Visa Waiver Countries 

Any foreign visitors wishing to enter the Republic of Korea must possess a valid passport and obtain a Korean visa before coming. The Ministry of Justice designates countries whose citizens may enter Korea wihtout a visa, called the ‘Permit of Visa-Free Entry’. The permit is given to foreigners for the purpose of tourism and transit, and the period of stay is limited to 30 days. People of the following countries who want to visit South Korea temporarily are permitted to enter without a visa according to the Visa Exemption Agreements (Table 1) or the principle reciprocity or national interest (Table 2). 

Table 1: Countries under Visa Exemption Agreements 

Europe

 Asia, Middle East and Oceania

 Americas

 Africa

Table 2: Countries/Regions under principles of reciprocity and national interest 

Asia, Middle East and Oceania

 Americas

 Europe

 Africa

Non-Visa Waiver Countries  

Visitors from countries not under any Visa Exemption Agreement must apply for a visa extension if they plan to stay in South Korea for more than 30 days. All types of visas, including long-term visas, are valid for a single visit and visa extensions usually last for 90 days. Those who wish to re-enter South Korea during the permitted period of the stay should obtain a reentry permit from the Ministry of Justice before departure. 

Visitors may obtain work visas from their own home country with the endorsement of the employer in Korea, but if he/she is in South Korea, the work visa must be obtained from an embassy or consulate in countries outside of South Korea. Work visas are valid for one year from the date of the issue. The process of the issuance takes two – four weeks. Visitors with a special long-term visa are required to apply for the alien/foreign registration at a local immigration office within 90 days of arrival. 

Visa Application Procedures 

• Visa Application should be made at Korean Embassies or Consulates abroad. Application for Visa Extension is available at local immigration offices.
• All visa applicants have to submit their own passports including a colored photograph in aaccordance with the recent passport photograph regulation. In addition, application forms
  and other required documents, variable by the purpose/status of the stay, have to be
  submitted.
• Visa Fees are as follows:
  • Single Entry Visa (period of no longer than 90 days): USD30
  • Single Entry Visa (stay of more than 90 days): USD50
  • Multiple Entry Visa: USD80
  • US Citizens Multiple Entry Visa fee: USD45
  • Prolongation of Reentry permit: USD20

Re-entry Permit

• People who need re-entry permit : If a registered foreigner are going to leave Korea more than 1 year and come back again, a re-entry permit is required.

• Foreign residents holding a multiple reentry visa may exit and enter the country without limit, and individual reentry permits are not necessary. A reentry permit is either multiple or
  single entry.
• Documents required for reentry permit:
  • Application Form
  • Passport and Alien Registration Card (industrial trainees require a letter of consent from the head of the company)
  • you can either apply it online in www.hikorea.go.kr or go to the nearest immigration office.

Fee: Multiple entry-50, 000 won/ Single entry-40, 000 won 

Permanent Residency

1. Passport
2. Application
3. Family register and resident register of spouse
4. Guarantee letter
5. A document provind property (Bank balance/real estate register or certificate of incumbency of you or your spouse) exceeding more than 30 million won
6. Fee (50,000KRW)
7. Current photo

Q&A

Q. I am a foreign student with a D-2 visa (Study Abroad Visa). I plan to visit my home country for a week. Should I obtain a re-entry permit? 

A. Yes! At the end of June 2010, anyone wishing to leave Korea and then re-enter during their allowed period of stay must obtain a re-entry permit. However, for foreigners registered on a long stay who wish to depart and re-enter within 1 year during the permitted period of stay. no re-entry permit will be required, starting on November 15, 2010. 

Q. I am a E-2 (English instructor) visa. It will expire in a month but I still would like to travel around Korea before leaving for my country. Can I have an extension period or should I apply for a holiday visa? 

A. Yes, you may extend your visa.All you have to do is to visit a local immigration office, and provide information such as passport, alien registration card and your return plane ticket. Usually an E-2 visa holder may stay at least 30 days in Korea under tourist visa.