Tourist / Transit (Visa-Free Entry)
관광·통과 (B-2) — B-2 Tourist/Transit – a visa-free entry status granted at the port of entry (not a visa applied for at an embassy). Sub-codes: B-2-1 tourism, B-2-2 transit.
At a glance
Nationals of countries that Korea has unilaterally designated for visa-free (무사증) entry for the purpose of tourism or transit, and travelers who qualify under Korea’s…
Commonly up to 30 days for standard visa-free tourism/transit (B-2). Actual period is set at entry and varies by nationality and program.
No. Employment or any paid activity is strictly not allowed under B-2. It is only for tourism or transit. Working on B-2 is a violation of immigration law.
None. No TOPIK or Korean-language ability is required for visa-free tourist/transit entry.
Fee: No visa fee – B-2 entry is visa-free. The only related cost is K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) when required for the traveler’s nationality: KRW 10,000 per application (plus a small processing/agency charge), valid for 3 years or until passport expiry. The e-Arrival Card (for those without a valid K-ETA) is free. · Time: Not applicable for the entry itself (granted at arrival).
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 Korea has unilaterally designated for visa-free (무사증) entry for the purpose of tourism or transit, and travelers who qualify under Korea’s transit (환승) schemes.
- ✓B-2 is the status stamped by the immigration officer at arrival; the traveler does not apply for a B-2 visa in advance.
- ✓Typical users: (1) tourists from designated visa-free countries entering for sightseeing (B-2-1); (2) passengers passing through Korea to a third country, including onward travelers holding a valid visa for the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or certain European countries who use the transit-tourism scheme, and airport transit passengers (B-2-2); (3) travelers entering Jeju under the Jeju visa-free program.
- ✓Note: B-2 differs from B-1 (사증면제) – B-1 is visa-free entry based on a reciprocal visa-exemption AGREEMENT, while B-2 is visa-free entry Korea grants by unilateral DESIGNATION for tourism/transit.
- ✓Which category applies depends on the traveler’s nationality.
Documents you'll need
- No visa application is filed for B-2 – entry is visa-free. At the airport the traveler must present: a passport valid for the stay
- a confirmed onward/return air ticket (especially for transit)
- proof of the onward country’s visa where the transit-tourism scheme requires it (e.g. a valid US/Canada/Australia/New Zealand/European visa)
- and, where required by nationality, a K-ETA approval OR a completed e-Arrival Card. Immigration may also ask for proof of accommodation, funds and itinerary. Exact requirements depend on nationality and the specific visa-free/transit program used.
How to apply
- No visa needed – visa-free (무사증) tourist/transit status that Korea designates unilaterally; granted by the immigration officer on arrival, not applied for at an embassy.
- There is no embassy visa process for B-2.
- Eligible travelers board a flight to Korea and receive B-2 status from the immigration officer on arrival, who decides the authorized period of stay within the legal limit for that nationality/program.
- Before boarding, most visa-free travelers must either hold a valid K-ETA or complete the e-Arrival Card online (see policy updates).
- Travelers whose nationality is NOT designated for visa-free entry cannot use B-2 and must obtain an appropriate visa (e.g.
- C-3) abroad instead.
Stay & extension
Commonly up to 30 days for standard visa-free tourism/transit (B-2). Actual period is set at entry and varies by nationality and program.
Reported examples from official guidance: general third-country transit up to 30 days; Incheon-airport transit tourism up to 3 days; Jeju visa-free entry up to 30 days; certain Chinese group transit/tour schemes up to 15 days. The immigration officer determines the exact authorized stay at the border.
B-2 is a short-term visa-free status and is generally NOT extended. Extensions are allowed only for limited unavoidable reasons (e.g. illness, force majeure, humanitarian grounds) with approval from a local immigration office.
A traveler who wants to stay longer, study, or work must leave and obtain the appropriate visa, or (in limited cases) apply to change status at an immigration office.
Working on this visa
- No.
- Employment or any paid activity is strictly not allowed under B-2.
- It is only for tourism or transit.
- Working on B-2 is a violation of immigration law.
Requirements in detail
None. No TOPIK or Korean-language ability is required for visa-free tourist/transit entry.
Y for non-exempt nationalities: K-ETA before boarding, fee KRW 10,000, valid 3 years (or until passport expiry). Ages 17-and-under and 65-and-over are exempt; 67 countries/regions are temporarily K-ETA-exempt through 31 Dec 2026.
Travelers without a valid K-ETA must submit the e-Arrival Card.
Sub-types
B-2-1tourism (관광) (visa-free sightseeing)B-2-2transit (통과) (airport transit and transit-tourism (환승관광) onward to a third country).No dependent status. Each traveler enters on their own visa-free short-term status.
2025–2026 policy updates
- (1) K-ETA temporary exemption extended: nationals of 67 visa-waiver countries/regions may enter Korea WITHOUT applying for K-ETA.
- The Ministry of Justice extended this temporary exemption through 31 December 2026 (notice published on the K-ETA portal 23 December 2025; in force 1 Jan 2026 – 31 Dec 2026).
- Exempt travelers may still apply for K-ETA voluntarily.
- K-ETA holders are also exempt from the e-Arrival Card.
- K-ETA fee KRW 10,000, valid 3 years; travelers aged 17 or under and 65 or over are exempt from the K-ETA requirement.
- (2) e-Arrival Card (전자입국신고): launched 24 February 2025 at e-arrivalcard.go.kr; visa-free travelers who do NOT hold a valid K-ETA must complete it (can be done up to 3 days before arrival).
- Paper arrival cards were accepted during a transition period and the digital e-Arrival Card became the standard from 2026.
- Certain groups are exempt from the e-Arrival Card (e.g. registered residents, valid K-ETA holders, some group-tour and transit passengers).
- Note: the list of designated visa-free/K-ETA-exempt countries can change – travelers should confirm their own nationality on k-eta.go.kr and hikorea.go.kr.
Common mistakes
- Assuming B-2 lets you study or work – it does not; any paid work or enrolling in a long course requires the correct visa.
- Confusing B-2 (unilateral tourism/transit designation) with B-1 (visa-exemption-agreement entry).
- Overstaying the period the officer grants (often 30 days) – B-2 is rarely extendable.
- On the Jeju visa-free program, traveling to the mainland (not allowed – the visa-free status covers Jeju only).
- Forgetting to obtain K-ETA when it is required for your nationality, or forgetting the e-Arrival Card when you do not hold a valid K-ETA.
- Booking onward travel outside the allowed transit period, or lacking the onward-country visa the transit scheme requires.
Where this leads
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