VISA INFORMATION
Passport and Visa
Any foreign visitors wishing to enter Korea must have a valid passport and obtain a Korean visa. But visitors from 90 countries who want to visit Korea temporarily are permitted to enter without a visa according to visa-exemption agreements, or in accordance with principles reciprocity or national interest. Please refer to the following website and contact the Republic of Korean Embassy in your country to receive further information on visa regulations.
http://www.mofat.go.kr/ENG/main/index.jsp
Application for Visa
Visitors who plan to stay in Korea for longer than 90 days must obtain a visa before entering Korea.
Nationals of those countries or regions with which Korea has signed a visa waiver agreement can enter without a visa, on the condition that they do not engage in remunerative activities during their stay.
※ Canadians can enter the Republic of Korea without a visa for a stay of up to six months.
Countries under visa exemption aggrement
(as of Nov. 2010) Passport Type Countries
90 Countries Diplomatic Turkmenistan (30 days), Ukraine (90 days), Uzbekistan (60 days)
Diplomatic
&
Official
(24countries) Algeria (90 days), Argentina (90 days), Azerbaijan (30 days), Bangladesh (90 days), Belarus (90 days), Belize (90 days), Benin (90 days), Cambodia (60 days), Cyprus (90 days), Croatia (90 days), Ecuador (Diplomatic: as needed for work performance, Official: 3 months), Egypt (90 days), India (90 days), Iran (3 months), Japan (3 months), Kazakhstan (90 days), Laos (90 days), Mongolia (30 days), Pakistan (3 months), Paraguay (90 days), Philippines (Unlimited), Russia (90 days), Uruguay (90 days), Vietnam (90 days)
Diplomatic
&
Official
&
Ordinary
(63countries) 30 days
(1 country) Tunisia
60 days
(2 countries) Lesotho, Portugal
90 days
(60countries) Asia
(4 countries) Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand
America
(24 countries) Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Commonwealth of Dominica, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela (Diplomatic/Official: 30 days, Ordinary: 90 days)
Europe
(29 countries) [Schengen countries (except for Slovenia out of the 25 Schengen countries)], Austria (Diplomatic/Official: 180 days), Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland
※ Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden (90 days within 6 month period. To renew, need to wait 6 months)
[Non-Schengen countries] Bulgaria, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Romania, Turkey, UK
Africa
&
Middle East
(3 countries) Israel, Liberia, Morocco
※ Italy : Despite visa exemption for a stay of up to six months under agreement, the reciprocity principle allows a stay of up to 90 days
from June 15, 2003.
※ Japan : Visa exemption for a stay ofup to 90 days for ordinary-passport holders based on exchange of note verbale. (Visa exemption
agreement concluded for diplomatic and official-passport holders)
Nationals of countries or regions allowed for visa-free entryContinents Countries
Asia Brunei, Hong Kong (90 days), Indonesia (diplomatic and official), Japan (90 days), Macau (90 days), Taiwan
America Argentina, Canada (6 months), Ecuador, Guyana, Honduras, Paraguay, United States (90 days), Uruguay
Europe Albania, Andora, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia (90 days), Vatican
Oceania Australia (90 days), Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu
Middle East and Africa Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon (diplomatic and official), Mauritius, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
※ Nationals of the above countries or regions are allowed up to 30 days of visa-free sojourn for tourism or visit.
- Exceptions: Nationals of Canada are allowed up to 6 months, and nationals of Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Slovenia,
and the United States are allowed up to 90 days.
Visa application should be made at Korean embassies or consulates abroad.
Visa applicants are required to submit passport, application forms, a recent passport-size color photograph, and other relevant documents as determined by their status of stay.
Visa fees are as follows: (Visa fees below are basic rates, so first contact the Korean embassy or consulate before applying for a visa)
Single entry visa for a stay of no more than 90 days: US$30
Single entry visa for a stay of more than 90 days: US$50
Multiple entry visa: US$80
Prolongation of re-entry permit: US$20
※ For citizens of the United States of America, multiple entry visa fee is US$45 on the basis of reciprocity since the mutual agreement in 1994.
Exemption of visa fees (As listed below) Countries or Regions Visa Type
Italy, Japan, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, UK All visas (Regardless of period of stay)
※ In case of UK, period of stay is restricted to 6 months or less.
Barbados, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Liberia, Peru Visas with a period of stay of 91 days or more
Benin, Brazil, Cyprus, Guatemala, Paraguay, Romania, Uruguay Visas issued to holders of diplomatic and official passports with a period of stay of 91 days or more
Mongolia, Venezuela Visas issued to holders of diplomatic and official passports with a period of stay of 31 days or more
Philippines Visas issued with a period of stay of under 60 days
Australia C-2 Visas of which the period of stay is no more than 90 days
Germany D-2, D-4, D-7, D-8, D-9, E-7
Related site : www.g4f.go.kr
*g4f (http://www.g4f.go.kr) stands for Government for Foreigners. This site provides comprehensive information for foreigners who want to visit or live in Korea, including guide on immigration to the Republic of Korea.