South Korea passport and entry requirements
Passport must be valid for the duration of your stay.
Last reviewed:
Updated to reflect information on demonstrations and ongoing physician shortage. Exercise normal precautions when traveling to the Republic of Korea (ROK or South Korea). Advisory summary: Large-scale demonstrations related to the domestic political situation may occur with little notice, potentially disrupting transportation and other essential services. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain hi
Passport you need
Visa-free for short tourist stays. Korea's K-ETA requirement has been temporarily waived for U.S. citizens in recent years — verify current status before departure.
Official U.S. Department of State country informationVisa and travel authorizations
K-ETA. Apply only through the official government website — lookalike sites charge a markup for the same authorization.
Before you book
- 1. Open your passport and read the expiration date. If it falls inside the validity window above, renew before you buy tickets.
- 2. Count your blank visa pages. Pages marked "amendments and endorsements" do not count as visa pages.
- 3. File any ETA, e-visa or arrival form on the official site, days before departure rather than at the airport.
- 4. Carry the passport book, not just the card, for any international flight.