248 destinations shown · Natural Earth boundaries · small states appear as dots. Boundaries are illustrative and do not imply a position on any territorial dispute.

South Korea passport

Visa requirements for ordinary passport holders, tourism. Data as of September 4, 2026.

South Korea passport holders can travel to 180 destinations without arranging a visa in advance. That is 131 visa-free, 28 with a visa on arrival, and 21 with an electronic travel authorisation. 20 more offer an e-visa; 48 require a visa before you travel. This puts the South Korea passport 12th of 250 worldwide.

131 visa-free
28 on arrival
21 eTA
20 e-visa
48 visa required
#12 global rank

Visa-free

131 destinations

Enter on a valid passport, no visa.

Visa on arrival

28 destinations

A visa is issued at the border.

Electronic travel authorisation (eTA)

21 destinations

Quick online approval before departure.

e-Visa

20 destinations

Apply and get approved online before travel.

Visa required in advance

48 destinations

Arrange a visa before you travel.

Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.

About South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and the Sea of Japan to the east. South Korea claims to be the sole legitimate government of the entire peninsula and adjacent islands. It has a population of about 52 million, of which half live in the Seoul metropolitan area, the ninth most populous metropolitan area in the world, with other major cities being Busan, Daegu, and Incheon.

CapitalSeoul

RegionEastern Asia

Population51.7M

Area100,210 km²

CurrencySouth Korean won

LanguagesKorean

Calling code+82

Income levelHigh income

GDP per capita$36,227 (2025)

Tourist arrivals2.5M (2020)

Climate in Seoul

Warmest in August, coolest in December, driest in December. Monthly mean temperature:

January to December, climate normals via Open-Meteo (2020)

Summary from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.