Visa Finder — answer 2 questions
Tell us why you're coming and how long you'll stay. We'll point you to the most likely Korea visa and its full guide. Runs entirely in your browser — nothing is stored or sent.
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Visa—
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Before you apply — 4 steps that prevent most problems
- Read the full guide above — it lists the documents, fees and timelines for this visa.
- Confirm your nationality’s current rules on hikorea.go.kr or your nearest Korean embassy — requirements differ by country and change without notice.
- Gather documents early. Apostilles, criminal record checks and notarized translations are the usual bottleneck — they can take weeks.
- Check current processing times before booking flights. Don’t book non-refundable travel until the visa is in hand.
This suggestion is a starting point based on your answers, not a determination of eligibility. The right visa depends on your nationality and circumstances, and only Korean Immigration and your embassy decide. Always confirm on hikorea.go.kr.
How to use this site
Find your visa type
Use the finder above or browse the 40+ guides by purpose — visit, study, work, residency or family.
Read the honest guide
Each guide explains the rules in plain English, flags what's uncertain, and links to the official source.
Confirm & apply officially
Verify the current rules for your nationality on hikorea.go.kr and apply through HiKorea or your embassy.
Prefer it all in one printable file?
Every guide on this site is free. If you want the entry essentials organized for printing, the Korea Entry Pack 2026 condenses the pre-departure timeline, K-ETA & e-Arrival Card checklists, document list and arrival-day runbook into a 13-page offline PDF.
The pre-departure timeline, K-ETA & e-Arrival Card checklists, document list and arrival-day runbook (cash, T-money, AREX, eSIM) from this site — condensed into a 13-page offline PDF you can print and tick off. Everything in it stays free to read on this site; the pack is the organized, printable version.
Get the Entry Pack PDF →Instant download via Gumroad · 13-page A4 PDF · Edition July 2026 · General travel information — verify official rules before you fly.Get online the minute you land
Most visitors set up a travel eSIM before the flight so maps, translation and verification texts work the instant the plane touches down — useful if immigration asks for your accommodation details. Here's an honest comparison of the common options.
| Option | Typical price | Setup | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel eSIM (Airalo)Easiest | From ~US$4.50 (1 GB / 3 days) up to ~$30+ (20 GB / 30 days) | Install before you fly; auto-activates on arrival | Data-only travelers who want zero airport queues |
| Airport prepaid SIM (SKT / KT / LG U+) | ~KRW 18,000 (3 days) · ~KRW 35,000 (7 days, ~US$24) | Reserve online, collect & insert at the airport | Those who want a physical SIM or a local number |
| Carrier roaming (home network) | Varies — often the most expensive per GB | Nothing to install; works automatically | Very short trips / convenience over cost |
Prices are indicative and shown in the currency Airalo detects for you — check the live price before buying. Plan data/validity from Airalo's South Korea listing; airport SIM figures from 2026 traveler guides (see sources below).
Find your visa guide
Filter by what you're trying to do, or search by visa code (E-7, F-6, D-2…).
D-2 vs D-4: Which to Choose
Degree visa vs language study visa: who each is for, work rules, duration, and the D-4→D-2 move.
Tourist Visa & K-ETA Guide
The 2026 visa-free exemption (through Dec 31), who needs a C-3 visa, the K-ETA, and how long you can stay.
Short-Term Work (C-4) Visa
Paid work up to 90 days: who it's for, the C-3 vs C-4 line, the contract rule, and single-entry validity.
Korea Visa for US Citizens (2026)
90-day visa-free entry, the K-ETA waiver through Dec 31 2026, the Jan 2027 change, and what you need.
Korea Visa for Indian Citizens (2026)
The C-3-9 sticker visa, why there's no e-visa or K-ETA for Indians, documents, fees, and where to apply.
Does Korea Have Visa on Arrival?
Short answer: no. What citizens of non-exempt countries actually need to do instead — the C-3 visa process.
D-2 Student Visa Guide
For degree-seeking students: documents, the CCVI process, part-time work hours by TOPIK level, next steps.
D-4 Language Study Visa Guide
For Korean-language students: enrolment, funds proof, the attendance rule, work hours, the move to D-2.
E-7 Work Visa Requirements (2026)
The four E-7 sub-types, 2026 salary standards, employer sponsorship, and the points-based E-7-4 route.
Digital Nomad (Workation) Visa 2026
The F-1-D for remote workers: income threshold, insurance, background check, duration, remote-only rule.
D-10 Job Seeker Visa Guide
For graduates job-hunting in Korea: the points system, the new-graduate exemption, funds, and extensions.
D-8 Business Investor Visa Guide
The corporate investor visa: KRW 100M threshold, foreign-fund rule, active management, D-8-4 startup track.
E-2 English Teaching Visa Guide
Eligible-country citizenship, a degree, the apostilled criminal check, health check, and employer sponsorship.
D-9 Trade Visa Guide
Trade business registration, a trade number, the D-9-1 points system, and extension by trade record.
E-1 Professor Visa Guide
A higher-education appointment, the master's/PhD standard, sponsorship, and how it differs from E-2.
E-9 Non-Professional (EPS) Guide
Partner-country eligibility, the EPS-TOPIK test, HRD Korea matching, the 2026 quota, the 4y-10m cap.
E-3 Research Visa Guide
For scientists & researchers: the doctorate/master's-plus-experience standard, eligible institutes, duration.
E-5 Professional Visa Guide
Licensed lawyers, doctors, accountants & engineers: a Korea-recognized licence, sponsorship, extensions.
D-7 Intra-Company Transfer Visa
Transferred executives & specialists: the ~1-year prior-employment rule, no-investment difference vs D-8.
Student to Work Visa Guide
After graduation: the D-10 route, the 2026 TOPIK-4 fast track, going straight to E-7, getting timing right.
Visa Sponsorship Guide
How employer sponsorship works: the CCVI process, what the employer proves, and the worker's role.
F-5 Permanent Residency Guide
The 5-year residence rule, income (GNI) thresholds, KIIP Level 5 Korean, and the F-2-7 path.
Naturalization & Citizenship Guide
Residence-year rules, the KIIP language path, the naturalization test & interview, the renunciation issue.
F-6 Marriage Visa to F-5 Path
For spouses of Korean nationals: the ~2-year residence rule, the 1× GNI income standard, KIIP, livelihood proof.
F-2-7 Long-Term Residency Visa
The points-based residency visa: the 80-point threshold, scoring categories, the income-based waiver.
Residence Card (ARC) Registration
The 90-day deadline, HiKorea booking, documents, medical exam, fee, and processing time after arrival.
Lost Residence Card (ARC)? Replace It
The 14-day report window, HiKorea booking, documents, reissue fee, and processing time.
F-4 Overseas Korean Visa Guide
For overseas Koreans: heritage eligibility, the 2026 relaxed work rules, the military caveat, how to apply.
F-6 Marriage Visa Guide
The spouse-of-a-Korean visa: 2026 income standard, language requirement, the genuineness interview.
F-1 Visiting & Family Visa Guide
Who can invite you, the no-work-by-default rule and part-time permit, dependents, the F-1-22 helper route.
H-2 Working Visit Visa Guide
The working-visit visa for ethnic Koreans — and the major 2026 change merging statuses toward F-4.
F-3 Dependent Family Visa Guide
For spouses & children of work/study visa holders: who qualifies, the 2025 rule changes, ARC.
D-6 Religious Visa Guide
For missionaries, clergy & welfare workers: a recognized sponsor, the no-salary rule, documents, extensions.
D-5 Journalist Visa Guide
For foreign correspondents: the media-outlet link, dispatch documents, branch-office papers, extensions.
E-6 Arts & Entertainment Visa Guide
For performers, musicians, models & athletes: sub-types, the ministry recommendation, a sponsoring contract.
Working Holiday (H-1) Visa Guide
Age limits by country, eligible countries, duration, quotas, and work-hour limits for young travelers.
Visa Extension Guide
When to apply (up to ~4 months early), the HiKorea e-Application steps, fees, documents, and filing late.
Change of Visa Status Guide
Switching visa type: which changes work in-country, the HiKorea steps, the ~KRW 130,000 fee, and timing.
Re-Entry Permit Guide
Leaving Korea without losing your visa: the under-1-year exemption, who still needs a permit, the fee.
Immigration Office & HiKorea Guide
Booking the mandatory visit reservation, the 1345 helpline, e-Applications, and finding your office.
Visa Run & Overstay Guide
Why a border run is not a legal reset, the real cost of overstaying, and the safer legal alternatives.
Common questions
Do I need a K-ETA to visit Korea in 2026?
For 2026, nationals of designated visa-waiver countries are temporarily exempt from the K-ETA, reportedly through December 31, 2026. The list can change, so confirm your passport on the official k-eta.go.kr site before booking. See our Tourist & K-ETA guide.
Which work visa do I need to work in Korea?
It depends on your job: E-2 for English teaching, E-7 for skilled professional work, D-8 for investors, E-1/E-3 for professors and researchers, and E-9 (EPS) for non-professional employment. Most require an employer to sponsor you. Start with our E-7 guide or the sponsorship guide.
How do I get permanent residency (F-5) or citizenship?
The F-5 permanent residency status generally needs around five years of qualifying residence plus income and Korean-language (KIIP) standards. Naturalization is a separate citizenship process with its own residence rules, test and interview. See the F-5 guide and the naturalization guide.
Is this site official, or legal advice?
No. Korea Visa Hub is an independent, plain-English explainer. It is not affiliated with the Korean government and is not legal or immigration advice. Visa decisions are made only by Korean Immigration and your embassy. Always confirm on hikorea.go.kr before acting.
Should I buy an eSIM or a SIM card for Korea?
A travel eSIM (like Airalo) installs before you fly and activates on arrival — easiest if you just need data. An airport prepaid SIM from SKT/KT/LG U+ is better if you want a physical SIM or a local phone number. See the eSIM comparison above.
About these guides
We aim to be accurate and honest: where a figure or rule is uncertain or changes year to year, we say so and tell you to check the official source rather than guess. Visa decisions are made by Korean Immigration and your embassy — never by any website. Some pages contain affiliate links to travel services (such as eSIMs); these don't affect the information and never cost you extra.