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
Korean Licensed Administrative Attorney (행정사)Reg. No. 220-06-06463 · 대한행정사회Licensed Realtor · Korea
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed April 2026
Reviewed by licensed immigration attorneys on Expert Sapiens
Licensed Immigration AttorneysAILA Members
Required for long-term visas
If your nationality is on the list below and you are applying for any visa valid for 90+ days, you must submit a TB certificate from a designated hospital. The certificate must be submitted in a sealed envelope — do not open it.
35 TB High-Risk Countries
Asia
NepalEast Timor (Timor-Leste)MalaysiaMongoliaMyanmarBangladeshVietnamThailandSri LankaUzbekistanIndiaIndonesiaChinaCambodiaKyrgyzstanPakistanPhilippinesLaosKazakhstanTajikistan
Eastern Europe / Central Asia
RussiaUkraineAzerbaijanBelarusMoldova
Africa
NigeriaSouth AfricaEthiopiaKenyaDemocratic Republic of the CongoMozambiqueZimbabweAngola
Latin America & Pacific
PeruPapua New Guinea
Source: Korea Immigration Service official residence manual (March 2026). This list is subject to change — always verify with the Korea Immigration Service. Korea Immigration Service.
Who Is Exempt from TB Screening?
Diplomatic and official visa holders (A-1, A-2) — exempt under Vienna Convention
Children under 6 years of age
Pregnant women (based on risk to foetus — doctor's confirmation required)
Individuals physically unable to undergo chest X-ray (elderly, severely immobilized — doctor's certificate required)
Short-stay visitors on C-3 (tourist/short-term) who are not applying for long-term residency
How to Get a TB Certificate
- 1
Find a designated hospital
Outside Korea: contact the nearest Korean embassy or consulate for the list of approved hospitals in your country. Inside Korea: use HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) to find an immigration-approved medical institution near you.
- 2
Book a chest X-ray appointment
The standard TB screening test is a chest X-ray (흉부 X선 검사). Some hospitals may require additional sputum tests if the X-ray result is inconclusive. Bring your passport to the appointment.
- 3
Receive the certificate in a sealed envelope
The hospital issues your TB certificate directly in a sealed envelope. Do NOT open it before submitting to immigration. Opened certificates will be rejected.
- 4
Submit with your visa application
Include the sealed certificate envelope with your visa application documents. For in-Korea status changes or extensions, submit it at the immigration office counter.
Certificate Validity Rules
- • TB certificates have no printed expiry date, but must be recent at the time of submission.
- • If you have spent 6 months or more in a high-risk country after your previous TB certificate was issued, you must obtain a new one.
- • If you have remained continuously in Korea since your last certificate was accepted, re-testing is generally not required at extension time — but confirm with your immigration office.
- • TB certificates must be in a sealed envelope from the issuing hospital. Opened, photocopied, or self-submitted certificates are not accepted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which visas require a TB certificate from high-risk countries?
Any long-term visa (90+ days) 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 are generally not required to submit a TB certificate for entry, but they may need one when applying for a long-term status change from inside Korea.
Where do I get the TB test?
You must obtain your TB certificate from a designated medical institution. In Korea, HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) maintains a list of approved hospitals. Outside Korea, the certificate must come from a hospital designated by the local Korean embassy or consulate. A chest X-ray is the standard test method. The certificate must be provided in a sealed envelope directly from the hospital — you cannot open it before submission.
How long is a TB certificate valid?
There is no fixed expiry date printed on the certificate itself, but immigration generally requires the certificate to be recent (issued within a reasonable period before your visa application). If you have spent more than 6 months in a TB high-risk country after your last certificate was issued, you must obtain a new one.
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 more than 6 months have passed since your last certificate AND you have spent time in a TB high-risk country during that period, immigration may require a new TB test. If you remain continuously in Korea and your previous certificate was accepted, re-testing at extension time may not be required — but confirm with your local immigration office.
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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