Who Can Enter Korea Without a Visa? B-1 & B-2 Complete Guide

Korea operates two parallel visa-free frameworks:

B-1 (사증면제 / Visa Waiver Treaty): Korea has bilateral visa waiver agreements with approximately 100 countries. Nationals of those countries may enter without a visa for the period specified in the treaty — typically 30, 60, or 90 days. The specific activities permitted depend on what the treaty allows; some treaties exclude employment-related activities even if they are short-term.

B-2 (관광통과 / Tourism Transit): For countries not covered by a B-1 treaty, Korea's Ministry of Justice may unilaterally designate certain nationalities for visa-free entry. B-2 is based on reciprocity and international relations, not a signed treaty. The permitted stay period is set by the Ministry of Justice and can be changed without notice.

As of the 2022 update to the visa issuance manual, Korea has visa waiver treaties in force with roughly 100 countries. Major treaty partners include: all EU/EEA member states, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada (6 months), New Zealand, Japan, the United States, most Latin American countries, and many others. Treaty nationals receive their B-1 status stamped at the port of entry — no advance application is required.

Note that some treaties are in 'pending activation' or 'temporarily suspended' status. If your country is on that list, you must obtain a visa in advance. Always verify current treaty status on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website before travel.

Countries not covered by a B-1 treaty but permitted visa-free entry under B-2 include: Saudi Arabia, Macau, Bahrain, Brunei, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Yemen, the United States (covered under both B-1 and B-2), Canada, selected Latin American and Pacific Island nations, South Africa, Mauritius, and a small number of Middle Eastern countries.

B-2 stay periods vary: 15, 30, 60, or 90 days depending on the country. The distinction matters because B-2 status does not carry the same treaty protections as B-1 — the Korean government can modify or revoke B-2 designation without treaty renegotiation.

Both and permit the same general range of activities as a short-stay visa, which includes: tourism and sightseeing, visiting family and friends, short-term business meetings and negotiations (without receiving Korean-source income), attending conferences or seminars, short-term language study (informal/tourist classes only), and medical treatment at Korean hospitals.

For , treaty-specific restrictions apply. Some treaties explicitly exclude employment-related activities even if short-term. Treaties that place no restrictions allow most short-term business activities (excluding paid work and profit-making activities).

The most important restrictions:

No employment or paid work: You cannot receive Korean-source income, perform work for a Korean employer, provide services for a fee, or engage in any profit-making activity. This applies even to remote work where payment comes from a foreign employer — Korean immigration takes the view that physically working from Korea, even for a foreign company, may constitute a status violation depending on the activity.

No status changes (in most cases): This is the most commonly misunderstood rule. Both and entries are generally not eligible for in-country status changes to long-term visas. If you enter visa-free and decide you want to stay longer on a work or student visa, you will typically need to depart Korea and apply at a Korean consulate abroad.

The main exception is German nationals on : Korea's treaty with Germany allows B-1 entrants to apply for long-term status changes in-country. This is unique to Germany.

As of 2023, most and eligible nationalities must obtain a K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) before arrival. K-ETA is not a visa — it is an advance security screening that authorizes visa-free entry. It is valid for 2 years and multiple entries.

Nationalities currently exempt from K-ETA include Japan, the United States, and a small number of others who benefit from special bilateral agreements. K-ETA exemptions change periodically, so verify your nationality's current K-ETA requirement at the official K-ETA website before booking travel.

Extensions are rarely granted. The official position is that and holders are not eligible for stay extensions or status changes. In genuine exceptional circumstances — documented medical emergency, natural disaster preventing departure, or similar force majeure — an immigration office may grant a brief extension.

For extensions, you would need to visit your local immigration office, submit Form No. 34, your passport original, the applicable fee, and documents substantiating why departure is impossible. Do not rely on this as a planned strategy.

Overstaying a or period is a serious violation. Penalties include: a fine, departure order, possible short-term detention, an entry ban (typically 1–5 years for a first offence), and difficulty obtaining Korean visas in the future. Korean immigration has access to real-time entry/exit records and will detect overstays at departure. There is no grace period — even a single day overstay is a violation.

If you know in advance that you want to stay in Korea beyond the visa-free period — for work, study, or other long-term purposes — apply for the appropriate visa at a Korean embassy or consulate in your home country before you travel. Arriving visa-free and then attempting to change status in Korea is generally not permitted (except for Germans and in limited other circumstances) and puts you in a vulnerable position.