# Visa requirements for South Korean citizens

Visa requirements for South Korean citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of South Korea.
As of 2025, South Korean citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 192 countries and territories, ranking the South Korean passport 3rd in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.
As of 2025, the passports of South Korea, Andorra, Brunei, Chile, Israel and Palau are the only ones to provide visa-free access to all G8 countries, and the passports of South Korea, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Hong Kong, Israel, Palau and Uruguay are the only ones to provide visa free access to all European countries. In addition, the South Korean passport provides visa-free access to largest area of the world.
The South Korean government has banned travel to several countries to ensure the safety of its citizens. Neither consular assistances nor protections will be provided to people traveling those countries with South Korean passport unless they got special authorization before traveling.

## Visa requirements

Visa requirements for holders of normal passports travelling for tourist purposes:
| Country / Region | Visa requirement | Allowed stay | Notes (excluding departure fees) |
| Afghanistan | Travel banned | | Travel has been banned since August 2021 due to Taliban recapturing Kabul. |
| Albania | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Algeria | Visa required | | |
| Andorra | Visa not required | | |
| Angola | Visa not required | 30 days | 30 days per trip, but no more than 90 days within any 1 calendar year for tourism purposes only. Visitors must have a return/onward ticket and a hotel reservation confirmation. An International Certificate of Vaccination is required. |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Visa not required | 6 months | |
| Argentina | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Armenia | Visa not required | 180 days | From 15 April 2023, due to safety concerns, South Korean government bans its citizens from visiting within 10km from the Azerbaijani border. |
| Australia | Electronic Travel Authority | 90 days | 90 days on each visit in 12-month period if granted. May enter using SmartGate on arrival in Australia. |
| Austria | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Azerbaijan | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 30 days | Upon arrival at the any international airport, you can obtain visa through a kiosk. From 15 April 2023, due to safety concerns, South Korean government bans its citizens from visiting within 5km from the Armenian border. |
| Bahamas | Visa not required | 3 months | |
| Bahrain | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 14 days | |
| Bangladesh | Visa on arrival | 30 days | Not available at all entry points. |
| Barbados | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Belarus | Visa not required | 30 days | Must arrive and depart via Minsk International Airport. From 8 March 2022, due to safety concerns, South Korean government bans its citizens from visiting within 30km from the Ukrainian border. |
| Belgium | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Belize | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Benin | eVisa | 30 days | |
| Bhutan | eVisa | | Pre-arranged visa on arrival available. |
| Bolivia | Online Visa / Visa on arrival | 30 days | Visa prior to arrival (USD 30), visa on arrival (around USD 120). |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Botswana | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any year period. |
| Brazil | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Brunei | Visa not required | 30 days | |
| Bulgaria | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Burkina Faso | eVisa | | |
| Burundi | Online Visa / Visa on arrival | 1 month | |
| Cambodia | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 30 days | |
| Cameroon | eVisa | | |
| Canada | Electronic Travel Authorization | 6 months | eTA required if arriving by air. Also an eTA not required when arriving by car, bus, train or boat (including a cruise ship). |
| Cape Verde | Visa on arrival | 30 days | Available at Sal, Boa Vista, São Vicente, or Santiago international airports. Cost for a visa on arrival is around EUR 25. |
| Central African Republic | Visa required | | |
| Chad | eVisa | | |
| Chile | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| China | Visa not required | 30 days | Visa-free from 8 November 2024 to 31 December 2025. 24-hour visa-free transit through any international airports of China, allows domestic travel through different airports. 72-hour visa-free transit through Changsha, Guilin and Harbin airports, or Beihai port. 144-hour visa-free transit through Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Jieyang, Kunming, Nanjing, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Shijiazhuang, Tianjin, Wuhan, Xiamen and Xi'an airports, or Dalian, Guangzhou, Lianyungang, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Wenzhou, Xiamen and Zhoushan ports. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan count as third countries under the 24, 72 and 144-hours transit without visa (TWOV) policies. |
| Colombia | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Comoros | Visa on arrival | 45 days | |
| Republic of the Congo | Visa required | | |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | eVisa | 7 days | |
| Costa Rica | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Côte d'Ivoire | eVisa | 3 months | e-Visa holders must arrive via Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport. |
| Croatia | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Cuba | eVisa | 90 days | |
| Cyprus | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period. |
| Czech Republic | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Denmark | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Djibouti | eVisa | 90 days | |
| Dominica | Visa not required | 6 months | |
| Dominican Republic | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Ecuador | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Egypt | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 30 days | |
| El Salvador | Visa not required | 3 months | |
| Equatorial Guinea | eVisa | | |
| Eritrea | Visa required | | |
| Estonia | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Eswatini | Visa not required | 30 days | |
| Ethiopia | eVisa / Visa on arrival | up to 90 days | Visa on arrival is obtainable only at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. e-Visa holders must arrive via Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. e-Visa is available for 30 or 90 days. |
| Fiji | Visa not required | 4 months | |
| Finland | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| France | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Gabon | eVisa | 90 days | Electronic visa holders must arrive via Léon-Mba International Airport. |
| Gambia | Visa required | | An entry clearance must be obtained from the Gambian Immigration prior to travel. |
| Georgia | Visa not required | 1 year | |
| Germany | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Ghana | Visa required | | |
| Greece | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Grenada | Visa not required | 3 months | |
| Guatemala | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Guinea | eVisa | 90 days | |
| Guinea-Bissau | Visa on arrival | 90 days | |
| Guyana | Visa not required | 30 days | |
| Haiti | Travel banned | | Previously, Koreans were visa-free for 90 days. From 1 May 2024, due to safety concerns, South Korean government bans its citizens from visiting Haiti. |
| Honduras | Visa not required | 3 months | |
| Hungary | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Iceland | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| India | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 60 days | Visa on Arrival is only granted at Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai airport. South Korean citizens can also apply for e-Visa online for 30 days. e-Visa holders must arrive via 31 designated airports or 5 designated seaports. An Indian e-Tourist Visa may only be obtained twice within 1 calendar year. Foreigners of Pakistani origin or who hold a Pakistani Passport are not eligible for an e-Visa. Foreigners who are not Pakistani nationals, but whose parents or grandparents (either paternal or maternal) were born in, or were permanent residents in Pakistan, are also not eligible for an e-Visa. |
| Indonesia | e-VOA / Visa on arrival | 30 days | |
| Iran | eVisa | 30 days | |
| Iraq | Travel banned | | Since 2004, it has been recommended to refrain from entering Iraq due to the danger of Al Qaeda, and since August 7, 2007, penalties have been introduced for Koreans entering Iraq. Separately, according to Iraqi policy, visitors can enter Iraq with visa on arrival and e-Visa. |
| Ireland | Visa not required | 3 months | |
| Israel | Electronic Travel Authorization | 90 days | |
| Italy | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Jamaica | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Japan | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Jordan | eVisa / Visa on arrival | | Visa can be obtained upon arrival, it will cost a total of 40 JOD, obtainable at most international ports of entry and land border crossings. (except King Hussein/Allenby Bridge) |
| Kazakhstan | Visa not required | 30 days | 60 days within any 180-day period. |
| Kenya | Electronic Travel Authorization | 90 days | Applications can be submitted up to 90 days prior to travel and must be submitted at least 3 days in advance. eTA fee is USD 32.50. Proof of reservation at the hotel where visitors plan to stay is required (if staying with friends, an invitation letter is also acceptable). Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if coming from endemic countries. Can also be entered on an East Africa tourist visa issued by Rwanda or Uganda. |
| Kiribati | Visa not required | 30 days | |
| North Korea | Particular visit regime | | Nationals of either Koreas seeking to visit the other must submit the North/South Korea visitation verification certificate and the Departure card to the Immigration Officer at the immigration port and go through immigration inspection. Also, nationals of South Korea must seek governmental authorization before departure. |
| Kosovo | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Kuwait | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 3 months | |
| Kyrgyzstan | Visa not required | 60 days | |
| Laos | Visa not required | 30 days | |
| Latvia | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Lebanon | Free visa on arrival | 1 month | |
| Lesotho | Visa not required | 60 days | |
| Liberia | e-VOA | | |
| Libya | Travel banned | | As of 2014, due to threats by Libyan Civil War, South Korean government bans its citizens from visiting Libya. Separately, according to Libya's e-Visa site, visitors can enter Libya with e-Visa. |
| Liechtenstein | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Lithuania | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Luxembourg | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Madagascar | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 60 days | |
| Malawi | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 90 days | |
| Malaysia | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Maldives | Free visa on arrival | 30 days | |
| Mali | Visa required | | |
| Malta | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Marshall Islands | Visa on arrival | 90 days | |
| Mauritania | eVisa | 30 days | Available at Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport. |
| Mauritius | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Mexico | Visa not required | 180 days | |
| Micronesia | Visa not required | 30 days | |
| Moldova | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period. |
| Monaco | Visa not required | | |
| Mongolia | Visa not required | 90 days | Visa waiver is valid until December 31, 2025. |
| Montenegro | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Morocco | Visa not required | 3 months | |
| Mozambique | Visa not required | 30 days | Travelers must pay a fee of 650 MZN upon entry. |
| Myanmar | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 28 days / 30 days | Visa on arrival - from October 21, 2024 for 1 year. Must arrive via Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw or Mandalay airports or via land border crossings with Thailand — Tachileik, Myawaddy and Kawthaung. From 1 May 2024, due to safety concerns, South Korean government bans its citizens from visiting Rakhine State. |
| Namibia | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 3 months | Visa on arrival is available at the following locations: Hosea Kutako International Airport Impalila Island Katima Mulilo Ngoma Trans Kalahari (Buitepos) Walvis Bay Airport |
| Nauru | Visa required | | Pre-arranged visa on arrival is available. (Simplified visa procedure is available. not exceeding 3 months of stay.) |
| Nepal | Online Visa / Visa on arrival | 90 days | |
| Netherlands | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| New Zealand | Electronic Travel Authority | 3 months | May enter using eGate. International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy must be paid upon requesting an Electronic Travel Authority. Holders of an Australian Permanent Resident Visa or Resident Return Visa may be granted a New Zealand Resident Visa on arrival permitting indefinite stay (pursuant to the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement), subject to meeting character requirements and obtaining an Electronic Travel Authority prior to departure. Such travellers are not required to pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. |
| Nicaragua | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Niger | Visa required | | Pre-arranged visa on arrival is available. |
| Nigeria | eVisa | 90 days | |
| North Macedonia | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Norway | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Oman | Visa not required / eVisa | 14 days / 30 days | Issued free of charge. |
| Pakistan | Free eVisa | 90 days | Pakistan e-Visa fee is free. Electronic Travel Authorization to obtain a visa on arrival for tourism purposes. Electronic Travel Authorization to obtain a visa on arrival for business purposes. |
| Palau | Free visa on arrival | 30 days | Can be extended by twice only with a fee. |
| Panama | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Papua New Guinea | eVisa | 60 days | Available at Gurney Airport (Alotau), Mount Hagen Airport, Port Moresby Airport and Tokua Airport (Rabaul). |
| Paraguay | Visa not required | 30 days | |
| Peru | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Philippines | Visa not required | 30 days | As of 1 December 2015, due to safety concerns, South Korean government bans its citizens from visiting Basilan, Sulu Archipelago, Tawi-Tawi, and Zamboanga City. |
| Poland | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Portugal | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Qatar | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Romania | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Russia | Visa not required | 60 days | 90 days within any 1-year period. From 8 March 2022, due to safety concerns, South Korean government bans its citizens from visiting within 30km from the Ukrainian border. |
| Rwanda | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 30 days | Can also be entered on an East Africa Tourist Visa issued by Kenya or Uganda. |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Visa not required | 3 months | |
| Saint Lucia | Visa not required | 6 weeks | |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Visa not required | 3 month | |
| Samoa | Entry permit on arrival | 90 days | |
| San Marino | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | Visa not required | 15 days | |
| Saudi Arabia | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 90 days | |
| Senegal | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Serbia | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period. |
| Seychelles | Electronic Border System | 3 months | Application can be submitted up to 30 days before travel. Visitors must upload a reservation confirmation(s) for each visitor's location of stay in Seychelles. Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if coming from endemic countries. Payment of the fee (EUR 10) by credit or debit card. Valid for one journey only and it expires once exit the country. |
| Singapore | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Sierra Leone | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 3 months / 30 days | |
| Slovakia | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Slovenia | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Solomon Islands | Free Visitor's Permit on arrival | 3 months | |
| Somalia | Travel banned | | Since 2006, due to safety concerns, South Koreans have been requested to refrain from entering Somalia, and since August 7, 2007, Koreans entering Somalia are subject to punishment. |
| South Africa | Visa not required | 30 days | |
| South Sudan | eVisa | | Obtainable online. Printed visa authorization must be presented at the time of travel. |
| Spain | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Sri Lanka | ETA / Visa on arrival | 30 days | |
| Sudan | Travel banned | | From 29 April 2023, South Korean government bans its citizens from visiting Sudan during 2023 Sudan conflict. |
| Suriname | Visa not required | 90 days | An entrance fee of USD 25 or EUR 25 must be paid online prior to arrival. Multiple entry e-Visa is also available. |
| Sweden | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Switzerland | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. |
| Syria | Travel banned | | As of 2011 and 2014, due to threats by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, South Korean government bans its citizens from visiting Syria. Separately, according to Syria's e-Visa site, visitors can enter Syria with e-Visa. |
| Tajikistan | Visa not required / eVisa | 30 days / 60 days | e-Visa also available. e-Visa holders can enter through all border points. |
| Tanzania | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 90 days | |
| Thailand | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Timor-Leste | Visa on arrival | 30 days | Not available at all entry points but obtainable at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport or at Dili Sea Port. Fee : transit USD 20; tourist USD 30; business USD 50. |
| Togo | eVisa | 15 days | |
| Tonga | Free visa on arrival | 31 days | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Tunisia | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Turkey | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Turkmenistan | Visa required | | Pre-arranged visa on arrival is available. |
| Tuvalu | Free visa on arrival | 1 month | Visa fee is free. |
| Uganda | eVisa | 3 months | Can also be entered on an East Africa Tourist Visa issued by Kenya or Rwanda. International Certificate of Vaccination required. |
| Ukraine | Travel banned | | Previously, Koreans were visa-free for 90 days within 180 days. From 13 February 2022, due to safety concerns, South Korean government bans its citizens from visiting Ukraine. |
| United Arab Emirates | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| United Kingdom | Electronic Travel Authorisation | 6 months | |
| United States | Visa Waiver Program | 90 days | ESTA is valid for 2 years from the date of issuance. ESTA is also required when entering the country by cruise ship or land. Visa required for nationals of VWP countries who have travelled or been present in Iraq, North Korea, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, or Yemen at any time on or after 1 March 2011 (with limited exceptions), or those who have travelled or being present in Cuba at any time on or after 12 January 2021, or nationals of VWP countries who are also nationals of Iraq, Syria, Iran, North Korea or Sudan. ESTA is not required for Guam and Northern Mariana Islands. |
| Uruguay | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Uzbekistan | Visa not required | 30 days | |
| Vanuatu | Visa not required | 30 days | |
| Vatican City | Visa not required | | |
| Venezuela | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Vietnam | Visa not required | 45 days | A single entry e-Visa valid for 90 days is also available. |
| Yemen | Travel banned | | As of 2011 and 2014, due to threats by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, South Korean government bans its citizens from visiting Yemen. |
| Zambia | Visa not required | 30 days | Also eligible for a universal visa allowing access to Zimbabwe. |
| Zimbabwe | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 30 days | Also eligible for a universal visa allowing access to Zambia. |

## Territories and disputed areas

Visa requirements for South Korean citizens for visits to various territories, disputed areas, partially recognized countries and restricted zones:
| Visitor to | Visa requirement | Notes (excluding departure fees) |
| Europe |||
| Abkhazia | Visa required | Visa obtainable after arrival. |
| Mount Athos | Special permit required | Special permit required (4 days: EUR 25 for Orthodox visitors, EUR 35 for non-Orthodox visitors, EUR 18 for students). There is a visitors' quota: maximum 100 Orthodox and 10 non-Orthodox per day and women are not allowed. |
| ATO zone | Special permission required | |
| Brest and Grodno | Visa not required | Visa-free for 10 days |
| Crimea | Visa not required | Visa policy of Russia applies de facto. |
| Northern Cyprus | Visa not required | 3 months |
| UN Buffer Zone in Cyprus | Access Permit required | Access Permit is required for travelling inside the zone, except Civil Use Areas. |
| Faroe Islands | Visa not required | |
| Gibraltar | Visa not required | |
| Guernsey | Visa not required | |
| Isle of Man | Visa not required | |
| Jan Mayen | Permit required | Permit issued by the local police required for staying for less than 24 hours and permit issued by the Norwegian police for staying for more than 24 hours. |
| Jersey | Visa not required | |
| Nagorno-Karabakh Republic | Visa required | Travellers with Nagorno-Karabakh visa (expired or valid) or evidence of travel to Nagorno-Karabakh (stamps) will be permanently denied entry to Azerbaijan. Visa obtainable after arrival. |
| Russia | Special authorization required | Several closed cities and regions in Russia require special authorization. |
| South Ossetia | Visa required | Multiple entry visa to Russia and three-day prior notification are required to enter South Ossetia. |
| Transnistria | Visa not required | Registration required after 24h. |
| Africa |||
| British Indian Ocean Territory | Special permit required | Special permit required. |
| Eritrea outside Asmara | Travel permit required | To travel in the rest of the country, a Travel Permit for Foreigners is required (20 Eritrean nakfa). |
| Mayotte | Visa not required | |
| Réunion | Visa not required | |
| Ascension Island | eVisa | 3 months within any year period |
| Saint Helena | Visitor's Pass required | Visitor's Pass granted on arrival valid for 4/10/21/60/90 days for 12/14/16/20/25 pound sterling. |
| Tristan da Cunha | Permission required | Permission to land required for 15/30 pounds sterling (yacht/ship passenger) for Tristan da Cunha Island or 20 pounds sterling for Gough Island, Inaccessible Island or Nightingale Islands. |
| Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | | Undefined visa regime in the Western Sahara controlled territory. |
| Somaliland | Travel banned | As of 2007, due to safety concerns, South Korean government bans its citizens from visiting Somalia. includes Somaliland. |
| Sudan | Travel permit required | All foreigners traveling more than 25 kilometers outside of Khartoum must obtain a travel permit. From 29 April 2023, South Korean government bans its citizens from visiting Sudan during 2023 Sudan conflict. |
| Darfur | Travel permit required | Separate travel permit is required. From 29 April 2023, South Korean government bans its citizens from visiting Sudan during 2023 Sudan conflict. |
| Asia |||
| Hainan | Visa not required | 30 days |
| North Korea Kaesong Industrial Complex | Particular visit regime | North Korean government closed Kaesong Industrial Complex in 2016. |
| Hong Kong | Visa not required | 90 days |
| India PAP/RAP | PAP/RAP required | Protected Area Permit (PAP) required for whole states of Nagaland and Sikkim and parts of states Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh. Restricted Area Permit (RAP) required for all of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of Sikkim. Some of these requirements are occasionally lifted for a year. |
| Kazakhstan | Special permission required | Special permission required for the town of Baikonur and surrounding areas in Kyzylorda Oblast, and the town of Gvardeyskiy near Almaty. |
| Kish Island | Visa not required | 14 days Visitors to Kish Island do not require a visa. |
| Macao | Visa not required | 90 days |
| Sabah and Sarawak | Visa not required | These states have their own immigration authorities and passport is required to travel to them, however the same visa applies. |
| Maldives | Permission required | With the exception of the capital Malé, tourists are generally prohibited from visiting non-resort islands without the express permission of the Government of Maldives. |
| North Korea outside Pyongyang | Particular visit regime | DPRK government does not recognize ROK passports. |
| Palestine | Visa not required | Arrival by sea to Gaza Strip not allowed. |
| Taiwan | Visa not required | 90 days |
| Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province | OIVR permit required | OIVR permit required (15+5 Tajikistani Somoni) and another special permit (free of charge) is required for Lake Sarez. |
| Tibet Autonomous Region | TTP required | Tibet Travel Permit required (USD 10). |
| Turkmenistan | Special permit required | A special permit, issued prior to arrival by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is required if visiting the following places: Atamurat, Cheleken, Dashoguz, Serakhs and Serhetabat. |
| Korean Demilitarized Zone | Special permission required | Special permission required for south part of Joint Security Area, is only group visitors over 30 to less 45 people and aged 10 years and over, and another areas are restricted. |
| UNDOF Zone and Ghajar | | Restricted zone. |
| Caribbean and North Atlantic |||
| Anguilla | Visa not required | 3 months |
| Aruba | Visa not required | 30 days, extendable to 180 days |
| Bermuda | Visa not required | Up to 6 months, decided on arrival. |
| Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba | Visa not required | 3 months |
| British Virgin Islands | Visa not required | 30 days, extensions possible |
| San Andrés and Leticia | Tourist card on arrival | Visitors arriving at Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport and Alfredo Vásquez Cobo International Airport must buy tourist cards on arrival. |
| Cayman Islands | Visa required | Visa not required only if permanent resident of USA, Canada or UK. 6 months Visa free for 1 day when arrived by cruise. |
| Curaçao | Visa not required | 3 months |
| French Guiana | Visa not required | |
| French West Indies | Visa not required | French West Indies refers to Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy. |
| Greenland | Visa not required | |
| Margarita Island | Visa not required | All visitors are fingerprinted. |
| Montserrat | Visa not required | 6 months |
| Puerto Rico | Visa not required | Visa not required under the Visa Waiver Program, for 90 days on arrival from overseas for 2 years. ESTA required. |
| Saint Pierre and Miquelon | Visa not required | |
| Sint Maarten | Visa not required | 3 months |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | Visa not required | 90 days |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Visa not required | Visa not required under the Visa Waiver Program, for 90 days on arrival from overseas for 2 years. ESTA required. |
| Oceania |||
| American Samoa | Electronic authorization | 30 days |
| Ashmore and Cartier Islands | Special authorisation required | Special authorisation required. |
| Clipperton Island | Special permit required | Special permit required. |
| Cook Islands | Visa not required | 31 days |
| Lau Province | Special permission required | Special permission required. |
| French Polynesia | Visa not required | |
| Guam | Visa not required | 45 days |
| New Caledonia | Visa not required | |
| Niue | Visa not required | 30 days |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Visa not required | 45 days |
| Pitcairn Islands | Visa not required | 14 days visa free and landing fee USD 35 or tax of USD 5 if not going ashore. |
| United States Minor Outlying Islands | Special permits required | Special permits required for Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Atoll, Palmyra Atoll and Wake Island. |
| Wallis and Futuna | Visa not required | |
| South America |||
| Galápagos | Pre-registration required | Online pre-registration is required. Transit Control Card must also be obtained at the airport prior to departure. |
| South Atlantic and Antarctica |||
| Falkland Islands | Visa not required | A visitor permit is normally issued as a stamp in the passport on arrival, The maximum validity period is 1 month. |
| South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | Permit required | Pre-arrival permit from the Commissioner required (72 hours / 1 month for 110/160 pounds sterling). |
| Antarctica | Special permits required | Special permits by Ministry of Foreign Affairs required for British Antarctic Territory, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Argentine Antarctica, Australian Antarctic Territory, Chilean Antarctic Territory, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Peter I Island, Queen Maud Land, Ross Dependency. |

## Access-restricted countries

* 19 South Koreans return home after release from Taliban captivity
As of 1 January 2014, the South Korean government, due to safety concerns, has banned its citizens and permanent residents from visiting Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.
Also, South Korean citizens are basically not allowed to visit North Korea except when special authorizations are granted by the Ministry of Unification on a limited basis (e.g. workers and businessmen visiting or commuting to / from Kaesong Industrial Complex). Yet eight people on six occasions, from Lim Su-kyung in 1989 to Ro Su-hui in 2012, have visited one or more banned countries unapproved and returned to South Korea via Panmunjom were sentenced to imprisonment of up to 10 years.

## APEC Business Travel Card

Holders of an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) travelling on business do not require a visa to the following countries:
| Australia$^2$  Brunei$^2$  Chile$^2$  China$^4$  Hong Kong$^4$  Indonesia$^4$  Japan$^2$  Malaysia$^2$  Mexico$^1$ | New Zealand$^2$  Papua New Guinea$^4$  Peru$^2$  Philippines$^4$  Russia$^3$  Singapore$^4$  Taiwan$^2$  Thailand$^2$  Vietnam$^4$ |
$_{1-Upto180days}$ $_{2-Upto90days}$ $_{3-Upto90daysinaperiodof180days}$ $_{4-Upto60days}$
The card must be used in conjunction with a passport and has the following advantages:
* No need to apply for a visa or entry permit to APEC countries, as the card is treated as such (except by Canada and United States)
* Undertake legitimate business in participating economies
* Expedited border crossing in all member economies, including transitional members

## Non-visa restrictions

Many countries have entry restrictions on foreigners that go beyond the common requirement of having either a valid visa or a visa exemption. Such restrictions may be health related or impose additional documentation requirements on certain classes of people for diplomatic or political purposes.

### Blank passport pages

Many countries require a minimum number of blank pages to be available in the passport being presented, typically one or two pages. Endorsement pages, which often appear after the visa pages, are not counted as being valid or available.

### Vaccination

Many African countries, including Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo, South Sudan, Uganda, and Zambia, require all incoming passengers older than nine months to one year to have a current International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, as does the South American territory of French Guiana.
Some other countries require vaccination only if the passenger is coming from an infected area or has visited one recently or has transited for 12 hours in those countries: Algeria, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

### Passport validity length

Very few countries, such as Paraguay, just require a valid passport on arrival.
However many countries and groupings now require only an identity card – especially from their neighbours. Other countries may have special bilateral arrangements that depart from the generality of their passport validity length policies to shorten the period of passport validity required for each other's citizens or even accept passports that have already expired (but not been cancelled).
Some countries, such as Japan, Ireland and the United Kingdom, require a passport valid throughout the period of the intended stay.
In the absence of specific bilateral agreements, countries requiring passports to be valid for at least 6 more months on arrival include Afghanistan, Algeria, Anguilla, Bahrain, Bhutan, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Curaçao, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
Countries requiring passports valid for at least 4 months on arrival include Micronesia and Zambia.
Countries requiring passports with a validity of at least 3 months beyond the date of intended departure include Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Honduras, Montenegro, Nauru, Moldova and New Zealand. Similarly, the EEA countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, all European Union countries (except Ireland) together with Switzerland also require 3 months validity beyond the date of the bearer's intended departure unless the bearer is an EEA or Swiss national.
Countries requiring passports valid for at least 3 months on arrival include Albania, North Macedonia, Panama, and Senegal.
Bermuda requires passports to be valid for at least 45 days upon entry.
Countries that require a passport validity of at least one month beyond the date of intended departure include Eritrea, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Macau, the Maldives and South Africa.

#### Maximum passport age

Countries of the Schengen area require non-EU passports to be less than 10 years old upon entry. A number of holders of British passports, which until September 2018 could be issued with a validity period of up to 10 years and nine months if the previous passport was not expired, were unable to travel to the EU subsequent to Brexit due to this restriction.

### Criminal record

Some countries, including Australia, Canada, Fiji, New Zealand and the United States, routinely deny entry to non-citizens who have a criminal record, while others impose restrictions depending on the type of conviction and the length of the sentence.

### Persona non grata

The government of a country can declare a diplomat persona non grata, banning them from entering the country or expelling them if they have already entered. In non-diplomatic use, the authorities of a country may also declare a foreigner persona non grata permanently or temporarily, usually because of unlawful activity.

### Israeli stamps

Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, and Yemen do not allow entry to people with passport stamps from Israel or whose passports have either a used or an unused Israeli visa, or where there is evidence of previous travel to Israel such as entry or exit stamps from neighbouring border posts in transit countries such as Jordan and Egypt.
To circumvent this Arab League boycott of Israel, the Israeli immigration services have now mostly ceased to stamp foreign nationals' passports on either entry to or exit from Israel (unless the entry is for some work-related purposes). Since 15 January 2013, Israel no longer stamps foreign passports at Ben Gurion Airport. Passports are still (as of 22 June 2017) stamped at Erez when passing into and out of Gaza.
Iran refuses admission to holders of passports containing an Israeli visa or stamp that is less than 12 months old.

### Biometrics

Several countries mandate that all travellers, or all foreign travellers, be fingerprinted on arrival and will refuse admission to or even arrest travellers who refuse to comply. In some countries, such as the United States, this may apply even to transit passengers who merely wish to change planes rather than go landside.
Fingerprinting countries/regions include Afghanistan, Argentina, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Japan, Kenya (both fingerprints and a photo are taken), Malaysia upon entry and departure, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
Many countries also require a photo be taken of people entering the country. The United States, which does not fully implement exit control formalities at its land frontiers (although long mandated by its own legislation), intends to implement facial recognition for passengers departing from international airports to identify people who overstay their visa.
Together with fingerprint and face recognition, iris scanning is one of three biometric identification technologies internationally standardised since 2006 by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for use in e-passports and the United Arab Emirates conducts iris scanning on visitors who need to apply for a visa.

## Consular protection of South Korean citizens abroad

South Korea and North Korea each set the territorial scope in their respective constitutions to cover the entire Korean Peninsula.
So the two Koreas regard each other's territory as part of their own territory and do not recognize the sovereignty of the other side as a country. For this reason, embassies based on the premise of establishing diplomatic relations between foreign countries cannot be mutually established.
Inter-Korean exchange relations are not under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of each government, but the Ministry of Unification on the South Korean side and the Workers' Party of Korea on the North Korean side.