South Korea: Visa and immigration

Do I need a visa and/or work permit?

UK citizens may enter South Korea for up to 90 days without needing a visa for tourist purposes only. If you wish to stay for longer or want to work or study in the country you must obtain a relevant visa.

Visas are available for numerous situations including:

• short-term employment;
• professional employment;
• specific work;
• teaching foreign languages;
• intra-company transfers;
• studying.

If you are staying on a long-term basis in South Korea you must register with the local immigration office within the first 90 days of your stay.

Contact the Embassy of the Republic of Korea  for more details.

How do I apply for a visa and/or work permit?

Visa applications are made through the Korean Embassy and must be completed before you enter South Korea.

If you have been offered a job in the country your employer should file a work permit application on your behalf. Once this has been approved you will be issued with a Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance and this must then be submitted to the Korean Embassy.

If you are studying in South Korea the university should be able to aid you with your visa application.

The usual documents that need to be presented for a visa application include:

• valid passport;
• completed visa application;
• recent passport photograph;
• application fee.

Each different type of visa will require its own set of additional specific documents. Visit the Embassy of the Republic of Korea website for further details.

If you are not a UK national, contact the South Korean embassy in the country where you are currently residing about how to obtain visas and work permits. If you are living in the UK, go to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea .

You might also find it helpful to contact your ministry of foreign affairs (or your own embassy if you are not living in your home country) to ask whether there are any issues to be taken into account when considering working South Korea.

How do I apply for permanent residency?

You can apply for permanent residency either from your home country or while in South Korea. If you do not have any connections to Korean citizens, i.e. through marriage or family members, you will find it difficult to obtain permanent residency but it is possible if you can provide sufficient evidence and documentation. For more information contact the Embassy of the Republic of Korea.