Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in San Francisco

Visa Free Entry for Third Country Transit/Transfer Passengers 

(Resuming on April 30, 2023)

󰊱 Eligibility 

 - Nationals of countries that need a visa to enter Korea, and meets either ① or ② of the below 

  ① hold a visa (including permanent residency, re-entry permit) to enter either the U. S. (including Guam and Saipan), Canada, Australia, or New Zealand and △ transit through Korea to enter one of the abovementioned 4 countries or △ has stayed in and departed from one of the abovementioned 4 countries and transit through Korea bound for the country of origin or a third country 

  ② hold a visa (including permanent residency) to enter at least one of the 32 European countries and △ transit through Korea to enter one of the 32 European countries, or, △ departed from one of the 32 European countries and transit through Korea bound for the country of origin or a third country

     ** Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Rumania, Luxemburg, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Malta, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Iceland, Ireland, Estonia, United Kingdom, Austria, Italy, Czech, Croatia, Portugal, Poland, France, Finland, Hungary 

󰊱 Conditions for Visa Free Entry 

    1) Hold a confirmed onward flight ticket for departure within 30 days after entering Korea, in addition to having no record of criminal offense such as illegal stay in the countries mentioned above 

    2) Has not been denied entry into Korea in the past 3 years preceding the date of entry

    3) Has not been fined more than 5 million KRW or received an exit or deportation order for violation of law such as illegal stay

    4) Stayed no longer than 3 days in the country of transit or stopover before entering Korea

         ※ Excluding cases of returning to the previous departure point (country of transit or stopover) 

    5) Details for visa confirmation 

         - (U. S, Canada, New Zealand, 32 European countries) Accepted only when the visa sticker is affixed to the passport and is able to confirm validity 

      - (Australia) Accepted only when the validity of visa can be confirmed via the Visa Entitlement Verification Online system of the Australian government (VEVO, online.immi.gov.au)

󰊱 Visa Status and Period of Stay 

    - Tourist/Transit (B-2), 30 days

󰊱 Examples of the possible cases (Based on the United States)

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   2) Departing from the United States (A) going to the Home country (C) via Korea (B) and the third country (D), or vice versa.

     *You must stay within 3 days in a country that transits before entering Korea, and if you stay more than that, you cannot enter Korea.

      e.g.   USA (A) → Korea (B) → Third Country (D) → Home Country (C) / [Possible]

               Home Country (C) → Third country (D, stay within 3 days) → Korea (B) → USA (A) / [Possible]

               USA (A) → Third country (D, stay within 3 days) → Korea (B) → Home Country (C) / [Possible]

               Home Country (C) → Korea (B) → Third Country (D) → USA (A) / [Possible]

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󰊱 Examples of the impossible cases (Based on the United States)

               Home Country (C) → Korea (B) → Home Country (C) → USA (A) / [Impossible]

               USA (A) → Korea (B) → USA (A) → Third Country (D) / [Impossible]

               Home Country (C) → Korea (B) → Home Country (C) → Third Country (D) / [Impossible]

               USA (A) → Home Country (C) → Korea (B) → Home Country (C) / [Impossible]

   2) Not possible if you stay for more than 3 days in a country that transit before entering Korea

      e.g.   Europe (E) → Third country (D, stay more than 3 days) → Korea (B) → USA (A) / [Impossible]

              Europe (E) → Third country (D, stay more than 3 days) → Korea (B) → Third country (D) / [Impossible]

󰊱 Countries that are not eligible for this program (23 countries)

  - Passport holders of the 23 countries below need a Korean visa before entering Korea even having a U.S. green card or visa.  

  - Syria, Sudan, Iran, Cuba, Kosovo, Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Ghana, Yemen, Gambia, Senegal, Bangladesh, Kyrgyz, Pakistan, Somalia, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Cameroon, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Egypt