The Entry Requirements of South Korea: Practical Guide

South Korea is a developed capitalist country with a high standard of living. Its service industry, the cultural industry as well as tourism industry are advanced, as a consequence, thousands of foreign visitors travel to South Korea and have fun.

As a foreign tourist, how to entry South Korea? Following are some basic requirements:

For one thing, you are supposed to hold a legal visa. There is plenty of information on the visa, including the type of visa, visa code, purpose of entry or exit, duration of stay, number of validity, issuing agency, place of issuance, visa official signature, seal, date of issuance, and visa fee, etc. Some countries also have a photo of the visa recipient (the same as on the passport), and some also have printed and anti-counterfeiting signs. To correctly apply for a visa or if you are encountering any problem, you could check the visa requirements with relevant departments, for example, the embassy.

For another thing, a valid passport is also needed. The passport you hold to enter South Korea should be valid for a period of 3 months at a minimum, from the specific date you entry into South Korea. According to the relevant regulations, foreigners who live in South Korea should report any changes in their passport information (such as when receiving a new passport). You could choose to report online using the Korean Immigration Office website, or visit a local immigration office in South Korea. In the circumstance that you are a British citizen holding a citizen passport, you are allowed to enter South Korea as a tourist for up to 90 days without a visa, but remember that an onward or return ticket is also needed. You could call the Korean Immigration Contact Centre at +82 1345 for some further information if you want.

What’s more, please check the website of the Korea Customs Service for detailed information on restricted or prohibited items before your luggage preparation. Some items you want to take with may not be allowed to bring into South Korea, for example, some kinds of medications at a certain amount. You could also visit the website of the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to make it sure.

All the information mentioned above is important and should be kept in mind. However, if you are going to do a teaching job, besides having a trip, in South Korea, there are some more requirements to comply with.

Korea is a country that attaches great importance to education, and the salary of the education industry can be considerable. To teach in South Korea, a TEFL qualification alone is not sufficient, besides which a 3-year university degree is also essential. And the teaching visa you hold must be real and legal, or you might get severe penalties including detainment and deportation.