I. Legal basis

The visa and immigration regulations for Vietnamese citizens in Korea in 2025 are primarily based on:

• Korea Transit Tourism Policy: Allows Vietnamese travelers to transit in Korea visa-free for 72 hours if they meet the conditions.
• Tourist in Transit Program (B2): Implemented since 2023, permits a maximum transit stay of 30 days in certain cases.
• The visa system and immigration regulations are issued by the Korea Immigration Service and the Government of Korea (including E-visas, F-visas, D-visas, etc.).
• Entry, visa exemption, and K-ETA guidelines are published by the Ministry of Justice and the Korea Tourism Organization.

II. General entry regulations for Korea – Visa & K-ETA

First, for entry into Korea (Vietnamese citizens) for tourism, visiting relatives, or short-term business, it is necessary to determine whether you are eligible for visa exemption, need to apply for a visa, or must obtain an electronic travel authorization (K-ETA).

1. Visa & Traditional Visa Exemption

• Under the general regulations of VisitKorea, all foreign nationals must hold a valid visa to enter Korea, except in cases eligible for visa exemption under relevant agreements or visa-free programs.
• Vietnam is not included in the list of countries eligible for long-term visa exemption or visa-free entry to Korea, unlike European countries, Japan, etc.
• Therefore, if you are entering Korea solely for ordinary stays and activities (such as tourism, visiting relatives, or short-term business), you must apply for an appropriate visa (tourist, short-term, or business visa).

2. K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization)

• Korea requires that, in many cases, travelers from visa-exempt countries must obtain a K-ETA prior to entry, serving as an electronic confirmation of their itinerary and purpose of entry.
• However, according to information from the U.S. Department of State (Travel.State.gov), the K-ETA requirement is temporarily waived for certain cases until the end of 2025 to facilitate tourism.
• This means that for Vietnamese citizens in 2025, depending on the case, if you fall under the category requiring a K-ETA, you will need to obtain it prior to boarding the plane or entering Korea.

3. Note on non-eligibility for visa exemption – 72-hour transit program

The 72-hour transit policy does not mean that you can enter Korea as a regular tourist. It only applies in special circumstances, when you are merely ‘passing through’ (transiting). We will analyze this in detail in the following section.

III. New regulation: 72-hour visa-free transit for Vietnamese citizens

This is a notable new development in 2025 that will be of great interest to many Vietnamese travelers.

1. Program details

• According to the article on VisaIndex, from 2025, Vietnamese citizens transiting through one of Korea’s airports (e.g., Incheon) may be granted a 72-hour visa exemption if the conditions are approved.
• The program is called ‘Korea Transit Tourism’ — meaning that if you are traveling from country A → Korea → then onward to country B, you are allowed to stay in Korea for up to 72 hours without applying for a visa in advance.
• During this period, you may leave the airport, go sightseeing, transfer between terminals, or use related services if you meet the program’s conditions.

2. Eligibility requirements

This policy does not apply to all flights — you must meet the following conditions:

• You must be genuinely transiting: meaning that Korea is not your primary destination, but only a transit point. If Korea is your final destination, you must apply for a regular visa.
• You must have a connecting flight from Korea to a third destination within 72 hours.
• You must hold a valid passport and necessary documents and pass the immigration inspection — the Korea Immigration authorities have the right to deny entry if there is suspicion of violating the purpose of transit.
• You may need to comply with supporting requirements such as booking a transit tour or pre-registering if the program requires it (depending on the airport). For example, Incheon offers a “Transit Tour” program for short-term transit passengers.
• You must not violate any security or entry conditions.

3. Limitations and risks

• The 72 hours is the maximum; if you stay in Korea beyond this period, you will be considered to be in a state of “overstay”, which may result in fines and future entry bans.
• Not all airports or routes are eligible; the policy may only apply at major international airports, such as Incheon.
• The acceptance of participation in the program is at the discretion of the customs/immigration authorities upon your arrival. Entry may be denied if the documents are unclear or the purpose of travel is not convincing (the immigration authority has the right to assess).
• This policy does not replace a traditional visa if your purpose is tourism, work, or long-term stay.

4. Compared to the “Tourist in Transit (B2)” 30-day program

• Since April 2023, Korea has implemented the ‘Tourist in Transit (B2)’ program — if you are transiting from A → Korea → B or from B → Korea → A, you are allowed to enter Korea for up to 30 days as a transit tourist.
• The 72-hour policy is a “shorter and more easily applicable” version in many cases.
• When using the B2 30-day program, you must meet related conditions such as having a connecting flight and documents proving the onward journey, etc.

IV. Long-term immigration, work visas, and residency in Korea

If you are not merely transiting but wish to work, study, or reside long-term in Korea, there are various types of visas/residence permits. Below are the common types and the principles of their application:

1. Common types of visas/residence permits

• E-visa, D-visa, F-visa: Korea classifies various types of visas according to purpose (work, investment, research, family, etc.).
• E-7 (skilled worker), E-9/E-8 (non-skilled worker under quota system) — The number of visas is limited annually. In 2025, the quotas for E-7-4, E-8, and E-9 visas are specific figures that have been officially announced.
• F-2 (long-term residency): If you meet conditions such as residing in Korea for the required number of years, having stable income, completing the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP), achieving high evaluation scores, etc.
• F-5 (permanent resident): If you have resided in Korea for the required period under long-term residency, and possess credibility, Korean language proficiency, assets, and knowledge of Korean society, etc.
• In addition, there are visas for investment, business, research, arts, etc. (D-visa, etc.)

2. Conditions for visa change or upgrade

• According to the Immigration Visa Navigator (Korea), you can transition from a work visa to long-term residency if you meet requirements regarding duration of stay, income, language proficiency, ethics, etc.
• For example, if you hold an E-7 skilled work visa continuously for several years, complete the required level of social integration (KIIP), and meet the evaluation score criteria, you may apply for an F-2 or F-5 visa.
• In some cases, non-skilled visas (E-9/E-8) may have restrictions on transitioning to E-7 or F-2, but exceptions may apply if you meet special conditions.

3. Rights & obligations of long-term or permanent visa holders

• Allowed to work legally, operate a business, travel domestically, and sponsor family members depending on the type of visa.
• Must comply with immigration regulations — no violations of labor, security, or immigration laws.
• Must maintain visa conditions (e.g., employment, income, insurance, tax payments).
• Visa/residence permits may be revoked if violations occur, including breaches of Korean law or loss of eligibility (e.g., bankruptcy, unemployment, legal infractions).
• When entering or exiting: if you hold a re-entry visa, you must apply for it before leaving Korea to retain your residency status upon return.

4. Issues of renewal and status change

• If your visa/residence permit is about to expire, you must apply for an extension before the specified deadline.
• If you wish to change from visa A to visa B (e.g., from a student visa to a work visa), you must meet all the requirements of the new visa and complete the change of status procedures through the Korea Immigration authorities.
• In the event you wish to change your purpose of stay (e.g., from tourism to work) without obtaining the proper permit, there is a risk of denial or being required to leave Korea.

V. Application guidelines and practical recommendations

To help you (or the reader) understand how to apply the above regulations when traveling to Korea, the following are practical recommendations:

1. Determine the purpose of the trip:

• If you are merely transiting (e.g., from Vietnam → Korea → a third country), you may use the 72-hour transit program (if you meet the conditions).
• If your purpose is tourism, business, or visiting relatives, you must apply for the appropriate Korea visa in advance.

2. Check itinerary & supporting documents:

• Always keep your connecting flight tickets, hotel reservations, and a clear itinerary to demonstrate that you will not stay in Korea longer than intended.
• Hold a valid passport (typically required to be valid for at least six months).
• Prepare the required documents for a K-ETA or visa (if applicable) before your flight.

3. Do not rely solely on the transit program — Have a backup plan:

• Although the 72-hour transit program is convenient, the authority to deny entry remains at the discretion of the immigration authorities.
• If there is a risk of itinerary disruption (delay or flight cancellation), you may need to apply for an emergency visa or accept an extended stay — therefore, a backup plan should be prepared.

4. If planning for long-term stay, work, or residency:

• It is advisable from the outset to identify the appropriate visa type (E-visa, D-visa, skilled worker, investment category, etc.).
• Once employment, stable income, and sufficient accumulated time have been established, one should consider applying for a change of visa status or for permanent residence.
• Participate in social integration programs (KIIP) if required — this is a crucial factor when applying for visa extension or permanent residence.

5. Always stay updated on the latest information:

• Visa policies, visa exemptions, and transit programs may be subject to change depending on political circumstances, public health situations, or diplomatic policies.
• Check the official websites of the Korean Embassy, the Korea Immigration Service, or VisitKorea for the latest regulations.

VI. About NYLA – Korean Legal Office

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