As of July 13, 2020 

Non-Korean nationals who arrive to Korea from high-COVID-19-risk nations are required to submit a certificate issued within 48 hours before boarding, that proves they have tested negative to COVID-19 on a PCR test. 

*High-risk Nations: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines, Uzbekistan

As of Apr 13, 2020 

1. Short-term visa validity is temporarily suspended.

❍ All short-term visas (stays up to 90 days), single and multiple, issued to foreign nationals prior to April 5, 2020 by Korean diplomatic missions abroad (embassy, consulate general, etc.) are temporarily suspended.

 - Yet, those with short-term employment (C-4) status such as highly skilled technicians invited by Korean companies and long-term (employment and investment) visa holders are still permitted to enter the ROK with their current visas as they are not subject to the invalidation measure.

 - In addition, short-term visitors who have already entered the nation are allowed to stay within their granted period of stay. 

❍ In implementation of the measure, the Ministry of Justice will automatically block air carriers/ship companies from issuing a boarding pass to those seeking entry with invalidated visas through the i-PreChecking system, further banning them from boarding any flight or ship bound to the ROK. In addition, immigration officers at points of entry will inspect once again at the stage of immigration clearance. 

2. Visa waiver and visa-free entry programs are restricted, on reciprocal basis, for countries which have imposed entry bans on Korean nationals.

❍ Among the 148 countries and regions that have implemented entry bans on Korean nationals, this temporary suspension measure will apply to 90 countries and regions that have a visa waiver or a visa free-entry program with the ROK.

※ Countries subject to temporary suspension of Visa waiver /Visa-free entry programs: 90 countries and regions (56 with Visa Waiver Program and 34 with Visa-Free Entry Program, as of April 8).

 - Under this measure, holders of passport of the affected 90 countries and regions are required to obtain a new visa from overseas Korean diplomatic missions for entry into the ROK.

 - However, diplomatic/ official passport holders, flight (ship) crew members bound to ROK points of entry and ABTC* holders are still allowed visa-free entry into the ROK as an exception.

* APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) allows visa-free entry to visit 19 ABTC member countries among the APEC countries

3. Visa screening procedure will be strengthened for all visa applicants.

❍ All visa applicants including those whose visas have been nullified under this new policy are obligated to submit a medical diagnosis certificate issued by a medical institution.

 - All visa applicants are required to go through a medical screening at medical institutions within 48 hours of application and submit the medical diagnosis stating the relevant examination results.

- The medical diagnosis certificate has to detail the COVID-19 related symptoms including fever, cough, chills, headache, deep muscle pain, pneumonia and others, and those found to have suspicious symptoms will have restrictions from visa issuance.

❍ Furthermore, all overseas Korean embassies and consulates will adopt a rigorous review process before deciding to grant a visa, which includes health status interview, since receipt of visa applications.

- Yet, visa granting procedure can be facilitated, at the discretion of head of a diplomatic mission abroad, for family members of Korean nationals and those with diplomatic/public duties, essential business purposes such as investment/technology provision and urgent humanitarian reasons.

As of Apr 7, 2020

As of Apr 1, 2020

All entrants (regardless of nationality) are required to self-quarantine for 14 days. During the quarantine period, all these entrants must record the daily health status on the mobile app, which is required to be installed during the entry process.

In case the entrant should stay in the state-designated quarantine facilities, fee will be charged.

As of Mar 27, 2020

Quarantine procedure is strengthened to travelers from the USA.

All travelers from the USA will be tested; 

 - if positive, to be transferred to medical facilities

 - if negative, to be under self-quarantine at the domestic residence

As of Mar 22, 2020

Quarantine procedure is strengthened to travelers from Europe.

All travelers from Europe will be tested; 

 - if positive, to be transferred to medical facilities

 - if negative, to be under self-quarantine at the domestic residence

As of Mar 19, 2020

Special quarantine screening procedure now applies to travelers from overseas (regardless of nationalities).

More specifically, these travelers will be required to follow the procedures:

(During the flight) All travelers will be informed of the special quarantine screening procedure and asked to fill out a health report and special quarantine report, where the mobile phone number and domestic residence addresses must be stated.

(At the quarantine) Travelers will be required to submit the health report and asked to measure body temperature.

(Before the immigration) Travelers will be required to asked to install a mobile app called “Self Diagnosis App”.

(During the immigration) Officers will check if you have installed the app and will undertake a test call to your contact number and if it's not answered, your entry may be restricted. (Please note that the contact number will be used for authorities to call you in the next 14 days.)

(After the immigration) These travelers will be required to record the self-monitoring result through the app on a daily basis for 14 days after arrival.  If any suspected symptoms are reported for more than two days, they may be classified as Suspected Patients and asked to take a diagnostic test. In case there is no record, the authorities will call you.

As of Mar 16, 2020

Special quarantine screening procedure now applies to travelers from and through the following countries:

Asia - China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Iran

Europe - All regions

At the airport, all travelers flying from and through the countries above will be asked to measure body temperature, fill out a special quarantine report, where the mobile phone number and domestic residence addresses must be stated. Officers will undertake a test call before travelers leave the airport and if it's not answered, your entry may be restricted. Also, the contact number will be used for authorities to call you in the next 14 days.

These travelers will also be asked to install a mobile app called “Self Diagnosis App” and required to record the self-monitoring result through app on a daily basis for 14 days after arrival.  If any suspected symptoms are reported for more than two days, they may be classified as Suspected Patients and asked to take a diagnostic test.

As of Mar 13, 2020 

Following the Ministry of Justice's latest notice (March 12, below), Ministry of Education has announced that students who travel from and through the following countries will be required to self-isolate and record the health status through Self-Monitoring mobile app for 14 days, under the guidance of universities. Universities are required to report the status of the corresponding students to Ministry of Education on a daily basis.

China (since Feb 4)

Hong Kong, Macau (since Feb 12)

Japan (since Mar 9)

Italy, Iran (since Mar 12)

France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, The Netherlands (since Mar 15)

As of Mar 12, 2020

Special quarantine screening procedure now applies to travelers from and through the following countries:

China (since Feb 4)

Hong Kong, Macau (since Feb 12)

Japan (since Mar 9)

Italy, Iran (since Mar 12)

France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, The Netherlands (since Mar 15)

At the airport, all travelers flying from and through the countries above will be asked to measure body temperature, fill out a special quarantine report, where the mobile phone number and domestic residence addresses must be stated. Officers will undertake a test call before travelers leave the airport and if it's not answered, your entry may be restricted. Also, the contact number will be used for authorities to call you in the next 14 days.

These travelers will also be asked to install a mobile app called “Self Diagnosis App” and required to record the self-monitoring result through app on a daily basis for 14 days after arrival.  If any suspected symptoms are reported for more than two days, they may be classified as Suspected Patients and asked to take a diagnostic test.

As of Mar 9, 2020

1. Visa-free entry will be suspended for all Japanese nationals (including official/diplomatic passport holders). Acocordingly, all Japanese passport holders must newly apply for a Korean visa to enter Korea.

2. All Korean visas (both for single/multiple entry) granted to Japanese nationals by the South Korean Consulates will be void. This will not apply to those who hold alien registration or residence information in Korea, however.

3. Korean visa application at any South Korean consulate in Japan will be strengthened and may be restricted. Current health status report, filled out by handwriting, will be required.

4. All travelers from and through Japan will go through strict quarantine screening procedure.

As of Feb 17, 2020 

Korea expanded strict quarantine screening procedure to travelers from Hong Kong and Macau, in addition to Mainland China (including transfers), as follows:

1. All travelers, regardless of nationality, from China (since February 4) and from Hong Kong and Macau (since February 12) will be asked to fill out health questionnaires and a special quarantine report, providing their mobile phone numbers and domestic stay addresses and disclosing any visit to Hubei Province in the past two weeks. 

2. Most importantly, these travelers will be asked to provide the contact number and domestic stay address. Officers will be dialing the number on site to check if it is answered; if not, your entry may be restricted. Please, therefore, make sure to keep your mobile phone on during the immigration so that the officer can identify the number. It is also recommended to arrange a local number of your friend’s or family member’s in case your phone may not work during your entry process.

3. Therefore, if you are to be affected by the new policy, make sure to arrange this local number in advance with your friend or family member residing in Korea. 

4. These travelers will also be asked to install a mobile app called “Self Diagnosis App” which will be used to record any symptoms you have after entering Korea.

As of Feb 4, 2020

1. All non-Korean travelers coming from or through China’s Hubei province will be denied entry from February 4.

2. Holders of passports issued in Hubei province, China, boarding will be denied during the departure check-in. 

3. Visas previously issued by the South Korean Consulate General in Wuhan, China, will be temporarily suspended, regardless of whether the passport was issued in Hubei. 

4. All non-Korean travelers who have visited the Hubei province, China, in the past 14 days will be denied entry.