Melo Villareal
Updated South Korea Travel Requirements 2022
According to the Bloomberg COVID Resilience Ranking, South Korea is one of the safest travel destinations in the world. Even with the increasing variants of COVID-19, South Korea has kept deaths 40 times lower than other countries. The country has been recognized for its resilience and its post-MERS crisis-management system. Visitors entering South Korea must undergo a special immigration process to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
List of Travelers Allowed to Enter
- Korean Nationals and Tourists
- Holders of Diplomat Visa, Government Official Visa, Agreement Visa, ABTC, APEC CARD, Valid Long or Short-Term Visa, Overseas Korean Visa, and Refugee Travel Document
- Foreigners or non-Korean Nationals staying for a long period of time re-entering the country (The re-entry permit exemption which has been suspended since June 1, 2020, is reimplemented as of April 1, 2022)
List of South Korea Travel Requirements
- Negative Rapid Antigen Test Result from any DOH-accredited laboratories released within twenty-four (24) hours prior to travel or;
- Negative RT-PCR Test Result from any DOH-accredited laboratories released within forty-eight (48) hours prior to travel
- Korea passport holders who have recently recovered from COVID-19 but still test positive in the RT-PCR test may be allowed to board by presenting the following:
- Korean Passport
- Valid Medical Certificate with the date of confirmation of COVID-19 (must be within 10-40 days prior to departure) issued by authorized medical or quarantine authorities.
- Domestic Quarantine Notice or Confirmation of Release from Quarantine for long-term foreigners
- Effective June 08, 2022, overseas entrants to the Republic of Korea, regardless of vaccination history, are exempted from undergoing mandatory quarantine.
- Korea passport holders who have recently recovered from COVID-19 but still test positive in the RT-PCR test may be allowed to board by presenting the following:
- For Long-Term Foreigners
- Foreigner Registration Card/Domestic Residence Report Card or Permanent Certificate and ID Card of a Korean Official
- Domestic (Korea) Quarantine notice or Confirmation of release from quarantine
- For United States Forces Korea
- USFK Identified Card
- Domestic (Korea) Quarantine notice or Confirmation of release from quarantine
- Re-entry Permit (if applicable)
- The following are not required to present a Re-entry permit:
- Permanent Residents/Registered foreigners departed Korea after April 1, 2022 (valid within 1 year from the date of departure from Korea)
- Diplomat (A-1) through International Agreement (A-3), Korean Arts and Culture (D-1) through Dependent Family (F-3), Marriage Migrant (F-6) through Work and Visit (H-2) status holders for Re-entry into Korea within 1 year from the date of departure
- Permanent Resident (F-5) within 2 years from the date of departure
- The following are not required to present a Re-entry permit:
- Letter of Explanation (if applicable)
- For travelers traveling to South Korea for business activities, journalism, or academic activities must submit supporting documents proving the purpose of travel.
- PH Bureau of Immigration Declaration Form (via com/en/~/media/files/coronavirus/travelrulesandrestrictions/oct2020/travel%20declaration.pdf?la=en)
- Travel and Health Insurance (check if you are required)
- Registration to Q-Code (via https://cov19ent.kdca.go.kr/cpassportal/biz/beffatstmnt/main.do?lang=en)
Note per Korea Tourism Organization:
- All travelers are required to take a PCR test within three (3) days after arriving in Korea. Short-Term visitors can take a PCR test at the COVID-19 Testing Center inside the Incheon International Airport or at a nearby medical clinic at their own expense. Long-term visitors may take a PCR test at a public health center near their home/accommodation.
- Travelers showing signs of a fever (37.5 ? or higher), coughing, difficulty in breathing, and/or other possible signs of COVID-19 upon entry to Korea must take a PCR test at the Arrivals Hall or the quarantine facility (Central Quarantine & Medical Support Center). If the test result is positive, the individual will be transferred to a hospital or residential treatment center depending on the severity.
- If the test result is negative, the traveler is exempted from quarantine and must take a follow-up Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) on Day 6 or 7 after their arrival. To perform a RAT, visitors can either use a self-test kit or visit a nearby medical clinic.
- Travelers from abroad can take the PCR test at a discounted price of 70,000 won through the Korean National Tuberculosis Association (KNTA).
Note per Philippine Airlines Advisory:
Effective March 21, 2022, those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be exempted from self-quarantine upon arrival in Korea. Fully vaccinated traveler defines those who received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines two weeks earlier and less than one hundred and eighty (180) days ago, as well as those who got the booster shots.
Travel Requirements to Korea Updated as of May 30, 2022 (source Cebu Pacific)
Based on government regulations, guests bound for Korea are advised of the following guidelines:
Entry Regulations:
- There is a temporary suspension of the Visa Waiver Agreement and Visa-Free Entry.
- Registered foreigners who departed after June 1, 2021, must hold a valid Re-Entry Permit, with the following exemptions:
- Diplomats (A-1)
- Government Officials (A-2)
- Agreement (A-3)
- Overseas Koreans (F-4)
Travel Requirements: Please present a printed copy of the following.
- Negative COVID-19 NAAT (PCR, RT-PCR, LAMP, TMA, SDA, NEAR, and others) test result, taken and issued within 48 hours before the departure date or a negative supervised Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) test result, taken and issued within 24 hours before the departure date.
- The test certificate must be written in Korean or English, and must include the following:
- Name (must match the name on the passport)
- Date of Birth / Passport Number / National ID Number
- Test Method
- Test Result
- Date of Issuance
- Name of testing center
- The following are exempted from this requirement:
- Guests under the age of six (6) years old, if accompanied by guests with a negative COVID-19 test result
- Korean nationals entering Korea within 10 to 40 days of the date when they tested positive for COVID-19
- Foreign nationals on a long-term stay who had COVID-19 in Korea and entering Korea within 10 to 40 days of the date when they tested positive for COVID-19
- Guests subject to quarantine exemption, such as those traveling for humanitarian reasons or on official business
- Guests who flew out of Korea, but were denied entry by their destination country.
- Korean Shift Crew from Singapore who presents their Korean Passport and Korean Crew Notebook
- The test certificate must be written in Korean or English, and must include the following:
All guests exiting the Philippines are required to print and fill out the Bureau of Immigration form before your flight. Click here to download the form and have it ready upon check-in.
These are the requirements we have as of the date indicated. Requirements may change from time to time without prior notice. Please continue checking with the Korean government for the latest updates.
Read:
- Cebu Travel Requirements
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Travel Requirements
- Bohol Travel Requirements
- Hong Kong Travel Requirements
