South Korea•Asia

Open

B-1 — Visa Exemption (B-1)

Tourist

At a Glance

Processing Time

0 days

Application Fee

Free

Stay Duration

3 months

Renewable

Job Offer

Not Required

Dependents

Not Specified

PR Pathway

Remote Work

Not Required

Overview

Visa-free entry for nationals of countries with visa exemption agreements for short-term stays.

Visa-exempt entry is a status granted to nationals of specific countries for short-term stays such as tourism, transit, or non-profit business meetings. While it is not a traditional visa, travelers from certain countries may need to obtain a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) prior to arrival.

This status strictly prohibits any form of employment or profit-making activity, including remote work.

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

3 months

Eligible Nationalities (106)

Albania

Andorra

Antigua & Barbuda

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Bahamas

Barbados

Belgium

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Botswana

Brazil

Brunei

Bulgaria

Canada

Chile

Colombia

Costa Rica Croatia

Croatia

Cyprus

Czechia

Denmark

Dominica

Dominican Republic

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Must be a national of a country that has a visa-exemption agreement with South Korea.

Purpose of visit must be tourism, transit, or friendly visits (non-profit).

Must hold a valid passport.

Most nationalities must obtain a K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) prior to departure.

KEY CRITERIA

Education

none or higher

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport (usually 6+ months validity).

K-ETA approval (if applicable).

Proof of onward/return travel (sometimes requested).

Visa application form (only if applying for an extension in extreme, rare cases).

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

No visa application required for many nationalities
Fast processing via K-ETA
Low cost

Worth Knowing

Employment or profit-seeking activities are strictly prohibited.
Generally not eligible for status changes to long-term visas while in Korea (with rare exceptions like German nationals).
Extensions are rarely granted except in extreme force majeure cases.
Overstaying can lead to fines, deportation, and future entry bans.

Application Process

Verify if your country is on the visa-exempt list.

Check if you are currently required to obtain a K-ETA.

If required, apply for K-ETA at least 72 hours before departure.

Present your passport to the immigration officer upon arrival.

Ready to see if the B-1 — Visa Exemption (B-1) is your path?

Let's check your eligibility against published requirements. 2 minutes. Free trial.

Check Eligibility