Korea guide › Questions people ask about Korea
🛂 How long can I stay in Korea visa-free, and can I leave and come back (visa run)?
Quick answer
Your visa-free stay is the period the immigration officer stamps in your passport on arrival. Whether you get a new period when you leave and come back is decided by the officer each time, so a visa run is not guaranteed and entry can be refused.
Your visa-free stay is the period the immigration officer stamps in your passport on arrival. Whether you get a new period when you leave and come back is decided by the officer each time, so a visa run is not guaranteed and entry can be refused.
Key facts
| Length | Depends on nationality (e.g. 90 days for the US) |
|---|---|
| K-ETA | Needed unless your country is on the temporary exemption list (exemption runs to 2026-12-31) |
| Extension | In principle not allowed; only for unavoidable reasons, within 90 days of entry |
| Work | Not allowed on a visa-free stay |
| Bring | Passport, K-ETA approval (if needed), return ticket, accommodation booking |
How to do it
- Check if your nationality is visa-free on HiKorea or your embassy notice
- Apply for K-ETA before you fly if you are not exempt
- Photograph the stay period stamped in your passport
- Leave before it ends; if you need more time, ask the immigration office first
- Planning more than 90 days? Apply for the right visa (study, working holiday, etc.)
⚠️ Watch out · Overstaying leads to fines and entry bans. Beware of brokers promising visa runs, and paid K-ETA agent sites; the official site is k-eta.go.kr.
Official sources
Checked: 2026-11-09
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Guidance only, not legal or visa advice. Rules change; check the official source.
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