- Easier Travel to South Korea: New Visa Types and Simplified Entry Process Unveiled 목차
South Korea has recently announced several changes and updates to its visa policies and entry procedures, aimed at making travel to the country more accessible and convenient for foreign visitors. These changes include the implementation of the K-ETA system, the resumption of the transit visa program, and the introduction of new visa types for digital nomads and K-culture enthusiasts.
Starting with the K-ETA system, foreign nationals from 110 countries that have signed visa waiver agreements with Korea or can enter without a visa must now apply for this electronic travel authorization. However, citizens of Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom are eligible for temporary K-ETA exemption due to their low rejection rates.
Foreign nationals transiting through Korea may now be eligible for transit visas, which were temporarily suspended due to COVID-19. This visa type allows travelers to stay in Korea without a visa for up to 30 days and is set to resume in May 2023 at the earliest.
In a bid to promote tourism, Chinese group tourists arriving at designated airports in Korea can stay without a visa for up to five days when transferring to Jeju Airport or other domestic airports. This program applies to Chinese group tourists arriving at seven major airports, including Incheon International Airport.
The Incheon Airport Transit Program offers foreign nationals transiting through Incheon International Airport the opportunity to stay in the metropolitan area for up to three days without a visa.
To further facilitate travel and promote tourism, the Korean government has eased the requirements for issuing group e-visas for visitors from Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia. This program is available to groups of three or more.
Korea is also planning to establish a digital nomad visa to attract remote workers and entrepreneurs. This visa type will allow high-income and high-asset foreigners to stay in Korea for one to two years without domestic income.
Another new visa type, the K-culture training visa, will allow foreign nationals to stay in Korea for up to one year while participating in K-culture training programs.
In addition, the Korean government plans to reduce the e-visa issuance period from seven days to one to two days, making it easier and faster for foreign nationals to obtain a visa to enter Korea.
Lastly, starting May 1st, 2023, the obligation to fill out and submit a traveler's belongings declaration form upon entry will be abolished, simplifying the entry process for travelers. Entrants with items to declare can still report on mobile or paper as they do now.
These changes are expected to provide foreign travelers with a more convenient and streamlined experience when visiting Korea.
