Embassy
Embassy of the United States, Seoul
Seoul
South Korea visa requirements for American citizens
American citizens do not need a visa for South Korea. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 90 days.
Passport
USA
United States
Going to
KOR
South Korea
No visa needed
People with listed passports can visit without a visa or K-ETA.
- Visa
- Not required
- Max stay
- 90 days (3 months)
- Fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
Special rules for American citizens in South Korea
- From September 2021, travelers require the Korean Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA).
- The validity period is 3 years from the date of approval.
- The government of the Republic of Korea announced that from April 1, 2023, to December 31, 2026, a K-ETA is not required for 27 countries citizens visiting Korea for 90 days or less for business or tourism.
What to do
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it.
Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
Note the maximum stay and count your days in South Korea.
Ways into South Korea
Check visa-free entry first. Otherwise, apply for a tourist visa.
Visa not required For your passportVisa-free without K-ETAPeople with listed passports can visit without a visa or K-ETA.
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check your passport's visa-free stay rules.
- Fill in the arrival form if required.
- Show your passport at the border.
Documents required
- Valid passport
- Passports: JP,TW,HK,SG,MO,US,CA,GB,DE,FR,IT,NL,ES,PL,SE,FI,NO,BE,DK,AT,AU,NZ.
- The K-ETA exemption ends on 31 December 2026, Korea time, unless extended.
Visa not requiredAge-based K-ETA exemptionVisa-free visitors aged 17 or younger, or 65 or older, do not need K-ETA.
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that your passport allows visa-free entry.
- Fill in the arrival form if required.
Documents required
- Valid passport
- Your passport's rules set your stay length.
- Age alone does not give you visa-free entry.
eTA requiredVisa-free with K-ETAK-ETA is online travel approval for eligible visa-free visitors who need it.
- Valid for
- 1095 days
- Fee
- ₩10,000
- Entries
- Multiple
How to apply
- Check eligibility on the official K-ETA website or app.
- Verify your email and add passport and trip details.
- Check your details, pay and submit.
- Get approval before boarding.
Documents required
- Passport details
- Email address
- Trip details and Korean address
- Usually takes 3 days; longer waits are possible. No faster service.
- Passport expiry ends approval. Reapply for new passports; update changed trips. No arrival form.
eVisaSelected online visasOnline visas cover selected workers, students, invited patients and other eligible applicants.
How to apply
- Check current eligibility using Visa Navigator.
- Choose the individual online visa application.
- Upload documents, pay and submit.
- Complete sponsor checks if required.
- Check the result and print your visa approval.
Documents required
- Online form
- Passport scans
- Digital colour photo, 3.5 × 4.5 cm
- Documents for your visa type
- The detailed eligibility page is dated 2014; check current rules before applying.
- An online embassy application form is not itself an online visa.
Visa requiredC-3-9 tourist visaA visa for holiday visitors who cannot use visa-free entry.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- Fee depends on passport and application location
- Processing
- 14–21 days
- Entries
- Single
How to apply
- Fill in and print the visa form.
- Follow the Korean embassy's checklist for where you live.
- Pay the fee and submit as instructed.
Documents required
- Visa form
- Passport and copy
- Photo
- Proof of holiday plans
- You can stay up to 90 days.
- Your embassy may ask for more documents.
Sources (31)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Korea Visa Portal: Visa Navigator
- Korea Visa Portal: Visa classes by purpose
- Korea Visa Portal: Application procedures
- Korea Immigration Service: E-Visa Center
- Korea Immigration Service: K-ETA
- Official K-ETA application guide
- K-ETA eligible countries and applicants
- K-ETA temporary exemption extended through 2026
- K-ETA age exemptions and validity
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Visa guide
- Korean Embassy in the USA: Transfer passenger visa-free entry
- Korean Embassy in the UK: Visa information
- Korean Embassy in India: Visa information
- Korean Embassy in Malaysia: C-3-9 tourist visa
- Korean Embassy in Malaysia: C-3-10 airside transit
- Korean Embassy in Malaysia: Visa application guidelines
- Korean Embassy in Malaysia: Visa issuance confirmation applications
- Korean Embassy in Sweden: Tourist visa checklist
- Korean Embassy in Canada: B-2 transfer passenger schemes
- Korean Embassy in Bangladesh: C-3-4 business visa
- Korean Consulate in Hong Kong: Visa purposes and documents
- Korean Embassy in Canada: F-3 dependants
- Korean Consulate in Chicago: F-6-1 marriage migration
- Korean Consulate in Brisbane: Medical tourist visa
- Korean Embassy in Singapore: Jeju visa-free entry
- Study in Korea: Student visa and stay status
- Korea Tourism Organization: Visa and travel requirements
- Korea Tourism Organization: Medical visa routes
- Working Holiday Info Center: 2026/27 guidance
- Official e-Arrival card guide
- Korea Immigration Service: e-Arrival card questions and answers
Embassies for this trip
For lost passports and emergencies.
Consulate
Consulate of the United States, Busan
Busan
Trips to South Korea
Day-by-day itineraries by snuck, shaped around you.
Coming from United States
- Plugs C FAdapter needed
- MoneyKRW ₩
- Time+21h
- DrivingOn the rightSame as home
- LanguageKorean
- Emergency112 police119 ambulance
Planning your South Korea trip
Best time to go: Autumn, starting in September, brings comfortable weather and colourful leaves. Spring is also pleasant, but yellow dust storms can affect the air.
- SeoulVisit Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces, the National Museum of Korea and traditional teahouses in Insadong.
- BusanSouth Korea's second city is known for beaches, seafood restaurants and festivals. Haeundae is its most famous beach.
- Jeju IslandThis volcanic island has lava tubes, Seongsan Ilchubong and Hallasan, South Korea's highest mountain.
- GyeongjuThe former capital has royal burial sites and World Heritage cultural sites.
Scams to watch for in South Korea
- Unlicensed taxisUnlicensed operators offer rides in unregistered vehicles without meters. Travellers may be misled about the service or fare. These vehicles are a common sight around the terminal.
- Inflated taxi fares and refusal to use the meterA driver may try to charge a high fixed fare instead of using the meter. This is specifically reported around Busan port. In Seoul, travellers are also advised to check that the driver starts the meter.
- Taxi detours to increase the fareSome drivers take a longer route to run up the fare. A dashboard navigation device does not guarantee a fair route. Road construction or protests can also make a longer route necessary, so a detour alone is not proof of a scam.
About South Korea
South Korea is a republic on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, facing Japan and China.
- Capital
- Seoul
- Money
- South Korean won (₩)
- Languages
- Korean
- Time zone
- UTC+09:00
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +82
Other Americas passports
Going to South Korea
Easier trips nearby
Places close to South Korea with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Are there special rules for American citizens visiting South Korea?
Do american citizens need a visa for South Korea?
American citizens do not need a visa for South Korea. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 90 days.
How long can american citizens stay in South Korea?
Up to 90 days each visit with the no visa needed rule. Staying longer can mean a fine or a ban from coming back.
Do south korean citizens need a visa for the United States?
South Korean citizens need an eTA, a short online form, before flying to the United States.
Do other Americas passports get easier entry to South Korea?
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados Brazil, and 5 more can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near South Korea are easier for american citizens?
Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Mongolia Taiwan, and 3 more let american citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to South Korea?
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it. Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
What money is used in South Korea?
South Korean won (₩). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in South Korea?
Korean.
How strong is the United States passport?
It ranks #12 and reaches 150 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck