Do I need a visa for South Korea? You do need a visa for South Korea unless you are from South Korea unless you are from a visa-exempt country. South Korea is a popular country in the Far East and one of the region's most developed nations. It is known for its traditional temples, picturesque landscapes, and advanced technology. The country is home to some of the most popular brands, like Samsung, and is famous for K-pop. People interested in visiting South Korea must first find out if they need visas for the trip; if a visa is required, they must get the visa first before boarding a flight.
Why You May Need A Visa?
You may need a visa for South Korea for three reasons.
You Are Not From A Visa-Exempt Country: You may need a visa for South Korea if you are not from a visa-exempt country. The country currently has a visa-exempt list of more than 100 nations whose citizens don't need entry visas. Depending on their nationality, they can enter and stay for 180, 90, 60, or 30 days.
You can enter without a visa if you are not from any of these countries.
You Want To Stay For A Long Time: Another reason why you may need a visa is if you want to stay for a long time. There are days of grace attached to every visa-exempt visitor stay in South Korea. If you are not from a visa-exempt country but wish to stay beyond the free days allowed, you will need a visa, irrespective of your passport. For instance, Canadians can stay for up to 180 days without a visa, but if a Canadian national hopes to stay for more than that, they will need a visa.
You Wish To Work or Study: It is illegal to work without a work visa or study in a college for one year or more without a study visa.
The authorities sanction people who are caught doing any of these things in the country. Work and study visas are the only documents that give foreign nationals the right to work or study.
These conditions may cause a person to need a visa for South Korea.
Duration of Visa Exemptions
The duration for visa exemptions in South Korea is as follows.
180 Days Exemption: Canadian nationals can live in South Korea visa-free for 180 days, and they are the foreigners with the longest visa-free permits; no other foreign citizens enjoy such a privilege.
90 Days Exemption: South Korea offers 90 days visa exemption to about 50 nationalities from Africa, South and North America, Australia, and Europe.
60 Days Exemption: The 60 days visa exemption is for Lesotho and Russian citizens.
30 Days Visa Exemption: The shortest one is the 30 days Visa exemption issued to nationals from 37 nations on the planet from different continents.
Other Types Of Exemptions
Regardless of your nationality, you can also enjoy some exemptions if you meet the following conditions.
You have a valid visa for Australia, the US, Canada, and New Zealand. If you are traveling from any of these countries to South Korea or plan to travel there afterward, you can enjoy visa-free entry
You are part of a tourist group from Japan or China
You have an onward ticket out of South Korea booked for the next 30 days
People that meet any of the above conditions can enjoy visa exemptions for a limited time.
Types of Visa By Entry
There are different types of visas by entry, and they are as follows
Single Entry Visa: This one can only be used once, and it is a 90 days visa.
Multiple Entry Visa: This one is for multiple visits to South Korea and can be used more than once within a calendar year.
If you are not eligible for visa-free entry, you will need to apply for a visa, and there are more than a few available options, namely
Tourist Visa
Business Visa
Family Visit Visa
Work Visa
Student Visa
Working Holiday Visa
Each of them has their basic requirements but is only issued by the South Korean embassies and foreign missions abroad.
What You Need For A Visa Application
Visa applicants will be asked to submit the following documents
Complete the South Korean visa application form
Valid passport for another six months with two blank pages
Proof of sufficient funds
Invitation letter
Visa fee receipt
Proof of return flight
Proof of Accommodation
Trip itinerary
These are only basic documents, as the ones you will be asked to provide will reflect your desired visa. Do I need a visa for South Korea? Actually, you only if you are from a visa-exempt country. Visa-exempted nationals don't need visas.