# 🇰🇷 South Korea — visa routes

> Verified visa and immigration data for South Korea from VisaPassage.
> Canonical page: https://visapassage.com/destinations/south-korea

22 routes with deep coverage. Every entry below is checked against official sources and carries its own verification date. Statuses describe typical eligibility — they are never a promise of approval; individual applications require review.

## Short visits by passport

- **United States**: Visa-free · stays up to 90 days
- **United Kingdom**: Visa-free · stays up to 90 days
- **Germany**: Visa-free · stays up to 90 days
- **India**: Visa required · apply before travel
- **Canada**: eTA required · apply before travel
- **Australia**: eTA required · apply before travel

Other passports: check https://visapassage.com/visa-checker for your specific passports.

## Visit

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) | Travel authorisation · typically eligible | 90 days | ₩10,000 | ₩74,000 | 3 days |
| Short-Term Visit Visa C-3-9 (Tourist) | Consular visa · typically eligible | 90 days | $40 | $160 | — |
| Visa-Free Airport Transit | Visa-free · typically eligible | 3 days | — | — | — |
| Short-Term Business Visit Visa C-3-4 | Consular visa · typically eligible | 90 days | $40 | $160 | — |

- **Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA)** — Key documents: Valid passport, Passport bio-page photo, Facial photo, Email address, Travel and accommodation details, Credit/debit card · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: k-eta.go.kr
- **Short-Term Visit Visa C-3-9 (Tourist)** — Key documents: Visa application form, Passport, Passport photo, Proof of funds, Travel itinerary, Visa fee payment · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: overseas.mofa.go.kr
- **Visa-Free Airport Transit** — Key documents: Valid passport, Onward ticket, Visa for destination · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: airport.kr
- **Short-Term Business Visit Visa C-3-4** — Key documents: Visa application form, Passport and copy, Photo, Invitation letter, Korean company business registration, Employer letter, Visa fee payment · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: overseas.mofa.go.kr

## Study & Training

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Student Visa D-2 | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | — | ₩300,000 | — |
| General Trainee (Korean Language) Visa D-4-1 | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | — | ₩300,000 | — |

- **Student Visa D-2** — Key documents: Visa application form, Passport and copy, Certificate of admission, Bank balance certificate, Final education certificates, University business/establishment registration · Rights: Work: up to 20 h/week · Study: Full-time degree enrollment · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: mofa.go.kr
- **General Trainee (Korean Language) Visa D-4-1** — Key documents: Visa application form, Passport and copy, Certificate of admission, Bank balance certificate, Final education certificate · Rights: Study: Korean language training · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: mofa.go.kr

## Work & Self-Employment

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa F-1-D | Consular visa · typically eligible | 365 days | — | ₩300,000 | 25 days |
| Technology Startup Visa D-8-4 (OASIS) | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | — | ₩370,000 | — |
| Special Occupation Visa E-7 (Skilled Professional) | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | — | ₩300,000 | — |
| Skilled Worker Points Visa E-7-4 (K-Point) | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | — | ₩300,000 | — |
| Intra-Company Transferee Visa D-7 | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | — | ₩370,000 | — |

- **Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa F-1-D** — Key documents: Visa application form, Valid passport, Photo, Criminal record check with apostille, Employment/engagement verification, Income evidence, Private health insurance · Rights: Work: Remote work for foreign employer · Family: Accompanying family, no work · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: mofa.go.kr
- **Technology Startup Visa D-8-4 (OASIS)** — Key documents: Visa/status application form, Passport (and ARC if in Korea), OASIS points evidence, Patent or IP registration, Degree certificate, Corporate registration, Business plan · Rights: Work: Work tied to own startup · Study: OASIS program study allowed · Residency after 5 years · Family: Spouse & children via F-3 · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: oasisvisa.com
- **Special Occupation Visa E-7 (Skilled Professional)** — Key documents: Visa application form, Passport and copy, Employment contract, Degree certificate, Career certificate, Employer documents, Job description / sponsorship statement · Rights: Work: Work in designated occupation · Study: Study allowed alongside work · Residency after 5 years · Family: Spouse & children via F-3 · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.go.kr
- **Skilled Worker Points Visa E-7-4 (K-Point)** — Key documents: Application for status change, Passport and alien registration card, Employment contract, Income evidence, Korean ability certificate · Rights: Work: Skilled work, points-based · Study: Study allowed alongside work · Residency after 5 years · Family: Spouse & children via F-3 · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.go.kr
- **Intra-Company Transferee Visa D-7** — Key documents: Visa application form, Passport and copy, Dispatch/secondment order, Certificate of employment, Corporate relationship evidence, Korean entity registration · Rights: Work: Work tied to transferring firm · Study: Study allowed alongside role · Residency after 5 years · Family: Spouse & children via F-3 · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: gbr.mofa.go.kr

## Invest & Capital

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Public Business Investment Immigration (F-2/F-5) | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | — | — | — |
| Tourism & Leisure Facility Investment Immigration (F-2) | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | — | — | — |
| Corporate/Business Investment Visa D-8 | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | — | — | — |

- **Public Business Investment Immigration (F-2/F-5)** — Key documents: Visa/status application form, Passport and photo, Investment deposit certificate, Proof of source of funds, Criminal record check · Rights: Work: Work allowed under F-2 · Study: Study allowed under F-2 · Residency after 5 years · Family: Spouse & children included · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.go.kr
- **Tourism & Leisure Facility Investment Immigration (F-2)** — Key documents: Visa/status application form, Passport and photo, Real estate purchase contract, Property registration certificate, Proof of payment/remittance, Designation confirmation · Rights: Work: Work allowed under F-2 · Study: Study allowed under F-2 · Residency after 5 years · Family: Spouse & children included · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.go.kr
- **Corporate/Business Investment Visa D-8** — Key documents: Visa application form, Passport and copy, Foreign investment notification, Proof of capital remittance, Corporate registration documents, Shareholder registry, Business plan · Rights: Work: Work tied to invested business · Study: Study allowed alongside business · Residency after 5 years · Family: Spouse & children via F-3 · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.go.kr

## Retire & Lifestyle

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General retirement visa | Not available | — | — | — | — |
| Working Holiday Visa H-1 | Consular visa · typically eligible | 365 days | — | ₩300,000 | — |

- **General retirement visa** — South Korea has never offered a general retirement/pensioner visa. The only retiree-specific route is a variant of the public-business investment immigration scheme (age 55+, investment plus ~KRW 300M asset proof), whose thresholds rose sharply in 2023. · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.go.kr
- **Working Holiday Visa H-1** — Key documents: Visa application form, Passport of partner country, Proof of funds, Travel/holiday plan, Return or onward ticket · Rights: Work: up to 25 h/week · Study: Language courses only, not degree · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: mofa.go.kr

## Family & Origin

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dependent Family Visa F-3 (and F-1 Family Visitor) | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | — | ₩370,000 | — |
| Marriage Migrant Visa F-6 | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | — | ₩370,000 | — |
| Overseas Korean Visa F-4 | Consular visa · typically eligible | 1,095 days | — | — | — |

- **Dependent Family Visa F-3 (and F-1 Family Visitor)** — Key documents: Visa application form, Passport and copy, Family relation documents, Principal's visa/residence card copy, Principal's employment certificate, Proof of financial capacity · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: gbr.mofa.go.kr
- **Marriage Migrant Visa F-6** — Key documents: Visa application form, Passport and copy, Marriage certificates (both countries), Invitation letter and inviter's documents, Income amount certificate, Proof of communication ability, Criminal background check, Health certificate (+1 more) · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: visaforkorea.mn
- **Overseas Korean Visa F-4** — Key documents: Visa application form, Foreign passport and copy, Proof of Korean lineage, Proof of loss of Korean nationality, Proof of overseas residence · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: hikorea.go.kr

## Special Categories

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professor (E-1) / Researcher (E-3) Visas | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | — | ₩370,000 | — |
| Points-Based Residence Visa F-2-7 | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | — | — | — |
| Permanent Residence F-5 | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | — | — | — |

- **Professor (E-1) / Researcher (E-3) Visas** — Key documents: Visa application form, Passport and copy, Confirmation of Visa Issuance number, Employment/appointment contract, Degree certificates, Career/research certificates, Institution registration documents · Rights: Work: Work as professor/researcher · Study: Study allowed alongside role · Residency after 5 years · Family: Spouse & children via F-3 · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.go.kr
- **Points-Based Residence Visa F-2-7** — Key documents: Application for status change, Passport and alien registration card, Income certificate, Degree certificates, TOPIK or KIIP certificate, Employment certificate · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.go.kr
- **Permanent Residence F-5** — Key documents: Application for permanent residence, Passport and alien registration card, Income amount certificate, KIIP completion or Korean test, Criminal record certificates, Tax payment certificates · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.go.kr

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Source: VisaPassage (https://visapassage.com/). Cite the canonical page above when referencing this data. Markdown index of all destinations: https://visapassage.com/destinations/llm.md.