South Korea (ROK)
South Korea (ROK) map

Region: East Asia

Pandemic Travel Alert

OPEN: to international leisure travel

Most recent update: 2022-04-01 - Fully vaccinated travellers from all countries allowed to enter without quarantine

Entry

General Policy
  1. Starting 1 April 2022, fully vaccinated travellers from all countries allowed to enter without quarantine.
  2. Starting 3 May 2021, visa-free travellers need to obtain an electronic travel authorization (K-ETA) before departure.
Sources:
  1. “South Korea reopens to fully vaccinated foreigners without quarantine”
  2. Korea Immigration Service - K-ETA, Korea Electronic Travel Authorization

COVID-19 Related Entry Requirements

Visa
  • Starting 3 May 2021, visa-free travellers need to obtain an electronic travel authorization (K-ETA) before departure. As of 30 April 2022, K-ETA is available for visa-free entry for 105 passports, including USA.

(Source: Korea Immigration Service - K-ETA Application Guide )

Vaccination
  1. Starting 1 April 2022, fully vaccinated travellers from all countries allowed to enter without quarantine.
  2. Vaccination requirement:
      ​
    • Fully vaccinated with WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL) vaccines with the 2nd dose taken between 15 to 180 days of departure.
    • If the 2nd dose was taken more than 180 days ago, booster dose is required.
    • A person who contracted COVID-19 after receiving 2 doses of vaccine can be considered as fully vaccinated without taking the booster dose if he/she can provide a proof of recovery for verification.
Sources:
  1. “South Korea reopens to fully vaccinated foreigners without quarantine”
  2. Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Republic of Singapore - Quarantine-Free Travel to Korea
Testing
  1. Pre-departure PCR test must be taken within 2 days of departure. If flight is on 03 March at 2300hrs, traveller may take PCR test on 01 March at any time.
  2. Short-term visitors must get a PCR Test on arrival (self-paid, ART not allowed), taken at Incheon Airport (recommended) or at a medical institution near accommodation. PCR test at Incheon Airport requires pre-booking and can be done online at safe2gopass.com
  3. Travellers must perform a self-administered ART on Day 6 or 7 (Arrival day is day 1)

(Source: Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Republic of Singapore - Quarantine-Free Travel to Korea )

Data Collection
  1. For quarantine exemption, travellers must upload their vaccination records and pre-departure PCR test result onto “Q-CODE system” prior to departure. A QR code, valid for one-time entry, will be issued to the traveller's email after registration.
  2. Q-CODE system users are not required to submit a health status questionnaire or a special quarantine report.
Sources:
  1. Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Republic of Singapore - Quarantine-Free Travel to Korea
  2. Incheon International Airport
Movement Restrictions
  1. Fully-vaccinated travellers are exempt from quarantine. Isolation at accommodation is required while waiting for the result of the on-arrival PCR test.
  2. Travellers not fully vaccinated must undergo a 7-day quarantine at a facility designated by the Korean government, at travellers' expense.
Sources:
  1. Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Republic of Singapore - Quarantine-Free Travel to Korea
  2. Incheon International Airport
Insurance
  • New Regulation on All Foreigners Diagnosed with COVID-19
    The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA informs: "Until recently, the Republic of Korea has paid for the cost of hospitalization and treatment of all foreigners who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 virus. However...in accordance with the principle of reciprocity, all hospitalization and treatment expenses of US nationals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 within 14 days of entry to the Republic of Korea, but [sic] will be the responsibility of the US nationals who have been infected. This new regulation will enter into effect beginning with those who enter the Republic of Korea in August 24, 2020.
    Also, the cost of hospitalization and treatment of all foreigners, including US nationals, who are infected with COVID-19 due to their violation of COVID-19 preventive measures implemented by the Korean government such as quarantine measures and limits on group activities, and those who submit false COVID-19 examination (PCR) results, will not be provided by the Korean government beginning August 17, 2020.
    Therefore, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea recommends to US nationals, when possible, to be appropriately insured with COVID-19 treatment coverage before trip to Korea".

(Source: Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA )

Exit

No info

Other

No info

Pre-pandemic visa rules

Requirements

Passport Validity
Valid at time of entry
Transit
- Holders of confirmed onward tickets through Seoul Incheon (ICN), are permitted transit without visa in international transit area for up to 24 hours.
Dual Nationality
U.S. policy on dual nationality can be found here.
Sources: