International Motor Vehicle Inspection Committee|

VISA

Any foreign visitors wishing to enter the Republic of Korea must have a valid passport and obtain a Korean visa before coming.

However, nationals of 115 who want to visit Korea temporarily are permitted to enter without a visa according to a mutual visa-waiver agreement (69 countries, Table 1) or in accordance with principles of reciprocity and national interest (46 countries, Table 2).

  • This page contains general information: please verify it within your embassy or consulate. 

Relevant websites

[Table 1] Countries under Visa Waiver Agreements (as of Feb 16, 2017)

Nationals of visa waiver countries can enter Korea without a visa as long as the purpose of their visit is tourism or temporary visit. If they want to engage in profitable activities such as employment, they must apply for a Korean visa suitable for their purpose.

Country / Period (days)
Country / Period (days)
Country / Period (days)
Asia 
Bangladesh / 90 Israel / 90 Kazakhstan / 30
Malaysia / 90 Pakistan / 3 month Singapore / 90
Thailand / 90 Turkey / 90 United Arab Emirates / 90
America 
Antigua and Barbuda / 90 Barbados / 90 Brazil / 90
Chile / 90 Columbia / 90 Costa Rica / 90
Dominica / 90 Dominican Republic / 90 El Salvador / 90
Grenada / 90 Guatemala / 90 Heiti / 90
Jamaica / 90 Mexico / 3 month Nicaragua / 90
Panama / 90 Peru / 90 Saint Kitts Nevis / 90
Saint Lucia / 90 Saint Vincent and The Grenadines / 90 Surinam / 90
The Bahamas / 90 Trinidad Tobago / 90 Uruguay / 90
Venezuela / 90

 

Country / Period (days)
Country / Period (days)
Country / Period (days)
Europe 
Austria / 90 Belgium / 3 month Bulgaria / 90
Denmark / 90 Estonia / 90 Finland / 90
France / 90 Germany / 90 Greece / 3 month
Hungary / 90 Iceland / 90 Ireland / 90
Italy / 90 Latvia / 90 Lichtenstein / 3 month
Lithuania / 90 Luxembourg / 3 month Malta / 90
Netherlands / 3 month Norway / 90 Poland / 90
Portugal / 60 Romania / 90 Russia / 60
Slovakia / 90 Spain / 90 Sweden / 90
Switzerland / 3 month The Czech Republic / 90 The united Kingdom / 90
Africa & Oceania  
Lesotho / 60 Liberia / 90 Morocco / 90
Tunisia / 30 New Zealand / 3 month

[Table 2] Countries of Regions under principles of reciprocity and national interest

Considering international convention, mutuality doctrine, national profit and other such factors, certain countries are granted visa-free entry permissions (as of March 1, 2017).

Country / Period (days)
Country / Period (days)
Country / Period (days)
Asia 
Bahrain / 90 Brunei / 30 Hong Kong / 90
Japan / 90 Kuwait / 90 Macao / 90
Oman / 30 Qatar / 30 Saudi Arabia / 30
Oceania 
Australia / 90 Fiji / 30 Guam / 30
Kiribati / 30 Micronesia / 30 Marshall Islands / 30
Nauru / 30 New Caledonia / 30 Palau / 30
Samoa / 30 Solomon Islands / 30 Tuvalu / 30
Tonga / 30  Taiwan / 90
North America
Canada / 6 month United States / 90
South America
Argentina / 30 Ecuador / 30 Guyana / 30
Honduras / 30 Paraguay / 30
Europe
Albania / 30 Andorra / 30 Croatia / 90
Cyprus / 30 Monte Negro / 30 Monaco / 30
San Marino / 30 Serbia / 90 Slovenia / 90
Vatican / 30 Bosnia-Herzegovina / 30
Africa
Egypt / 30 Seychelles / 30 South Africa / 30
Swaziland / 30 Mauritius / 30