South Korea Visa

South Korea is a versatile country, known for both the modern cities like the capital Seoul, as well as the traditional temples and the picturesque countryside.

To visit it, citizens of several countries will have to apply for a South Korea visa – although a fair number of them are exempt from visa requirements for short term purposes.

Do I need a visa for South Korea?

You need a visa for South Korea unless you are from one of the visa-free countries listed below, which include EU countries, Canada, Australia, and the United States.

Citizens of several countries (as listed below) can visit South Korea without a visa for short-term visits. Foreigners entering under the visa-waiver program are not allowed to work or engage in any remunerated activities.

If you are from one of the countries exempted from South Korea visas, but you want to stay longer than the visa-exemption allows, then you have to apply for the corresponding South Korea visa before you travel.

South Korea visa exemption for up to 180 days

Citizens of Canada can enter South Korea without a visa for a stay of up to 180 days.

South Korea visa exemption for up to 90 days

Citizens of the following countries can enter South Korea without a visa for up to 90 days:

South Korea visa exemption for up to 60 days

Citizens of Lesotho and Russia can enter South Korea without a visa for up to 60 days.

South Korea visa exemption for up to 30 days

Citizens of the following countries can visit South Korea without a visa for up to 30 days:

Other exemptions from South Korea visas

You are also exempt from South Korea visas if:

Types of South Korea visas

South Korean visas are divided based on the duration and how many entries in the country they allow:

Then, depending on why you want to visit South Korea, you can apply for one of the following visas:

South Korea Tourist Visa

South Korea tourist visas issued to foreigners who want to travel simply for tourism or recreational purposes. So, you can receive a tourist visa if you are travelling for one of the following reasons:

South Korea tourist visas allow the holder to stay in South Korea for up to 90 days. The holder of a tourist visa is not allowed to work or engage in any other renumerated activities.

South Korea Business Visa

You are eligible for a long-term Business Visa for South Korea if:

South Korea Work Visa

If a foreigner wants to work in South Korea, they have to apply for a South Korea Work Visa. Foreigners eligible for a South Korea Work Visa include professors, foreign language teachers, researchers, and those working in another activity permitted by the Minister of Justice through a contract with a public or private organization or company in South Korea.

South Korea Student Visa

Foreigners who will enter South Korea to pursue their studies in a Korean educational institution have to apply for a South Korea Student Visa. They can be:

South Korea Working Holiday Visa

The South Korea Working Holiday Visa is available to citizens of countries that have a Working Holiday Agreement with South Korea (as listed below). The WHV allows the holder to remain in South Korea for up to one year, for the purpose of holidaying, working, or studying.

To receive the South Korea Working Holiday Visa, you must:

Citizens from the following countries are eligible for a South Korea Working Holiday Visa:

South Korea Family Visit Visa (for more than 90 days)

You have to apply for a South Korea visa for Family Visit purposes if you fall under one of the following categories:

You can also receive this type of visa if you are part of the South Korean diaspora or you once held South Korean nationality (Overseas Koreans).

South Korea visa requirements

When you apply for a South Korea visa, you have to submit several documents to support your application. The South Korea visa requirements change depending on the type of visa you need as well as the country in which you are applying. However, the standard set of documents everyone has to submit includes: