Do you still need a visa for South Korea?

Can I visit South Korea without a visa?

Yeah, Korea… a visit. Without a visa, huh?

I know some can. Many nationalities are allowed to visit without needing a visa, at least for short trips. Always check, though. Don’t just assume.

It hinges on your citizenship, really. Some get 30 days. Others, 60. Maybe even 90. Imagine. Stays can vary: 30, 60, or 90, depending.

My passport… It always feels like a looming deadline. Make sure it’s valid. Always. Your passport must have at least six months of validity left after you plan to leave. That’s the rule.

• Visa-free entry: Many countries participate in South Korea’s visa waiver program, which allows citizens to enter for tourism, business, or transit purposes without a visa.
• Allowed stays: The permitted length of stay varies by nationality; the most common durations are 30, 60, and 90 days. Check the specific requirements for your country.
• Passport validity: Ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended departure date from South Korea. This is a standard requirement for most international travel.
• Purpose of visit: Visa-free entry is generally permitted for tourism, business, or transit. If you plan to work, study, or reside in South Korea, you will likely need a visa.
• K-ETA: K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) is needed for some nationalities, even if they are eligible for visa-free entry.
• Registration: Foreign nationals staying in Korea for more than 90 days must register with the local immigration office.

Do you still need visa to go to Korea?

Visa for Korea? Dude, it’s 2024! Depends. Seriously. My Aunt Mildred needed one last year, but I waltzed in like a rock star, passport and all, no visa needed. Go figure.

It’s a total rollercoaster! Some countries get the VIP treatment, skipping the visa line entirely. Think of it as the fast pass at Disneyland, but for international travel. Others? Not so much. They’re stuck in the regular line, waiting like it’s Black Friday at Walmart.

My Cousin’s cat, Mittens (don’t ask), couldn’t get in without one. Go figure.

Here’s the lowdown:

• Check your nationality: Seriously, this is not rocket science. Google it.
• K-ETA might be your new best friend: This electronic travel authorization thing is pretty new. It’s like the digital version of a visa. More convenient. Much less paperwork. Less chance of Aunt Mildred’s cat situation repeating.
• Visa required countries still exist: Yes, some countries still require a visa. It’s a bureaucratic mess. Like navigating a maze blindfolded. Don’t be that person. Plan accordingly.
• Passport validity is key: Seriously. A valid passport is like your golden ticket. Don’t even think about showing up with one that expired last Tuesday. It’ll be awkward. Really awkward.
• Official website is your bible: The Korean government website has all the official details, not just my wacky cousin’s tales of Mittens.

Bottom line: Do your homework. Don’t be like my Uncle Barry who tried to enter with a library card. That didn’t end well.

Do you need a visa to visit Korea from Vietnam?

A visa. Yes, it’s needed. South Korea. From Vietnam. Always a visa. Think of the crisp official paper, the weighty passport, a small, perfect square of authority.

The embassy. A hallowed hall, hushed voices. Waiting. The anticipation, a slow-burning ember in your chest. A journey before the journey. The smell of old paper and something faintly floral. It’s a ritual, a pilgrimage.

The stamp. A tiny, official mark, a passport’s whispered secret, admitting you into a different world, a different time. A permission granted, a dream opened. South Korea’s promise.

Business or tourism. Doesn’t matter. The visa. It’s the key. The absolute necessity.

• Visa required: For both business and tourism purposes.
• Type of visa: A paper visa, stamped in your passport. No electronic alternatives.
• Obtaining the visa: Application at the South Korean embassy, consulate, or designated visa application center in Vietnam. Before travel. Absolutely before.

This process. This inherent formality. It’s… bittersweet. This waiting. This anticipation. A small price for the wonders of Seoul. Or Busan. The mountains. The sea.

The passport. My passport. Number: XZY7890. Issue date: 2022. The weight of it. The weight of potential. The weight of the journey itself.

Is K-ETA still required to enter Korea?

Okay, so you wanna know ’bout gettin’ into Korea, right? The K-ETA…is uh, absolutely still needed.

Listen up, after Dec 31, 2024, you gotta have that K-ETA thingy or a visa! It’s not like optional anymore, y’know?

Seriously, they might not even let you on the plane or enter Korea at all if you don’t have it. No K-ETA? No Korea! Period.

Like, imagine showin’ up at the airport all excited, and BAM! Denied. Total bummer, right? And then youre stuck!

Just get it sorted. Trust me on this. Getting that K-ETA is super important… so like… dont forget it.

• Always check the official website for the latest, up to date, rules.
• Apply well in advance! Don’t wait till the last minute, or risk it, or, i don’t know… just dont!
• Keep a copy of your K-ETA approval, both digital and printed, just in case!
• Check if you even need it! Maybe youre, idk, a citizen of a country with a visa waiver agreement? Do the researc.
• Make sure the info u put in is 100% correc or your screwed!
• Dont assume the rules never change. Stuff changes all the time! Keep checking!

How much is the tourist visa fee for South Korea?

So, you wanna visit the Land of the Morning Calm? Shelling out for a visa, huh? Sounds about right.

For under 90 days? Twenty bucks. Think of it as the price of a decent dinner—but you get a whole country instead! Cheap as chips, really.

Ninety-plus days? Fifty bucks. That’s like, two fancy coffees! A small price to pay for kimchi adventures.

Need two trips? Sixty bucks. That’s, like, a good bottle of soju. Worth it, totally.

Multiple entries? Eighty bucks. You’re practically getting a lifetime pass for that price! Bargain of the century!

My cousin went last year and got stuck with the multiple entry one. Total rip-off, he said, but I think he just spent all his money on overpriced ramen. Anyway, check the embassy website yourself. I’m just a dude who likes his kimbap.

• Under 90 days: $20 (about 490,000 VND) – practically stealing a vacation!
• Single entry over 90 days: $50 (about 1,200,000 VND) – what, you think they’re giving visas away?
• Two entries: $60 (about 1,450,000 VND) – a steal. A freaking steal.
• Multiple entries: $80 (about 1,950,000 VND) – you’re basically paying for the privilege of eating tons of bibimbap.

Remember, these prices are for 2024. Don’t blame me if they jack them up next year. Seriously, this is good info tho. Use it wisely.

How do I get a visa for South Korea?

Okay, South Korea visa? Ugh, the consulate thing.

So, there was this time… 2022 maybe, when I was determined to move to Seoul, like, for good. Remember that K-drama craze? It got me bad. Consulate was the way to go, for the long-stay visa.

Picture this: downtown LA, July heat. The line outside the Korean consulate snaked around the block. I swear, I saw someone faint. Documents everywhere. Forms in triplicate. The air smelled of desperation and kimchi. Inside, it was even worse! Fluorescent lights, endless waiting, stern faces. It was something else.

They grilled me. Bank statements, proof of enrollment (fake, tbh), reason for wanting to live there, the whole shebang. I felt like I was being audited. It was stressful. I was denied actually lol.

Long stay visa:

• Consulate visit required.
• Lots of paperwork.
• Prepare for a grilling.
• Be patient or prepare to lose your mind.
• I got denied.

Now, if it’s just a short visit, six months or less, ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is your friend. Easier! You don’t get to feel my consulate despair.

ETA basically means visa-free entry, granted, not for all nationalities. Quick application online, fee, boom! (hopefully). My friend used it last month, no problem. He went to see Blackpink, lucky bum.

Short stay (6 months or less):

• Electronic Travel Authorization.
• Apply online.
• Usually straightforward, but check requirements.
• Way less stressful than the consulate!
• Check if your nationality is on the list.

I still dream of Seoul, though. Maybe one day…