Do you need an invitation letter for a business visa? What additional documents are required if you’re applying for a student visa, or traveling for employment? Visas for South Korea—and their corresponding requirements—can vary based on the length of stay, purpose of travel, and other permitting factors.

In this guide, we’ll provide all the information you need to know about applying for a South Korean visa, including various visa types, processing times, general requirements, and more.

Types of South Korea Visas

South Korea offers several types of visas, including tourist visas, business visas, medical tourist visas, and ESL teaching visas. However, thanks to a visa-waiver program, US nationals and residents of nearly 100 different countries can visit South Korea visa-free for most tourism travel and some business travel, for short-term stays of up to 90 days.

Typically, US travelers are still required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) in lieu of a valid visa. However, from April 1, 2023, through December 31, 2024, the United States (and 21 other countries) aren’t required to apply for a K-ETA in order to visit South Korea—meaning if you’re traveling to South Korea for most tourism and business purposes, you don’t need to get any prior visa or travel authorization. You’ll only need to bring a valid passport with up to two blank pages. However, you can still apply for a K-ETA if you want to use its multiple-entry function.

Entriva offers a range of South Korean visa services, including tourist visas, business visas, and e-visas. The company provides comprehensive visa application services, from assistance with the application process to support with tracking your South Korea visa application.

Tourist Visa

If you are traveling to South Korea for tourism and sightseeing purposes, you don’t need to get a tourist visa. Tourists are allowed to visit South Korea visa-free for stays of up to 90 days. If you’re traveling to South Korea for work-related purposes. like teaching English, you’ll need to apply for the appropriate visa.

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Tourist Visa Required Documents

Instead of a tourist visa, you’ll only need a valid passport (with at least two blank pages) to enter South Korea as a tourist.

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Tourist Visa Government Fees

There is no government fee to enter Korea.

Business Visa

For short-term business-related visits, like attending seminars and meetings, US nationals traveling on business aren’t required to get a visa. They can stay for up to 90 days for these short-term business purposes.

If you plan on being in South Korea for longer than 90 days or for different business reasons than the ones listed above, you’ll need to apply for a longer-term work or business visa  for a South Korean embassy or consulate. Entrivia can assist with applying for different work and business visas, offering handling fees as low as $50.

Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA)

If you’re planning on visiting South Korea for short-term visits of up to 90 days related to tourism or business (attending meetings, etc.), you only need to get an Electronic Travel Authorization. Valid for two years, the K-ETA permits multiple-entry trips to South Korea for stays of up to 90 days each visit.

The K-ETA is the fastest and easiest way of obtaining a visa for South Korea because visa applicants can submit their visa application form and supporting documents online. Once the application is approved, travelers receive their confirmation electronically.

From April 1, 2023, through December 31, 2024, US nationals and residents of 21 other countries aren’t required to get either a K-ETA or a visa to visit Korea if coming for short-term tourism or business purposes.

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K-ETA Applications

Residents of visa-free countries who are eligible for the K-ETA may visit South Korea for the following purposes:

  • Tourism
  • Visiting friends and family
  • Business (attending meetings, seminars, etc).
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K-ETA Validity

  • Two years for US nationals and other countries
  • Multiple-entry
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K-ETA Required Documents and Information

  • Valid passport (at least two blank pages)
  • Valid email address
  • Passport-sized and styled photo
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K-ETA Government Fees

The K-ETA costs ₩10,000 (Korean won; KRW), plus additional processing fees.

While it’s possible to apply for a South Korean ETA yourself, booking a visa with Entriva ensures you get the right visa in time, every time. In addition to mandatory government fees, Entriva charges among the industry’s lowest handling fees, starting at just $50.

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K-ETA Average Processing Time

The K-ETA visa processing is typically processed between 48 and 72 hours.

What to Know Before Applying for a Visa

  • South Korea allows visa-free travel (for short-term tourism and business) for up to 100 countries around the world, including the US. The K-ETA requirement is also waived for US nationals and residents of 21 other countries through December 31, 2024.

Average Processing Time

The average processing time for a visa depends on the type of visa you’re seeking. For the Electronic Travel Authorization, it takes between 48 and 72 hours to process and approve the K-ETA.

How to Track Your Visa Application Process on Entriva

When planning a trip, few things are more stressful than waiting for your visa to arrive without knowing if it will get there in time. At Entriva, we take the stress out of the equation by letting you monitor your application in real-time. Here’s how:

After registering and setting up your profile, you’ll get your own personal Traveler Hub, and once you have submitted your visa application to Entriva, you can track the progress of your application online. To track your application, log in to your Entriva account and click on the “My Applications” tab.

On the “My Applications” tab, you will see a list of all of your visa applications. You can click on the “View Details” link for an individual application to see the status of your application.

The status of your application will be updated as it progresses through the processing system. The possible statuses for your application are:

  • Pending: Your application is currently being processed.
  • Approved: Your application has been approved, and your visa will be sent to you.
  • Denied: Your application has been denied. You will receive an email explaining why your application was denied.

In addition to checking your Traveler Hub for updates about processing, approval, and more, you can also use it for things like organizing to-dos before your trip and checking out our other South Korea travel resources to answer all your questions.

If you have any questions about your visa application, please contact Entriva customer support.

FAQs about South Korean Visas and South Korea Visa Applications

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Can I travel to South Korea without a visa?

Yes. Under a US Visa Waiver program reciprocity agreement, US nationals don’t need a visa  to visit South Korea for stays under 90 days. You do typically need an Electronic Travel Authorization in place of a visa, but through December 31, 2024, that requirement is waived.

How long can I stay in South Korea with my visa?

You can stay up to 90 days visa-free in South Korea.

Can I extend or renew my South Korean visa?

Extending or renewing your South Korean visa  requires going to the Immigration Office in Seoul to apply for an extension. It’s not possible to extend a K-ETA while in South Korea; you’ll need to apply for a new one from outside the country. However, as the K-ETA is a multiple-entry visa valid for two years, you can leave and reenter South Korea multiple times for 90-day stints until the authorization expires.

Where can I find the Government of South Korea’s official visa and e-Visa portal?

This is the official authorized visa website of the South Korean government, where you can learn more about regular visas or e-Visas. On the Electronic Travel Authorization website, you can also learn more about the K-ETA.

Where should I keep my South Korean visa while traveling?

If you received a regular or paper visa, it’ll be put directly into your passport.

For the Electronic Travel Authorization, you will receive a digital copy by email. It’s a good idea to print out a copy to show immigration officers and to keep with you while traveling.

Didn’t find the answer you needed? Reach out to us directly —we’re happy to help.

Preparing for Your South Korea Trip

Obtaining a visa is an essential part of planning your trip. At Entriva, we can easily and efficiently help you with every aspect of getting a South Korea visa. Start your visa application process.

For more information on other aspects of travel to South Korea,  including travel requirements, local laws, and culture and traditions, visit our South Korea content hub.