Korea Visa Health Requirements
TB Screening for Korea Visa
South Korea requires a tuberculosis (TB) screening certificate for visa applicants from 35 designated high-risk countries. This page lists all 35 countries, explains who is exempt, where to get tested, validity rules, and what happens if you test positive.
Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed April 2026
Required for long-term visas
If your nationality is on the list below and you are applying for a long-term visa (a stay of more than 90 days, or any long-term status), you must submit a TB certificate.
35 TB High-Risk Countries
Asia
Eastern Europe / Central Asia
Africa
Latin America & Pacific
Source: Ministry of Justice visa issuance and stay manuals (September 2026 edition). This list is subject to change — always verify with the Korea Immigration Service. Korea Immigration Service.
Who Is Exempt from TB Screening?
Diplomatic, official and agreement status holders (A-1, A-2, A-3)
Children under 6 (they submit a certificate at their first stay-permit application after turning 6)
Pregnant women
People who cannot move because of old age or illness
How to Get a TB Certificate
- 1
Check which hospitals are accepted
Outside Korea: ask the nearest Korean embassy or consulate which hospitals' certificates they accept. Inside Korea: ask your immigration office.
- 2
Book a chest X-ray appointment
The TB test is usually a chest X-ray (흉부 X선 검사). Bring your passport to the appointment.
- 3
Collect the certificate
Check that the name and passport details on the certificate match your application before you leave the hospital.
- 4
Submit with your visa application
Include the certificate with your visa application documents. For in-Korea status changes or extensions, submit it at the immigration office counter.
Certificate Validity Rules
- • The Ministry of Justice manuals set no validity period for a TB certificate. Check with the embassy or immigration office where you apply.
- • For an extension or status change, you need a new certificate if, within the year before you apply, you stayed 6 or more consecutive months in a high-risk country.
- • If you have stayed in Korea, re-testing is generally not required at extension time.
- • Registered foreigners from a high-risk country who have never submitted a TB certificate since 2 March 2016 must submit one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which visas require a TB certificate from high-risk countries?
A long-term visa (a stay of more than 90 days, or any long-term status) requires a TB certificate if you are from one of the 35 high-risk countries. This includes work visas (E-series), student visas (D-series), family visas (F-series), and residency visas. Short-term C-3 visitors do not need one for entry, except carers invited to look after a TB patient in Korea, but they need one when applying for a long-term status change from inside Korea.
Where do I get the TB test?
Ask where you apply which hospitals' certificates are accepted: the Korean embassy or consulate if you apply abroad, or your immigration office if you apply in Korea. The test is usually a chest X-ray.
How long is a TB certificate valid?
The Ministry of Justice manuals set no validity period for the certificate, so check with the embassy or immigration office where you apply. For an extension or status change, you need a new certificate if, within the year before you apply, you stayed 6 or more consecutive months in a high-risk country.
What if I test positive for TB?
A positive TB test does not automatically result in visa denial, but you will need to complete treatment before your visa can be issued or your stay extended. Active TB (infectious) will result in refusal of entry or visa until treatment is confirmed complete. Latent TB (non-infectious) is handled differently and does not always prevent visa approval. Consult the relevant immigration office and a tuberculosis treatment facility.
Do I need to re-test if I previously submitted a TB certificate?
Yes, if within the year before your extension or status-change application you stayed 6 or more consecutive months in a high-risk country. If you have stayed in Korea, re-testing is generally not required at extension time. Registered foreigners from a high-risk country who have never submitted a TB certificate since 2 March 2016 must submit one.
My country is NOT on the list of 35 — do I need a TB test?
If your nationality is not on the official 35-country list, no TB certificate is required as part of standard visa documentation. However, individual immigration officers may request one in exceptional circumstances or if TB exposure is suspected.
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