Passport and visa regulations

Nationalities

	Passport required	visa required	Return ticket required
Turkey	Yes	no	Yes
Other EU countries	Yes	No/1	Yes
Switzerland	Yes	no	Yes
Austria	Yes	no	Yes
Germany	Yes	no	Yes

Passport information

Generally required. All documents must be valid until you leave the country (we recommend a 6-month period of validity on entry).

Note on the passport

Advanced Passenger Information System (Apis): The system of pre-recorded passenger data, called Advanced Passenger Information System (Apis), requires the registration of the following personal data of passengers by the transporting airline: name, surname, date of birth, nationality, passport number, country of residence, destination, type of travel document and gender. The data is collected at check-in. Note: The passport that was used for entry must also be presented on exit. Exceptions must be registered by the competent foreigners authority.

Visa information

A visa is generally required. Exceptions include nationals of the following countries listed in the table above, who are entitled and obliged to stay visa-free for tourism or business (e.g. discussions, participation in conferences, conclusion of contracts, etc.) of up to 90 days (unless otherwise stated ) to apply for a K-ETA (Korean Electronic Travel Authorization) at least 48 hours before departure: (a) EU countries ([1] Cyprus only for stays up to 30 days), (b) Switzerland. (c) Turkey. Attention: However, a business visa is mandatory for technical assignments, assembly work and all other paid activities.

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Costs

Germans, Austrians, Swiss and Turks are exempt from the visa requirement for up to three months if they have the following travel reasons: tourism, transit to another country or business trips such as participation in a meeting, conference, conclusion of a contract, market research and extension or conversion of the imported or exported machines. Gainful employment on site for payment is excluded. Nationals of Germany receive specific business visas and student visas free of charge. The following visa fees are basic rates for nationals who require a visa and have a valid (possibly unlimited) residence permit for Germany/Austria/Switzerland. The fees vary depending on nationality and must be requested from the relevant embassy. Germany and Switzerland Basic Visa rates: – €35.20 / US$40 / CHF40 (for stays of up to 90 days, for tourism or business purposes, excluding employment, single entry). – €52.80 / US$60 / CHF60 (for stays longer than 90 days, for tourism or business purposes, excluding gainful employment, single entry). – €79.20 / US$90 / CHF90 (multiple entries). K-ETA: The cost of the K-ETA varies depending on nationality and length of stay. Austria visa: – €44 (for stays of up to 90 days, for tourism or business purposes, excluding gainful employment, single entry). – €44 (for stays longer than 90 days, for tourism or business purposes, excluding gainful employment, single entry). – €70.40 (multiple entries). K-ETA: The cost of the K-ETA varies depending on nationality and length of stay.

Visa types and costs

Including tourist, business, work, student, journalist, working holiday and transit visas. Note: Germans between the ages of 18 and 30 are eligible to apply for a working holiday visa.

Validity

Visa: Maximum 3 months from the date of issue. K-ETA (Korean Electronic Travel Authorization): Valid for a maximum of 2 years and multiple entries; for stays from 30 to 180 days, depending on the nationality of the traveller. Visa: In person or through an agency at the responsible Korea Visa Application Center in Berlin or in Paris. K-ETA: The K-ETA (Korean Electronic Travel Authorization) can only be applied for online.

Application required

Visa: (a) Application Form. (b) Valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity. (c) if applicable, a valid residence permit for Germany, Austria or Switzerland. (d) Passport photograph (3.5 x 4.5 cm). (e) fee (by bank transfer); in cash in Germany and Switzerland. (f) Evidence of sufficient financial resources. (g) Hotel reservation or contact details for private accommodation. (h) Round-trip ticket. (i) Health Insurance. Additional work visa when applying in Frankfurt aM: Excerpt from the commercial register of the South Korean company. K-ETA (a) Passport; (b) recent passport photo; (c) credit card;

Temporary Residence

Residence permit applications should be submitted to the Seoul Immigration Office. More information from the consular posts.

Processing time

About 10-12 working days. 14 working days in Frankfurt. For long-term stays at least 1 month. K-ETA: 1-2 days.

Proof of sufficient funds

All travelers must have sufficient funds.

Legally Required Registration

All foreigners must register biometrically (photo and fingerprints) upon entry. Exceptions are minors under the age of 17 and holders of diplomatic passports. Foreigners entering South Korea with a visa allowing a stay longer than 90 days must register with the relevant regional Immigration Office within 90 days of arrival in South Korea.

Entry with children

German: Machine-readable children’s passport with photograph or your own passport. Austrians: Own passport. Swiss: Own passport. Turks: Own passport. Note: The same visa requirements apply to children as to their parents. Since June 27, 2012, children need their own travel document (passport / children’s passport) for trips abroad (also within the EU). Entries of children in the parental passport are no longer possible.

Entry with pets

For cats and dogs imported from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, there is only no quarantine obligation if a health certificate is presented (issued up to 10 days before departure). For animals less than 90 days old, the health certificate must certify that the animal is healthy. For animals older than 90 days, the health certificate must confirm that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days and at most 6 months before entry. A maximum of 4 cats or dogs may be brought in. If more animals are to be imported, an application must be submitted to the Korean Quarantine Office at the airport. Import permits for birds vary from country to country.