South Korea
South Korea visa
Asia · Eastern Asia
In the Republic of Korea, visas fall under the Ministry of Justice, which publishes the Korea Visa Portal. The pages consulted on 17 September 2026 present three application routes: filing with a diplomatic mission, applying for an electronic visa, and applying for a visa issuance confirmation. The portal offers a "Visa Navigator" that sorts visas by code and by purpose, as well as case tracking. Fees and processing times are not quantified there.
Updated on 7 October 2026 · Official sources consulted on 17 September 2026
At a glance
- Authority
- Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea — Korea Visa Portal
- Submission channel
- Three routes named by the portal: filing with a diplomatic mission, applying for an electronic visa, applying for a visa issuance confirmation
- Electronic visa
- Yes: the portal names an "Applying for Electronic Visa" route. Its conditions are not stated on the pages consulted
- Portal language
- Korean and English (English version consulted)
Do you need a visa?
Switzerland passport: no visa needed for a short tourist stay.
For a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport. To work, study or stay longer, the rules are different: check your situation.
Good to know
Visa-free entry, 3-month stay (duration expressed in months by the source, not converted); K-ETA temporarily not required until 31 December 2026 (official notice from the Embassy of Korea in Switzerland), application optional.
Official source: Korea Immigration Service — K-ETA official portal: eligible countries and regions and visa-free stay durationsKorea Immigration Service — portail officiel K-ETA : pays et régions éligibles et durées de séjour sans visa (new tab) Verified on 24 September 2026
VisaGuideline helps you prepare your application. The decision belongs to the country’s authority: check the official page before paying or applying.
South Korea visa: who needs one?
Based on the verified entry rules, for a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport.
Visa exemption 24
List of nationalities
Electronic travel authorization 86
List of nationalities
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Jamaica
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Lesotho
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Nauru
- Nicaragua
- Oman
- Palau
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Russia
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- Suriname
- Thailand
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Türkiye
- Tuvalu
- United Arab Emirates
- Uruguay
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
A nationality missing from this list does not establish a visa exemption. Consult the official authority.
Documented visa types
- 단기일반 (C-3-1) — short-term stay, general purpose
- Visa code named in the visa navigator of the portal consulted. Duration and conditions: not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
- 단체관광등 (C-3-2) — group tourism
- Visa code named in the visa navigator of the portal consulted. Duration and conditions: not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
- 의료관광 (C-3-3) — medical tourism
- Visa code named in the visa navigator of the portal consulted. Duration and conditions: not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
- 전문학사 (D-2-1) — higher education
- Visa code named in the visa navigator of the portal consulted. Duration and conditions: not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
- 취재 (D-5) — journalism
- Visa code named in the visa navigator of the portal consulted. Duration and conditions: not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
- 교수 (E-1) — university teaching
- Visa code named in the visa navigator of the portal consulted. Duration and conditions: not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
Where and how to apply
The pages consulted name three application routes: filing with a Korean diplomatic mission, applying for an electronic visa, and applying for a visa issuance confirmation.
The portal provides a "Visa Navigator" that allows visas to be filtered by country, by purpose of entry and by length of stay, as well as sections for a general guide, filing, case tracking and help. It also refers to an electronic arrival card service and to the "HI KOREA" service.
The purpose categories listed by the portal include, among others, medical treatment, study and language training, practicing a profession, intra-company transfer, journalism and religious affairs, investment, international trade, family visits, marriage, training and diplomacy.
Steps in the procedure
- Use the portal's "Visa Navigator" to identify the visa matching the country of residence, the purpose of entry and the intended length of stay.
- Choose the application route from those named by the portal: diplomatic mission, electronic visa or visa issuance confirmation.
- Complete the application form made available by the portal.
- Attach the documents matching the visa category: the list is not published on the pages consulted.
- Track the status of the case in the portal's application tracking section.
Stated fees and processing times
Fees: not stated on the portal consulted.
Processing times: not stated on the portal consulted.
After the decision
The portal offers a section for checking the status of an application. The decision rests with the competent authority.
The pages consulted describe neither the notification of a refusal, nor avenues of appeal, nor the formalities on arrival: not stated on the portal consulted.
Prepare your application
Frequently asked questions
Where is the application filed?
The portal names three routes: filing with a Korean diplomatic mission, applying for an electronic visa, and applying for a visa issuance confirmation.
Is there an electronic visa?
Yes: the portal names an electronic visa application route. Its conditions are not stated on the pages consulted.
How can the right visa type be identified?
The portal provides a "Visa Navigator" that filters visas by country, by purpose of entry and by length of stay. Visas are designated there by a code, for example C-3-1 for a short-term stay for a general purpose.
How can an application be tracked?
The portal offers a section for checking the status of an application. The pages consulted do not detail that procedure.
Points to check with the authority
- The portal relies heavily on JavaScript links: the stable addresses of the detail pages could not be recorded, which limits the official links offered here.
- The portal names several dozen visa codes; this guide reproduces only six, within the limit set by the content contract.
Official links
Authority marks the official website of an administration of the destination country.
- Korea Visa Portal — ministère de la Justice (new tab) consulted on 17 September 2026 Authority
- KOREA VISA PORTAL (new tab) consulted on 17 September 2026
- KOREA VISA PORTAL | General Guide > Application Form (new tab) consulted on 17 September 2026
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