ETIAS Visa Waiver for South Koreans
Requirements for South Korean Citizens to Visit Europe
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South Korean visitors to Europe will be able to apply for the ETIAS travel authorisation for trips of up to 90 days from 2026 . In 2016, the EU announced that they would be implementing a new travel visa waiver similar to those in other parts of the world such as Australia, Canada, and the U.S.
ETIAS REQUIRED
THESE ARE THE COUNTRIES THAT SOUTH KOREAN CITIZENS WILL REQUIRE A VALID ETIAS VISA WAIVER UPON ARRIVAL IN THEIR TERRITORY:
- EU Schengen
- Non-EU Schengen States
- Non-Schengen EU States
NON-EU MEMBER STATES:
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Norway
- Switzerland
MICRO-STATES DE FACTO PART OF SCHENGEN AREA:
- Monaco
- San Marino
- Vatican City
NON-SCHENGEN EU STATES
- Cyprus
On September 14th, on his State of the Union Address, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed the need to know who is crossing Europe’s shared borders. ETIAS will allow European Union member countries to know who is travelling to the region, before they arrive. South Koreans are currently exempt from applying for a visa or a travel authorisation to visit the Schengen Area.
ETIAS stands for Electronic Travel and Information Authorisation System and will be in use from late 2023 at land, sea and air borders around the European Schengen Zone. On September 14th, on his State of the Union Address, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed the need to know who is crossing Europe’s shared borders. ETIAS will allow European Union member countries to know who is travelling to the region, before they arrive. South Koreans are currently exempt from applying for a visa or a travel authorisation to visit the Schengen Area.
REQUIREMENTS FOR SOUTH KOREAN CITIZENS TO VISIT EUROPE
Travelling to Europe from South Korea will require a travel authorisation for South Korean citizens to be able to enter and freely roam the Schengen area. Currently South Korea is among the list of countries whose citizens do not require a European visa or what is also known as the Schengen visa to visit and move freely around Europe.
The ETIAS program will be implemented in 2026 to create a safer Europe and improve immigration and border controls. The European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT System, eu-LISA, is in charge of developing ETIAS. The agency already manages important European systems such as Visa Information System (VIS), Eurodac, and the Second Generation Schengen Information System (SIS II). Schengen member countries already cooperate and exchange data about foreign travellers that enter the region.
When a traveller submits their ETIAS application, all data provided will be screened and contrasted against security databases. This will help the system identify if a person has lied on their application or if they have committed fraud.
The European visa waiver for South Korean citizens will oblige South Korean citizens to apply online for the ETIAS travel authorisation before departure to ensure they are registered with the European system and can easily and quickly pass border control without any trouble. Without the E.U. visa waiver for Korean citizens, travellers will be denied access at the port of entry to Europe.
The ETIAS requirements for Korean citizens include being the holder of a valid passport from South Korea with a validity extending 3 months beyond the visit to Europe; a credit or debit card which will be used to pay the ETIAS fee online and an active email address where the approved ETIAS visa waiver for South Koreans will be sent. ETIAS will be electronically linked to the traveller’s passport.
MUTUAL VISA WAIVER AGREEMENTS BETWEEN SOUTH KOREAN AND EU COUNTRIES
Citizens of South Korea can remain in some European nations beyond the 90-day Schengen limit thanks to bilateral agreements related to travelling and entering its territories.
South Korean passport holders may stay in the following counties for the number of days indicated:
- Belgium (3 months)
- Bulgaria (90 days)
- Czech Republic (90 days)
- Denmark (90 days)
- Germany (3 months)
- Greece (90 days)*
- Spain (90 days)*
- France (90 days)*
- Italy (60 days)
- Latvia (90 days)
- Luxembourg (90 days)
- Hungary (90 days)
- Netherlands (90 days)
- Austria (90 days* / 180 days**)
- Portugal (60 days)*
- Slovakia (90 days)*
- Sweden (90 days)*
Some Schengen-associated countries also have reciprocal agreements with South Korea:
- Iceland (90 days)
- Liechtenstein (90 days)
- Norway (90 days)
- Switzerland (90 days)
( * ) Ordinary passports only ( ** ) Diplomatic and service/official passports
South Koreans must remain in the specific EU nation during the entire expansion period, it is not possible to move freely around Europe under a bilateral agreement. If nationals of South Korea want to visit several Schengen countries during one trip, they are advised to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver instead.
As such, when using a reciprocal agreement, on departure South Koreans must fly directly to a third country, without stopping in any Schengen Area country.
Reciprocal arrangements between EU Member States and South Korea are subject to change.
VISITING EUROPE WITH ETIAS FROM SOUTH KOREA
With the E.U. visa waiver confirmation, eligible South Korean tourists will be free to visit any of the Schengen zone countries in Europe throughout the 90-day period that the ETIAS travel authorisation permits.
Once received, the ETIAS visa waiver for Koreans is valid for 3 years or until the traveller’s passport runs out, whichever of the two comes first. This means that during this time, the traveller can return to the EU zone as many times as he or she desires as the ETIAS E.U. visa waiver is a multi-entry travel authorisation without limit, for as long as 90 days each time.
Entering Europe will still have many of the same regulations in the future as it does at the present moment including restrictions on carrying arms and alcohol and tobacco import and export, but the most recent changes to the border control procedures referred to in the ETIAS programme will help Immigration and Border Authorities maintain control of who is coming and going. The European ETIAS visa waiver will become a legal requirement for all South Korean citizens.
ETIAS APPLICATION FOR SOUTH KOREANS
The application for the ETIAS visa waiver for Koreans will be available from 2026 as an easy-to-use, online platform where Korean travellers to Europe will need to complete a form with their contact details, travel document information and answer some basic security questions.
The ETIAS application process should not take longer than 10 minutes and will be sent for screening by the ETIAS entity who will assess the traveller’s information to ensure there are no security threats processing the European visa waiver application against numerous security databases.
The ETIAS application for South Korean citizens will consist of introducing the contact information for each eligible traveler with the details exactly as presented on the passport as well as answering questions about security and previous travel arrangements.
Among some of the details South Korean nationals must provide on the online form are: their full name, address, date of birth, country of citizenship, and sex. Each applicant must indicate the country of first intended entry in the Schengen Zone. Security questions inquire about an applicant’s past trips to conflict zones and their criminal record.
The ETIAS application process should not take longer than 10 minutes. Once an applicant has completed the form and made the payment, the ETIAS system will process the application. The system will contrast the data provided against security databases such as Interpol, Europol, EURODAC, VIS, and SIS II. If approved, the applicant is notified via email.
In case an application sparks an alarm, it will be manually checked by a specialized team. If additional documents are needed, the applicant will be notified. In case of rejection, the traveler will be informed via email. However, if ETIAS is denied, they will be able to appeal the decision.
All South Korean travelers submitting an ETIAS will be required to pay the ETIAS fee by credit or debit card. Notifications about the status of ETIAS will be sent to the applicant’s email. Once approved, the applicant will be able to travel to the Schengen Area.
ETIAS for South Koreans - FAQ
Does ETIAS Authorize Residency in the Schengen Zone? Toggle faqs
ETIAS is an electronic travel authorization that allows its holders to visit the Schengen Zone. However, ETIAS cannot be used to remain in Europe for long periods of time, and neither does it authorize residency.
When an ETIAS has been approved, it is valid for a period of three consecutive years. Unless the passport expires before ETIAS, in which case, a new ETIAS application must be made. A valid ETIAS grants travelers stays of up to 90 days in the Schengen Area, within a 180-day period. This means that over the course of six months a South Korean traveler can only stay 90 days in the Schengen Area.
To live in a Schengen country, South Koreans, as well as other third country nationals must obtain information about the country’s regulations in regards to residency. There are 27 countries in the Schengen Area, and while they share immigration policies, each country has its own set of requirements when it comes to living in their territory.
How Many Times Can South Koreans Travel with ETIAS? Toggle faqs
South Koreans can travel with ETIAS on multiple occasions over the course of three years. As long as the passport used on the application is valid, their ETIAS will remain valid for the three-year period. ETIAS grants stays of up to 90 days in the Schengen Zone. South Korean travelers with an approved ETIAS can move freely between all member countries. Travelers are advised to not overstay in Europe while traveling with ETIAS.
Can South Korean Citizens Study or Work in Europe with the ETIAS visa waiver? Toggle faqs
South Korean nationals who wish to study or work in Europe will need to apply for a student visa or a work permit. ETIAS does not grant holders the authorization to remain in Europe for extended periods of time. ETIAS is an entry requirement that South Koreans as well as nationals from other other visa-free countries must meet in order to enter the Schengen Area.
ETIAS will be necessary to enter Europe, but those who wish to study or work in the region, must also go to an embassy or consulate to apply for the respective permit or visa. Each member country in the Schengen Area have different visa requirements for foreign nationals who wish to remain in the region. Generally speaking, to study in Europe applicants must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support themselves while living in Europe, should provide an acceptance letter, and have private health insurance among other requirements.
There are also various types of work visas and different conditions depending on a person’s citizenship. Circumstances will also vary if the applicant is married to a EU-citizen, for example. To better understand the requirements for a student or work visa, South Koreans are recommended to contact the embassy of the country where they are thinking about studying or working.