Visas for South Korea: right here’s what it’s worthwhile to know

Not many nations have the sights-to-size ratio of South Korea. You will get from one nook of the nation to the opposite in simply two and a half hours, and in between you’ll discover mountain trails resulting in Buddhist hermitages, super-spectacle Ok-Pop live shows, back-alley pubs serving craft rice wines, enchanting bamboo forests and far more.

Getting probably the most out of a go to right here begins with getting your entry necessities so as, a easy sufficient course of for many vacationers. Listed here are the fundamentals on who wants a visa to South Korea and the way to apply.

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Who can journey to South Korea visa free?

Many vacationers – together with these from the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and most European nations – can go to Korea for as much as 90 days with no visa required. Canadians can accomplish that for as much as six months, whereas South Africans get 30 days. To examine probably the most up-to-date necessities to your nation, go to the Korean authorities’s Visa Portal and enter your info in its Visa Navigator.

Though you won’t want a visa, you have to to use for a Korea Digital Journey Authorization (₩10,000) on the K-ETA website or Ok-ETA app (for iOS and Android) at the least 72 hours earlier than your departure. When you’ve utilized, it’s best to obtain your outcomes by way of e mail inside 24 hours. Your Ok-ETA will stay legitimate for 2 years from the date your software is authorized, which means you don’t must reapply should you go to a number of occasions inside that window.

Residents of many countries don’t want a visa to enter South Korea however are nonetheless required to fill out a web based kind prematurely © Kosamtu / Getty Photos

Who wants a vacationer visa for South Korea?

Residents of nations that don’t have a visa-waiver settlement with South Korea or that Korea doesn’t grant visa-free entry will want a visa, which is usually for a single entry and permits stays of 90 days.

In case you do want a visa, after coming into your info within the Visa Navigator, choose the visa you’re making use of for (most definitely Abnormal Vacationer, or C-3-9) after which discover the eligibility standards that applies to you (most definitely “journey for holidays or leisure”). Full your software on-line (e-Form) or by hand (downloadable PDF) after which go to a Korean embassy or consulate together with your software or a printout of your accomplished e-Kind, your passport, a 3.5cm x 4.5cm (1.4in x 1.7in) passport picture and any further required paperwork. The application fee for a primary vacationer visa is $40, although it may fluctuate by nation.

Horseback riding near the Udo Lighthouse, Jeju-do, South Korea
Jeju-do has a “Particular Vacationer Zone” designation, so the visa guidelines are completely different © Joel Carillet / Getty Photos

The Jeju-do visa exception

Jeju-do Island is a delegated Particular Vacationer Zone, which implies many (although not all) residents from nations that require visas for South Korea don’t want them to go to Jeju-do for as much as 30 days. Word that you will need to arrive in Jeju-do by way of ship or direct flight from overseas; chances are you’ll not join via one other South Korean airport.

Extending your keep in South Korea

In virtually all instances, should you’re visiting South Korea as a vacationer, you aren’t allowed to increase your keep. If it’s worthwhile to keep longer due to an emergency, nonetheless, contact the Korea Immigration Service. The Hi Korea web site offers immigration information for worldwide guests and residents.

Visas for working and learning in South Korea

Because of its all-conquering popular culture and dynamic economic system, South Korea is a lovely vacation spot for worldwide college students and professionals, and a variety of visas is offered for these wishing to review or work within the nation. Step one is figuring out which visa you want, whether or not you’re searching for to enroll in a Korean college, educate English or do one thing else. You may type via the choices and get particulars on eligibility and necessities on the Visa Navigator web site. Work and examine visas typically allow stays of as much as two years, with one 12 months being the commonest size.

Neon lights on a street in Seoul, South Korea, East Asia
Some nationalities are eligible for working vacation and pupil visas to South Korea © Diego Mariottini / Getty Photos

Working holidays in South Korea

South Korea presents one-year working vacation visas to residents of 25 nations, together with the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and lots of European nations. Vacationers with a working-holiday visa are permitted to work as much as 25 hours per week and also can examine the Korean language at non-public academies and college applications. The Ministry of Overseas Affairs’ Working Holiday Info Center and Working Holiday Guide present intensive info on who can apply, what the restrictions are, and work, examine and housing assets.

Visas for folks of Korean descent

In case you’re of South Korean descent, you’ll probably have the choice of making use of for an abroad Korean visa, colloquially known as a gyopo visa. These can be found to people who have been born in Korea however have acquired one other nation’s citizenship or whose mother or father or grandparent was a Korean citizen. These visas permit preliminary stays of as much as two years and supply a variety of flexibility by way of what you are able to do for work or examine.