U.S. citizens visit South Korea without a visa for stays of up to ninety days. A separate electronic travel authorisation normally applies to visa-free travellers, but U.S. passport holders have been covered by a temporary exemption that has been extended more than once, so the position should be checked close to the travel date.
Quick facts
Long-stay categories — teaching, employment, study, marriage and the digital nomad route — are applied for at a post, and several of them depend on a confirmation of visa issuance number obtained by the sponsor in Korea.
Fees breakdown
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single-entry visa | Consular schedule | Charged in dollars |
| Multiple-entry visa | Higher tariff | Where granted |
| Confirmation of visa issuance number | Obtained in Korea | By the sponsor |
| Criminal background check | Federal fee | Apostilled, for teaching categories |
| Degree verification and apostille | $3–$25 per document | Secretary of State |
The teaching categories are the strictest: an apostilled federal background check and an apostilled degree are standard, and both have to be recent.
How to apply
- Establish whether your nationality needs a visa or a travel authorisation for a short visit.
- For a long stay, have the sponsor in Korea obtain the confirmation number where the category requires it.
- Order the background check and degree documents early and have them apostilled.
- File at the post covering your address with the completed application.
- Pay the tariff and wait for the decision.
- Enter Korea within the visa’s validity and register for the residence card within the deadline after arrival.
Required documents
- Passport valid for the stay, with blank pages.
- Completed application and photograph to specification.
- Proof of lawful residence in the United States for third-country nationals.
- Apostilled criminal background check for teaching and some work categories.
- Apostilled degree or transcripts where the category requires them.
- Employment contract, admission letter or family documents by category.
Where to apply
At the embassy or the consulate general covering your U.S. address. Files from outside the district are not accepted.
No offices currently listed.
Additional notes
Check the authorisation rule before flying
The exemption applied to some nationalities is temporary and has been renewed repeatedly. Confirm the current position rather than relying on a previous trip.
Residence card after arrival
Long-stay arrivals must register and obtain a residence card within the deadline after entry, and penalties apply for missing it.
Documents go stale
Background checks are usually accepted only within a few months. Order them close to filing, not at the start.
Dual nationals
Someone the Korean authorities consider a Korean national does not travel on a visa. Their position is governed by the nationality and military service rules instead.