Visa-Free Entry to South Korea
Countries with Korean Visa Exemption
Check whether your nationality qualifies for visa-free entry to South Korea, and for how long.
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
Passport Types:DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeamanSpecialGovernment· Strikethrough = suspended
Asia
29 countries| Country | Passport Types | Stay Duration | Effective Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laos | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2009.06.26 | — |
| Malaysia | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1983.09.09 | — |
| Mongolia | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2012.12.26 |
|
| Myanmar | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2011.04.01 |
|
| Bangladesh | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSuspendedSeamanSuspended | 90 days | 1983.03.17 |
|
| Vietnam | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 1999.01.13 | — |
| Singapore | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1982.11.01 | — |
| Armenia | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2012.05.22 | — |
| UAE | DiplomaticOfficialSpecialGeneral | 90 days | 2016.09.21 |
|
| Oman | DiplomaticOfficialSpecialGovernment | 90 days | 2015.04.11 | — |
| Uzbekistan | Diplomatic | 60 days | 2009.06.10 | — |
| Iran | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 1976.12.21 | — |
| Israel | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1995.05.24 |
|
| India | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2005.10.03 | — |
| Indonesia | DiplomaticOfficialGovernment | 30 days | 2020.02.12 |
|
| Japan | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 1998.12.07 | — |
| Georgia | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2013.04.01 | — |
| China | DiplomaticOfficial | 30 days | 2013.08.18 |
|
| Kazakhstan | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days General passport: max 60 days within 180 days (effective 2014.11.29) | 2007.12.05 |
|
| Kyrgyzstan | DiplomaticOfficial | 30 days | 2011.05.19 | — |
| Cambodia | DiplomaticOfficial | 60 days | 2006.12.20 | — |
| Kuwait | DiplomaticOfficialSpecial | 90 days Total stay cannot exceed 90 days in each 180-day period | 2015.06.24 | — |
| Tajikistan | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2013.01.08 | — |
| Thailand | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman | 90 days | 1967.10.10 |
|
| Turkey | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1972.05.03 | — |
| Turkmenistan | DiplomaticOfficial | 30 days | 2008.12.06 | — |
| Pakistan | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSuspended | 90 days | 1985.06.08 |
|
| Philippines | DiplomaticOfficial | Unlimited | 1970.09.01 |
|
| Jordan | Diplomatic | 90 days | 2017.05.22 |
|
Laos
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2009.06.26
Malaysia
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1983.09.09
Mongolia
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2012.12.26
- Short-term visa fee waived
Myanmar
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2011.04.01
- Passport must be valid for 6+ months
Bangladesh
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSuspendedSeamanSuspended
Since 1983.03.17
- General and seaman passports suspended 2008.07.15 due to overstay
- Seaman: 15 days
Vietnam
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 1999.01.13
Singapore
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1982.11.01
Armenia
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2012.05.22
UAE
90dDiplomaticOfficialSpecialGeneral
Since 2016.09.21
- Passport must be valid for 6+ months
Oman
90dDiplomaticOfficialSpecialGovernment
Since 2015.04.11
Uzbekistan
60dDiplomatic
Since 2009.06.10
Iran
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 1976.12.21
Israel
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1995.05.24
- Visa fee waived for 91+ day stays
India
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2005.10.03
Indonesia
30dDiplomaticOfficialGovernment
Since 2020.02.12
- Passport must be valid for 6+ months
- Officials must obtain visa before posting
Japan
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 1998.12.07
Georgia
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2013.04.01
China
30dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2013.08.18
- Diplomatic: effective 2013.08.18; Official: effective 2014.12.25
Kazakhstan
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 2007.12.05
General passport: max 60 days within 180 days (effective 2014.11.29)
- Diplomatic and official: 90 days (2007.12.05); General: 30 days (2014.11.29)
Kyrgyzstan
30dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2011.05.19
Cambodia
60dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2006.12.20
Kuwait
90dDiplomaticOfficialSpecial
Since 2015.06.24
Total stay cannot exceed 90 days in each 180-day period
Tajikistan
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2013.01.08
Thailand
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman
Since 1967.10.10
- Diplomatic and official: unlimited stay; General: 90 days (1981.12.09); Seaman: 15 days
- Visa fee waived
Turkey
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1972.05.03
Turkmenistan
30dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2008.12.06
Pakistan
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSuspended
Since 1985.06.08
- General passport suspended 2001.10.01 due to overstay
Philippines
UnlimitedDiplomaticOfficial
Since 1970.09.01
- Visa fee waived for stays under 59 days (C-3-4, C-3)
Jordan
90dDiplomatic
Since 2017.05.22
- Passport must be valid for 3+ months
Americas
30 countries| Country | Passport Types | Stay Duration | Effective Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guatemala | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 2007.10.04 | — |
| Grenada | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman | 90 days | 1991.01.27 | — |
| Nicaragua | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman | 90 days | 1995.04.08 | — |
| Dominican Republic | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1982.03.04 |
|
| Commonwealth of Dominica | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman | 90 days | 1990.03.30 | — |
| Mexico | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1979.04.06 |
|
| Barbados | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman | 90 days | 1984.03.11 |
|
| Bahamas | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman | 90 days | 1988.09.04 | — |
| Venezuela | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 2007.12.22 |
|
| Belize | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2007.02.08 | — |
| Bolivia | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2011.04.18 | — |
| Brazil | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1992.02.10 |
|
| Saint Lucia | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman | 90 days | 1990.03.30 | — |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman | 90 days | 1990.07.06 | — |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman | 90 days | 1990.03.30 | — |
| Suriname | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1976.08.03 |
|
| Haiti | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman | 90 days | 1990.03.21 | — |
| Argentina | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2004.07.31 | — |
| Antigua and Barbuda | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman | 90 days | 1994.12.29 | — |
| Ecuador | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 1986.05.29 |
|
| El Salvador | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman | 90 days | 1997.02.14 | — |
| Uruguay | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1994.01.19 |
|
| Jamaica | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman | 90 days | 1993.11.27 | — |
| Chile | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 2000.07.18 |
|
| Costa Rica | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman | 90 days | 1981.10.22 | — |
| Colombia | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1981.12.25 |
|
| Trinidad and Tobago | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman | 90 days | 1994.10.15 | — |
| Panama | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 2001.08.09 | — |
| Paraguay | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 1983.01.01 |
|
| Peru | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman | 90 days | 1982.06.12 |
|
Guatemala
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 2007.10.04
Grenada
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman
Since 1991.01.27
Nicaragua
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman
Since 1995.04.08
Dominican Republic
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1982.03.04
- Visa fee waived
Commonwealth of Dominica
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman
Since 1990.03.30
Mexico
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1979.04.06
- General passport: 3 months (1979.04.06); Diplomatic and official: 90 days (1997.08.01)
- Visa and extension fees waived
Barbados
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman
Since 1984.03.11
- Visa fee waived
Bahamas
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman
Since 1988.09.04
Venezuela
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 2007.12.22
- Diplomatic and official: 30 days; General: 90 days
Belize
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2007.02.08
Bolivia
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2011.04.18
Brazil
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1992.02.10
- Visa fee waived for diplomatic passport holders
Saint Lucia
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman
Since 1990.03.30
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman
Since 1990.07.06
Saint Kitts and Nevis
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman
Since 1990.03.30
Suriname
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1976.08.03
- Re-entry permit waived
Haiti
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman
Since 1990.03.21
Argentina
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2004.07.31
Antigua and Barbuda
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman
Since 1994.12.29
Ecuador
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 1986.05.29
- Diplomatic: unlimited; Official: 3 months
El Salvador
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman
Since 1997.02.14
Uruguay
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1994.01.19
- Visa fee waived for diplomatic passport holders
- Updated 2013.01.10
Jamaica
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman
Since 1993.11.27
Chile
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 2000.07.18
- Re-entry permit waived for C-2, D-7, D-8, D-9 visa holders
- Updated 2004.10.20
Costa Rica
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman
Since 1981.10.22
Colombia
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1981.12.25
- Visa fee waived
Trinidad and Tobago
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman
Since 1994.10.15
Panama
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 2001.08.09
Paraguay
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 1983.01.01
- Visa fee waived for diplomatic passport holders
Peru
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman
Since 1982.06.12
- Visa fee waived
Europe
36 countries| Country | Passport Types | Stay Duration | Effective Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greece | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1974.05.15 |
|
| Netherlands | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1970.06.01 |
|
| Norway | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1969.10.01 |
|
| Denmark | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1969.10.01 |
|
| Germany | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1962.01.01 |
|
| Latvia | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 2003.06.27 | — |
| Russia | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days Total stay cannot exceed 90 days in each 180-day period | 2004.11.20 |
|
| Romania | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days Total stay cannot exceed 90 days in each 180-day period | 1996.06.06 |
|
| Luxembourg | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1970.06.01 |
|
| Lithuania | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 2002.05.09 | — |
| Liechtenstein | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1979.06.28 |
|
| Moldova | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2012.07.03 | — |
| Malta | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1993.10.23 | — |
| Belgium | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1970.06.01 |
|
| Belarus | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2008.07.24 | — |
| Bulgaria | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1994.08.13 | — |
| Cyprus | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2000.12.16 |
|
| Sweden | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1969.10.01 |
|
| Switzerland | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1979.06.28 |
|
| Spain | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman | 90 days | 1972.04.08 |
|
| Slovakia | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1995.07.15 | — |
| Iceland | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1970.04.01 | — |
| Ireland | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1989.07.12 | — |
| Azerbaijan | DiplomaticOfficial | 30 days | 2008.11.21 | — |
| Estonia | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 2001.08.18 | — |
| United Kingdom | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1969.12.19 | — |
| Austria | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1979.06.25 |
|
| Ukraine | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2014.09.17 | — |
| Italy | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1975.05.05 |
|
| Czech Republic | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1994.11.05 | — |
| Croatia | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2001.06.16 | — |
| Portugal | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman | 60 days | 1979.09.19 |
|
| Poland | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1993.12.24 | — |
| France | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1967.04.12 |
|
| Finland | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1974.03.01 |
|
| Hungary | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1991.04.25 | — |
Greece
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1974.05.15
- Diplomatic and official: unlimited; General: 3 months (1979.02.25)
Netherlands
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1970.06.01
- Re-entry permit waived
Norway
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1969.10.01
- Re-entry permit waived
Denmark
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1969.10.01
- Re-entry permit waived
Germany
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1962.01.01
- Diplomatic and official: 180 days (1974.01.24); General: 90 days
- Re-entry permit waived
Latvia
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 2003.06.27
Russia
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 2004.11.20
Total stay cannot exceed 90 days in each 180-day period
- Diplomatic and official: 90 days (2004.11.20); General: 60 days (2014.01.01)
Romania
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1996.06.06
Total stay cannot exceed 90 days in each 180-day period
- Updated 2016.03.13
Luxembourg
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1970.06.01
- Re-entry permit waived
Lithuania
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 2002.05.09
Liechtenstein
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1979.06.28
- Re-entry permit waived
Moldova
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2012.07.03
Malta
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1993.10.23
Belgium
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1970.06.01
- Re-entry permit waived
Belarus
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2008.07.24
Bulgaria
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1994.08.13
Cyprus
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2000.12.16
- Visa fee waived
Sweden
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1969.10.01
- Re-entry permit waived
Switzerland
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1979.06.28
- Re-entry permit waived
Spain
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman
Since 1972.04.08
- Visa fee waived
Slovakia
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1995.07.15
Iceland
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1970.04.01
Ireland
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1989.07.12
Azerbaijan
30dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2008.11.21
Estonia
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 2001.08.18
United Kingdom
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1969.12.19
Austria
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1979.06.25
- Diplomatic and official: 180 days; General: 90 days
Ukraine
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2014.09.17
Italy
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1975.05.05
- Visa fee waived
- 90-day stay granted on reciprocity basis (2003.06.15)
Czech Republic
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1994.11.05
Croatia
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2001.06.16
Portugal
60dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman
Since 1979.09.19
- Excludes Macau
Poland
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1993.12.24
France
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1967.04.12
- Re-entry permit waived
Finland
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1974.03.01
- Re-entry permit waived
Hungary
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1991.04.25
Africa
13 countries| Country | Passport Types | Stay Duration | Effective Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabon | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2013.08.14 | — |
| Liberia | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSuspendedSeamanSuspended | 90 days | 1982.09.23 |
|
| Lesotho | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 60 days | 1971.09.05 | — |
| Morocco | DiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman | 90 days | 1993.09.01 | — |
| Benin | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 1992.07.01 |
|
| Algeria | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2006.08.30 |
|
| Angola | DiplomaticOfficial | 30 days | 2012.05.25 | — |
| Egypt | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 1998.06.24 | — |
| Tunisia | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 30 days | 1969.08.17 |
|
| Cape Verde | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2015.10.14 | — |
| Mozambique | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2017.02.16 | — |
| Tanzania | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2018.10.05 | — |
| Ethiopia | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | — |
|
Gabon
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2013.08.14
Liberia
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSuspendedSeamanSuspended
Since 1982.09.23
- Visa fee waived
- General and seaman passports suspended 2019.07.18
Lesotho
60dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1971.09.05
Morocco
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneralSeaman
Since 1993.09.01
Benin
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 1992.07.01
- Visa fee waived for official passport holders
Algeria
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2006.08.30
- Visa fee waived
Angola
30dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2012.05.25
Egypt
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 1998.06.24
Tunisia
30dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1969.08.17
- Re-entry permit fee waived
- Extension fee waived for stays over 30 days (max 6 months)
Cape Verde
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2015.10.14
Mozambique
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2017.02.16
Tanzania
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2018.10.05
Ethiopia
90dDiplomaticOfficial
- Agreement signed 2019.08.26, pending entry into force
Oceania
2 countries| Country | Passport Types | Stay Duration | Effective Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | DiplomaticOfficialGeneral | 90 days | 1994.09.30 |
|
| Vanuatu | DiplomaticOfficial | 90 days | 2018.02.21 | — |
New Zealand
90dDiplomaticOfficialGeneral
Since 1994.09.30
- Excludes New Zealand Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Vanuatu
90dDiplomaticOfficial
Since 2018.02.21
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea (MOFA). Data current as of 2020.02.12. Agreements may have been updated since. The total of 110 reflects the official government document count; some countries have multiple agreement dates for different passport types, consolidated here into single entries.
Disclaimer: This information is for reference only. Visa policies change frequently. Always verify with the Korea Immigration Service or the nearest Korean Embassy before traveling. Entry requirements may also depend on your nationality, travel purpose, and individual circumstances.
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