Good news! You can now go to the land of Oppas, KPop, KDramas, and Idols without having processing a visa. How? Check out our South Korea Visa-Free Guide!

South Korea is one of the most popular destinations for Filipinos, nowadays. Because of the influence of KPop and KDramas, many want to visit to get a chance to see their idols or perhaps go to places that have been featured on TV. A South Korea Tourist Visa is much easier to apply and acquire than before, that’s why there’s a boom in the applicants.

Due to this increase, however, the South Korean Embassy has problems with our applications. They are too many, from 5-7 working days before; it has now turned to more than 10 or 15. You need to wait for a long time for your visa to be approved. Now, there are many chances to get to South Korea; the Embassy has announced ways to go to Korea Visa Free!

There are 3 ways to visit South Korea Visa Free! The original version is a bit complicated, we have summarized and simplified it for you!

1. Tourists who transit through Korea

1. If you have visas (includes re-entry permit or permanent residency) issued by the following:

Australia (if e-visa, must have a visa label attached to your passport or you must be coming from Australia)
Canada
Cyprus
Ireland (Rep.)
New Zealand
Romania
Schengen (Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland)
United States of America (includes Guam and Saipan, except flight to Korea via Saipan)
United Kingdom

2. A confirmed ticket onward ticket to the Philippines or to the country that issued the visa that’s within 30 days.

3. No records such as; criminal offense in the country that issued your visa, denied entry in Korea, deported from Korea within 3 years

4. If ever you have a transit or stopover to another country, your stay must not be more than 3 days

Examples:

OK - Philippines to South Korean to USA - no need to apply for an SK visa if you have US Visa
OK - South Korea to Saipan to California, USA
NOT OK - California, USA to Saipan to South Korea
OK - Italy to South Korea to the Philippines, no need again to apply for a South Korea Tourist Visa if you have a Schengen Visa. You can enter South Korea as long as you have a ticket going back to the Philippines within 30 days from your arrival.
CONDITIONAL - Philippines to Taiwan to South Korea to Canada, Visa Free? Well, it depends, if you are staying in Taiwan for more than 3 days then you need to have a South Korea Tourist Visa, if it’s only 1-3 days, then you can have it South Korea Visa Free.
CONDITIONAL - UK to Russia to South Korea to the Philippines, OK if you are in transit for a maximum of 3 days in Russia.
NOT OK - Thailand to the Philippines to South Korea, with US Visa, you must be going to or from the US
OK - Australia to South Korea to the Philippines, e-visa is okay
CONDITIONAL - the Philippines to South Korea to Australia, you must have visa label on your passport, if not, you are not visa free

2. Foreign Transfer Passengers

1. Those transferring through Incheon Airport

2. A Part of Transit Tourist Program

3. On the way to a 3rd country or that of their Nationality

4. You must have a transfer ticket and stay at Seoul Capital Area for only a maximum of 72 hours or 3 days

How to travel to South Korea Visa Free.png

So if you arrive in Korea and are bound to a third country or your home and have ample time to take a tour, then you can get this. Check Incheon Airport Transit Tour to see courses (examples are Palaces, Temples, or shopping areas) and reserve a slot online. It’s free; however, they may be entrances fees at the sites so you need to pay them.

For example, if Mongolia to Incheon to the Philippines, the layover is 11 hours, then reserve ka na! No need for a South Korea Tourist Visa since it’s visa-free. Libreng gala pa!

Jeju Group Tourist Visa

For groups with designated tour agencies
Those who enter South Korea and Jeju is the final destination

As per embassy, there are no final details yet.

3. Jeju Area

1. International Flight or ship is direct to Jeju Island and departing from Jeju Area

2. Visa Free for 30 days at Jeju Area

3. Confirmed onward or return ticket

Please take note that Starting February 2020, the Korean Government announced “Visa-Free entry to Jeju Island and Visa free entry for transit passengers who depart from China is suspended until further notice. Any foreigner that have visited or stayed in the Hubei Province, China within the last 14 days are not permitted to enter Korea.”

I hope you find this South Korea Visa Free guide helpful! If you want to know what to do in South Korea; here are some useful articles “25 Day Trips you Can Do in South Korea,” “Top 6 Most Photogenic Places in Seoul,” “How far will $10 go in South Korea,” and many more. You will have fun on your travels to South Korea. Have fun!

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