Canada
Korea Visa Guide
Canadian citizens enjoy 90-day visa-free entry to Korea, K-ETA suspension through 2026, and E-2 treaty status — one of only 7 countries. Canada is consistently one of the top sources of English teachers and working holiday participants in Korea, with a substantial Korean-Canadian community exceeding 247,000.
No K-ETA required (suspended until 31 Dec 2026)
Canadian passport holders can enter Korea visa-free for up to 90 days without K-ETA. The suspension runs through 31 December 2026. From 1 January 2027, K-ETA will be required again.
Visa-free stay
90 days (tourism/business)
K-ETA required?
No — suspended until 31 Dec 2026
E-2 treaty country?
Yes — one of only 7
Working Holiday eligible?
Yes (age 18–30)
Korean community in Canada
247,362 (2nd largest globally after USA)
Embassy in Seoul
Canadian Embassy, Jung-gu, Seoul
English Teacher
PopularCanada is one of only 7 E-2 treaty countries. Canadians — including French-English bilinguals — are among the most sought-after English teachers in Korea. Requires a bachelor's degree.
Working Holiday
PopularCanadian citizens aged 18–30 can apply for Korea's Working Holiday visa. One of the top Working Holiday source countries for Korea.
Skilled Worker
PopularIT professionals, engineers, and business specialists. Korean tech companies actively recruit Canadian talent, particularly in AI, semiconductors, and clean energy.
Student
Study at Korean universities. Many Canadian students attend on exchange programs. GKS scholarships are available for graduate students.
Investment / Business Owner
Canadians starting or investing in a Korean business. Minimum investment ₩100M for most business visa categories.
Marriage Migrant
Canadian spouses of Korean nationals. F-6 leads to F-5 permanent residency after 2 years of cohabitation.
Can French-speaking Canadians work in education in Korea?
English teaching (E-2) is specifically for native English speakers, so French-first Canadians from Quebec may face additional scrutiny — though bilingual Canadians are generally accepted. For teaching French specifically, an E-7 visa under professional instructor or cultural instructor categories may be more appropriate.
How do I apostille Canadian documents for a Korean visa?
Each Canadian province issues apostilles independently. Contact your provincial government (e.g. Ontario's Ministry of the Attorney General, British Columbia's Authentication Services) to apostille your degree certificate. Federal documents like RCMP criminal record checks are apostilled by Global Affairs Canada.
Is the Working Holiday quota competitive for Canadians?
Korea has not published a hard annual quota for Canadian working holiday applicants, unlike some Asian countries. Apply at the start of the year to be safe.
Can I get permanent residency in Korea as a Canadian?
Yes. The F-5 pathways open to Canadians include: F-5-7 via K-Points (2 years on F-2-7 with 80+ points), F-5-1 after 5 years of continuous qualified residence, and F-5-5 via marriage to a Korean national.
Not sure which visa fits your situation?
Take the free visa quiz or ask K-VISA AI for personalised advice.