Korea Travel Safety Guidelines (Reopening period) : VisitKorea

COVID-19 Special Entry Procedure

On the plane

Special Entry Procedure instructions

Fill out the health declaration and travel record form

Quarantine

Submit the health declaration form

Check temperature and for symptoms

Present a negative PCR COVID-19 test result issued within 72 hours of departure

Special entry

Check travel record form (address in Korea, phone number, travel history, etc.)

Download Self-diagnosis mobile app and check for valid phone number

Monitoring

Users must submit their health status every day for 10 days

If symptoms are discovered, users will receive information on the +82-1339 hotline and testing centers. If a user fails to update status on the app, authorities may contact the user.

Border screening procedures for inbound travelers

Separate entrance process applies for symptomatic and asymptomatic entrants.
* Common symptoms: High temperature (37.5℃ or above), cough, difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain,
headaches, sore throat, anosmia, ageusia, pneumonia, etc.

Symptomatic

PCR Test

At the airport or COVID-19 test center
Positive result

Transfer to the hospital or COVID-19 treatment facilities
Negative result

Follow the same procedure as an asymtomatic travelers (the result counts as the arrival test result)

Asymptomatic

From all countries

Fully vaccinated in Korea

Negative PCR COVID-19 Test result

COVID-19 Test on arrival (within 1 day)

No quarantine after negative COVID-19 test result

Another COVID-19 Test 6-7 days after arrival
Fully vaccinated abroad

Negative PCR COVID-19 Test result

COVID-19 Test on arrival (within 1 day)

No quarantine after negative COVID-19 test result

Another COVID-19 Test 6-7 days after arrival
No Vaccination
Korean / Long-term visitor

Negative PCR COVID-19 Test result

COVID-19 Test on arrival (within 1 day)

10-day quarantine

Another COVID-19 Test before the end of quarantine
Short-term visitor

Negative PCR COVID-19 Test result

Test at the temporary living facilities and quarantine for 10 days (self-pay)

Another COVID-19 Test before the end of quarantine

* Travelers from high-risk countries and those with Quarantine Exemption Certificate must check the details

※ Temporary living facilities cost approximately 100,000-150,000 won per day including accommodations and meals at traveler's own expense.
※ Living Necessity Kit will be provided including mask, water, shampoo, hand sanitizers, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. (kit items vary by location)

Short-term visitors

Foreign nationals entering Korea are required to have a Korean visa issued by the Korean Embassy or consular offices in their country. Visa for non-urgent travels, including tourism, is suspended until further notice. Only visas for work, investment and other business purposes are being issued.

Necessary documents when applying for a visa

Health Condition Report Form
Agreement to Facility Quarantine Form
Medical Diagnosis Certificate

(Medical Diagnosis Certificate issued by a medical institution within 48 hours of submitting the application)

※ Above image is a sample. Forms vary by the Korean Embassy in your country.

Current status of visa for short-term visitors

Suspension of visa-waiver and visa-free entry programs applied to 90 countries (including countries in Europe and Americas) from April 13, 2020 until further notice.

Countries: 56 Countries under Visa-Waiver Agreement including Thailand, Russia, France and others, as well as 34 countries with visa-free entry including Australia, Canada, and others.

Exceptions: A1 (Diplomatic) and A2 (Government official) passport holders, flight attendants, crewmen, and ABTC holders

※ Status subject to frequent change, check the Korean Embassy website for details.

1. Quarantine Exemption Certificate Application Guideline

※ From December 3, 2021 – February 3, 2022, all incoming travelers, regardless of nationality, are subject to mandatory 10-day quarantine starting on the date of entry with the exception of Korea-Singapore VTL travelers arriving before December 29th.

** Ticket booking for Singapore – Korea flights is temporarily unavailable **
- Applicable period: December 29, 2021 (00:00) to January 20, 2022 (24:00) KST
- Travelers with existing confirmed booking and meet VTL eligibility are not affected and can proceed accordingly.

Policy overview

Travelers entering Korea with a quarantine exemption certificate,
including official government travel and those who are on an important business trip (contract meeting, investment, etc.), may be exempted from self-quarantine.

* Important business meetings, academia / public interest, humanitarian reasons, official government travel

Period of quarantine exemption

- Fully vaccinated quarantine exemption certificate holder: Up to 10 days from entry without the necessity of fulfilling the submitted exemption criteria.
- Non-vaccinated quarantine exemption certificate holder: Up to 10 days from entry with the necessity of fulfilling the exemption criteria. Those from strengthened criteria countries can only stay for 7 days for funeral purposes
- Exemption period is calculated based on the date of entry in Korea.
- If COVID-19 test results are positive, the quarantine exemption is nullified and the traveler must follow the quarantine process.
- After fulfilling the intended travel purpose or upon the expiration of the exemption period, the traveler must leave the country or stay in quarantine for the remaining period.
* Fully vaccinated quarantine exemption certificate holder can stay for up to 10 days without needing to quarantine

Quarantine Exemption Criteria

Quarantine Exemption Criteria
Non-vaccinated visitors		Vaccinated visitors (As of July 1, 2021)
Countries without beta and gamma COVID-19 viruses, exchange possible countries	Countries with COVID-19 variants in circulation	Vaccinated visitors (As of July 1, 2021)
① Important business meetings – No restrictions apply	① Important business meetings - Limited to essential business and/or board members required on-site	① Important business meetings – No restrictions apply
② Academia / Public interest - No restrictions apply	② Academia / Public interest - Limited to athletes participating in the Olympics	② Academia / Public interest - No restrictions apply
③ Humanitarian reasons - Funeral attendance (limited to 14 days)	③ Humanitarian reasons - Funeral (limited to 7 days)	③ Humanitarian reasons - Funeral attendance (limited to 14 days) - Visiting immediate relatives of the applicant and applicant's spouse
④ Official government travel - No restrictions on government employees	④ Official government travel - Limited to high-ranking government officials such as ministers, vice-ministers, chief directors, etc.	④ Official government travel - No restrictions on government employees

* ( Subject countries) All countries except for 16 exception countries from fully vaccinated quarantine exemption (as of November, 2021)

Entry Process for Quarantine Exemption Certificate Applicants

All applicants will be tested for COVID-19 immediately after entry at a screening clinic in the airport or test facilities.
Travelers must wait at a designated temporary residential facility until the test results are confirmed.
Travelers must download the Self-Diagnosis App and are subject to active monitoring (report to the health authority daily).

* Download and install both Self-Quarantine Safety Protection App and Self-Diagnosis App at the airport.
Once the test results are confirmed negative, travelers can delete the Self-Quarantine Safety Protection App when leaving the designated temporary residential facility.

2. Issuing Quarantine Exemption Certificate

Quarantine Exemption Certificate can be issued at the Embassy (or Consulate) of the Republic of Korea. If traveling to the location is difficult, application can be e-mailed or faxed.

Expiration of Quarantine Exemption Certificate

Applicants have one month to enter Korea from the day Quarantine Exemption Certificate is issued and is only good for one-time entry, no re-entry possible

Korea and Singapore have jointly launched Vaccinated Travel Lanes

Korea and Singapore have jointly launched Vaccinated Travel Lanes on October 8, 2021, effective of November 15, 2021. It allows fully vaccinated travelers to enter Korea from Singapore, and vice versa, without having to quarantine.

Travelers must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, negative PCR test result, travel insurance for COVID-19 treatment if the traveler catches COVID-19 during their trip, travel visa, and other documents necessary to travel.
* Visa-waiver agreement planned to resume (suspended as of April, 2020)

Travelers must fly on designated direct flight airlines* and receive a negative COVID-19 PCR test result upon landing before officially traveling in Korea.
* Airlines include Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, and Singapore Airlines (additional airlines planned to be added in the future)

Necessary documents and quarantine exemption process

Travelers Entering Korea from Singapore

(Eligibility) Fully vaccinated travelers flying non-stop on a designated flight from Changi Airport to Incheon International Airport with proper visa status

(Before departing) Must have stayed for at least 14 days in Singapore (or Korea) before departure date, receive a negative PCR COVID-19 test result issued within 48 hours prior to departure (from January 13, 2022: negative result from PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure date), purchase a traveler insurance (coverage over 30 million won)

(After arrival) Present proof of COVID-19 vaccination, a negative PCR COVID-19 test , Health Condition Report Form (provided on board), valid visa (if necessary) and install Self-diagnosis mobile app
<New Self PCR Test Implementation> Do a self PCR Test with a self test kit (self-pay) 3 and 5 days (two or more times) after arrival. If the test results comes back positive, directly contact the designated medical center and receive a PCR test
- Receive a PCR test (self-pay) at COVID-19 Test Center at Incheon International Airport (Reservation website: https://safe2gopass.com), travel to accommodation facility and wait for the result. Quarantine ends when the test confirms negative result.

(During travel period) Perform an additional PCR test 6 to 7 days after arrival (At a designated testing center, notified at a later date), follow Korean COVID-19 guidelines; vaccination incentives will apply.

How to use Digital Vaccination Certificate for travelers using VTL
- Using COOV Application, authenticate other parties’ vaccination certificate by scanning the traveler’s Vaccination Certificate QR code that was given by the government
- After checking with the designated medical center regarding vaccination status, input the personal information on the system and use Vaccination Certificate authorized by the Korean government

COVID-19 Certificate Expiration Date: Up to 6 months after getting fully vaccinated (Starting January 3, 2022)

Q&A on Korea-Singapore VTL agreement (English)
Q&A on Korea-Singapore VTL agreement (Korean)
List of COVID-19 Testing Medical Institutions for the second PCR Test after arrival
Support List for Korea Inbound Travel Agencies

Overview of Korea's Social Distancing System

Limited private gatherings by social distancing levels

* From December 6, 2021 to January 2, 2022, maximum number of gather is 4 people.
(Those unvaccinated can only eat alone at a restaurant or café)
Restaurant, café and bars, etc. open until 21:00 / Academy, movie theater, PC café, etc. open until 22:00

* Since December 13, 2021, people must provide fully vaccinated certificate or negative PCR test within 48 hours to enter facilities including restaurants, café and more

Social Distancing Guideline by facility

Restaurants & cafés
- Must have mask on when you are not eating, such as when making orders, before and after eating, etc.
- Register your entry through QR scan or guestbook

Cannot exceed guestroom capacity limit at accommodations

Sports events
- Sitting together with same group allowed, but must sit at least one seat away from other groups
- Food consumption and vocal cheer activities prohibited

For more guidelines by facility, visit the Ministry of Health and Welfare (ncov.mohw.go.kr/en/)

Visitors Fully Vaccinated Abroad

Travelers who arrived with Quarantine Exemption Certificate from abroad must visit the public health center with a proof of vaccination results and Quarantine Exemption Certificate to register and receive a fully vaccinated certificate

(Paper) Vaccination Certificate issued

(Electronic) Electronic certificate issued through CooV system for those who use Korean mobile service under their name

After registration, travelers can receive benefits of being exempt from the maximum number restrictions at private gatherings, and other incentives given to fully vaccinated people

Guidelines by travel route (Download)

Travel information

Korea Travel Safety Guidelines (Reopening period)