandaVisa required
- 🇸🇭Saint HelenaVisa required
- 🇰🇳Saint Kitts and NevisVisa required
- 🇱🇨Saint LuciaVisa required
- 🇻🇨Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesVisa required
- 🇼🇸SamoaVisa required
- 🇸🇹Sao Tome and PrincipeVisa required
- 🇸🇳SenegalVisa required
- 🇷🇸SerbiaVisa required
- 🇸🇨SeychellesVisa required
- 🇸🇱Sierra LeoneVisa required
- 🇸🇧Solomon IslandsVisa required
- 🇸🇴SomaliaVisa required
- 🇿🇦South AfricaVisa required
- 🇸🇸South SudanVisa required
- 🇱🇰Sri LankaVisa required
- 🇸🇩SudanVisa required
- 🇸🇷SurinameVisa required
- 🇸🇾SyriaVisa required
- 🇹🇯TajikistanVisa required
- 🇹🇿TanzaniaVisa required
- 🇹🇱Timor-LesteVisa required
- 🇹🇬TogoVisa required
- 🇹🇴TongaVisa required
- 🇹🇹Trinidad and TobagoVisa required
- 🇹🇳TunisiaVisa required
- 🇹🇲TurkmenistanVisa required
- 🇹🇨Turks and Caicos IslandsVisa required
- 🇹🇻TuvaluVisa required
- 🇺🇬UgandaVisa required
- 🇺🇦UkraineVisa required
- 🇺🇾UruguayVisa required
- 🇺🇿UzbekistanVisa required
- 🇻🇺VanuatuVisa required
- 🇻🇦Vatican CityVisa required
- 🇻🇪VenezuelaVisa required
- 🇪🇭Western SaharaVisa required
- 🇾🇪YemenVisa required
- 🇿🇲ZambiaVisa required
- 🇿🇼ZimbabweVisa required
- 🇰🇷South KoreaHome country
Visa category guide
Visa-free entry
Visa free · Suited to short tourism, family visits, transit and informal business meetings — paid work is not allowed.
Electronic travel authorisation (eTA / ESTA)
eTA · Mandatory for visa-exempt travellers heading to countries that pre-screen arrivals electronically — without it you will be denied boarding.
Visa on arrival
Visa on arrival · A fallback for late bookings — expect queues at peak times.