Visa Exemption
사증면제 (B-1) — B-1 Visa Exemption (visa-free entry under a bilateral visa-exemption agreement; short-term visit only, no work/study)
At a glance
Nationals of countries that have signed a visa-exemption agreement (사증면제협정) with Korea.
Varies by each country’s agreement. Common patterns: 90 days (e.g.
No. Employment and any paid or profit-making activity are NOT allowed on B-1. Visa exemption covers tourism, short visits, and transit only.
None. No TOPIK or Korean-language level is required for visa-exempt short-term entry.
Fee: No visa fee (entry is visa-free). The only possible cost is K-ETA for travelers who must (or choose to) apply: KRW 10,000 per person (about USD 7-8), non-refundable. Travelers whose nationality is currently K-ETA-exempt pay nothing unless they apply voluntarily. · Time: Entry itself is decided on arrival at immigration.
Where this fits in your journey
Before arrival
Get admitted, prepare documents, apply.
During study
ARC, extensions, permits while in Korea.
After graduation
Job-seeking and work visas.
Settlement
Long-term residence and PR.
Who can apply
- ✓Nationals of countries that have signed a visa-exemption agreement (사증면제협정) with Korea.
- ✓Under these reciprocal treaties, an ordinary-passport holder can enter Korea for a short-term visit (tourism, visiting family/friends, transit, and other non-profit purposes) without applying for a visa in advance.
- ✓This is different from B-2 (무사증입국), which is entry allowed by Korea’s own unilateral/reciprocity decision rather than by a signed agreement.
- ✓Note for students: B-1 is only for short visits.
- ✓It cannot be used to study or work in Korea.
- ✓A student who wants to study must obtain a proper study visa (e.g.
- ✓D-4 or D-2) from a Korean embassy/consulate before coming.
Documents you'll need
- No visa is issued, so there is no visa application. On arrival you generally need: a passport valid for the length of stay
- a return/onward ticket
- and proof of funds and accommodation if asked by an immigration officer. Most B-1 travelers must also obtain K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) online before boarding, UNLESS (a) their nationality is on the current K-ETA temporary exemption list, or (b) they are aged 17 or under or 65 or over (age-exempt from K-ETA). All arriving travelers who do not hold a valid K-ETA must also submit the e-Arrival Card before entry.
How to apply
- No visa needed – visa-free entry under a bilateral visa-exemption agreement (사증면제협정); status is granted by the immigration officer at the port of entry.
- Cannot be changed to another status inside Korea.
- There is no consular visa process for B-1 – you simply enter under the visa-exemption agreement.
- The only online step for most travelers is K-ETA: apply at the official site k-eta.go.kr at least 72 hours before boarding.
- When a K-ETA-exempt nationality is selected during the K-ETA application, the system shows a pop-up saying K-ETA is not required; such travelers may still apply voluntarily (fee applies) to skip the e-Arrival Card.
- Because B-1 is granted at the port of entry, the length of stay and permitted purpose are decided by the immigration officer within the agreement’s limits.
Stay & extension
Varies by each country’s agreement. Common patterns: 90 days (e.g.
USA, Japan (visa-free), Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, New Zealand and most agreement countries); 6 months / about 180 days (Canada, and several European countries); 60 days (e.g. Portugal, Lesotho); 30 days (a small number of countries).
Always confirm the exact number for your nationality on HiKorea (Visa Category Guidance Manual) or with a Korean mission, as the figure is set by the specific bilateral agreement.
Generally NOT extendable and cannot be changed to another status inside Korea. B-1 stay is short-term (within the agreement period, typically up to 90 days).
To stay longer, or to study, work, invest, perform, or do any profit-making activity, you must leave Korea and obtain the appropriate visa from a Korean embassy/consulate before re-entering. Extensions are only considered for limited unavoidable reasons (e.g. illness, humanitarian grounds) at an immigration office’s discretion.
Working on this visa
No. Employment and any paid or profit-making activity are NOT allowed on B-1.
Visa exemption covers tourism, short visits, and transit only.
Requirements in detail
None. No TOPIK or Korean-language level is required for visa-exempt short-term entry.
Y for non-exempt nationalities: K-ETA before boarding, fee KRW 10,000, valid 3 years (or until passport expiry). Travelers aged 17 or under and 65 or over are exempt; 67 countries/regions are temporarily K-ETA-exempt through 31 Dec 2026.
Anyone without a valid K-ETA must submit the e-Arrival Card.
Sub-types
No official numeric sub-codes. In practice Korea distinguishes B-1 (사증면제 – visa-free entry based on a signed visa-exemption AGREEMENT) from B-2 (무사증입국 – visa-free entry allowed by Korea unilaterally / by reciprocity, e.g. tourism-transit).
Both are short-term, no-work categories; the difference is the legal basis, not the traveler’s day-to-day rights.
No dependent/accompanying-family status. Each family member enters on their own visa-free short-term status.
2025–2026 policy updates
- K-ETA temporary exemption extended: nationals of the countries/regions currently exempt (67 countries/regions, incl. the USA) do NOT need to apply for K-ETA.
- The Ministry of Justice extended this temporary exemption to run 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2026 (KST).
- (The exemption was first introduced for the 2023-2024 ‘Visit Korea Year’ and has been repeatedly extended.) Separately, since 2023 travelers aged 17 or under and 65 or over are exempt from the K-ETA requirement, and the K-ETA validity period was extended to 3 years from the date of approval (or until passport expiry, whichever comes first).
- An e-Arrival Card must be submitted before entry by travelers who do not hold a valid K-ETA.
- The K-ETA-exempt country list can change, so verify your own nationality at k-eta.go.kr before travel.
Common mistakes
- Believing you can study or take a language course on B-1 – you cannot; a study visa (D-4/D-2) obtained abroad is required.
- Trying to work or earn money – not allowed.
- Overstaying the agreement period (results in fines and re-entry bans) – B-1 is rarely extendable.
- Assuming B-1 can be extended or changed to a long-term visa inside Korea – it generally cannot; you must leave and apply properly.
- Forgetting K-ETA when your nationality is NOT on the exemption list, or wrongly paying for K-ETA when your nationality is currently exempt.
- Not submitting the e-Arrival Card when you do not hold a K-ETA.
Where this leads
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