Legal basis:
– IMMIGRATION ACT
1. Conditions basic for entry
All foreigners must hold a valid passport and a visa issued by the Minister of Justice.
2. Exceptions
In some cases foreigners may enter the Republic of Korea without a visa, including:
– Reentry Permission or Exemption:
+ A person who obtains permission to reenter
+ A person who is exempted from permission of reentry, and who enters the Republic of Korea before the period of such permission or exemption expires
– Visa exemption agreement: A person who is a national of a country which has concluded the Visa Exemption Agreement with the Republic of Korea, and who is subject to exemption under the Convention;
Note: The Minister of Justice may temporarily suspend the application of the Visa Exemption Agreement if deemed necessary for maintaining public order or in the interests of the Republic of Korea.
– Special Entry Permit: A person who enters the Republic of Korea for international friendship, sightseeing or in the interests of the Republic of Korea, etc., and who has separately obtained an entry permit, as prescribed by Presidential Decree;
– Refuge travel document: A person who departed from the Republic of Korea with a refuge travel document issued, and enters the Republic of Korea before the term of validity of such certificate expires.
Any national of a country which has no diplomatic relationship with the Republic of Korea, or which is designated by the Minister of Justice after consulting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, may enter the Republic of Korea with a foreigner entry permit issued by the head of an overseas diplomatic mission or the Commissioner of a Regional Immigration Service, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.
