Korea Passport Visa-Free Countries — Where You Just Go, Where You Prepare

Korea is a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) country, so tourism, short business trips and transit need no visa — but you must obtain the ESTA travel authorization before departure.

ESTA is for e-passport holders. Once approved it is valid for two years (or until the passport expires) with multiple entries, each stay up to 90 days. ESTA approval does not guarantee entry.

Apply only on the official US site (esta.cbp.dhs.gov). Agencies at the top of search results charge extra fees.

The Schengen area (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and more) allows Korean passport holders 90 days of visa-free tourism in any 180. Schengen is a 30-country zone with no internal borders, so days across countries are counted together toward the 90.

The new ETIAS travel authorization is coming, but as of July 2026 it has not launched and has been repeatedly delayed. Once live, you will pay about €20 online in advance (free for minors and those 70+).

Check EU official channels for whether ETIAS is required at your travel date. Until it launches, there is nothing to apply for.

Japan grants Korean passport holders visa-free short stays of up to 90 days for tourism, business meetings, conferences and visiting relatives.

You cannot work or earn income on the visa-free entry, and the actual permitted stay is set by the immigration officer. Korea is not covered by the 90-day extension arrangement, so a longer stay needs the appropriate visa arranged in advance.

Under a temporary policy, China allows ordinary Korean passport holders visa-free entry for up to 30 days (started November 2024, currently extended to 31 December 2026). It covers tourism, business, visiting relatives, exchanges and transit.

Employment, long-term study and journalism are not covered and need a separate visa. The 30 days count from midnight on the day after entry.

Because it is temporary, it can end or change — reconfirm with the Chinese embassy in Korea before departure. Hong Kong (90 days) and Macau (30 days) have their own rules.

Vietnam grants Korean passport holders visa-free entry for up to 45 days regardless of purpose (in force since 2023; the current policy runs to 14 March 2028).

Visa-free entry cannot be extended locally. To stay beyond 45 days, get an e-Visa before departure, which allows up to 90 days.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry.

Thailand has a 1981 visa-exemption agreement with Korea, so Korean passport holders can stay visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism or visits. Recent 'visa-free cut to 60 days' news applies to other countries, not Koreans.

However, Thailand now requires the digital arrival card (TDAC) before entry, so submit it online before departure. Work purposes are not covered by visa-free entry.

India is not visa-free. Korean passport holders must obtain an e-Visa in advance.

The tourist e-Visa comes in 30-day, 1-year and 5-year options depending on purpose, and the business e-Visa allows up to 180 days. It is usually issued within 2–3 days, but apply at least 1–2 weeks ahead to allow for rejections or delays.

Carry the approval (ETA) when you travel, and if you stay over 180 days, register with the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) within 14 days of arrival. Apply on the official Indian government e-Visa site.