The Republic of Korea is a country with a high degree of security. The greatest difficulties for the foreign visitor (or resident) reside in the relatively poor command of English by the general population, namely employees in commercial establishments (supermarkets, shopping centers, stores), or in services. However, the authorities have been making efforts to facilitate communication and contact with foreigners in the country, through the creation of specific services or units for this purpose.
There are also - obviously - cultural differences that may eventually condition a better understanding of local attitudes, but they should not be dramatized. In general, the population has empathy for the visitor or resident abroad, and it is easy to find elements ready to help overcome any communication difficulties.
The consumption or trafficking of drugs or narcotics is penalized with heavy penalties, so all possible precautions in this matter are strongly recommended.
Weather
In Korea there are four distinct seasons. Spring and Autumn are short seasons. Summer is hot and humid. July is the month of rains. Winter is cold and dry, accompanied by snowfalls. The temperature varies with the regions of the country. In summer it can reach 33º centigrade and in winter more than minus 10º.
Language
The official language is Korean. English, Japanese and Chinese are the most widely spoken foreign languages.
Local currency / banking system
The local currency is won (KRW). The exchange rate can be consulted on the Banco de Portugal portal. You should check with your bank and make sure the electronic cards are valid at local ATMs. Major credit cards are accepted in most shops and restaurants in the main urban centres.
Person who plans to visit Korea for tour or transit without a visa.
Eligible Applicants
Nationals of countries, except for the 24 xecluded countries (Syria, Sudan, Iran, Macedonia, Cuba, Republic Of Kosovo, Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Ghana, Yemen, Gambia, Senegal, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Somalia, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Cameron, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Egypt) that are not granted visa free entry into Korea. (a) Persons who hold a visa to the United States(including Guam and Saipan), Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, who transit through Korea to enter the abovementioned countries; or (b) persons who stayed in and departed from one of the abovementioned countries and transit through Korea bound for the country of origin or a third country. (a) Persons who hold a visa (or permanent residency) to at least one of the 30 European countires (Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Rumania, Luxemburg, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Malta, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Iceland, Ireland, Estonia, United Kingdom, Austria, Italy, Czech, Cyprus, Portugal, Poland, France, Finland, Hungary), who transit through Korea bound for one of the 30 European countries; or (b) persons who departed from one of the 30 European countries, transit through Korea bound for the country of origin or a third country.
Requirements
Persons who hold a visa (re-entry permit, permanent residency, etc.) to enter the United States, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand (hereinafter referred to as “the four advanced countries”) and
1) who go to one of the four advanced countries in transit through Korea; or
2) who stay in one of the four advanced countries and take a direct flight from the country to Korea to go to a country of nationality or a third country.
Please be noted that:
- If you are a U.S. visa holder who transit through Korea and Saipan to reach the U.S. as the final destination, you are permitted to enter Korea without a visa. (However, if you depart from the U.S. and enter Korea via Saipan, you are not granted no-visa entry to Korea.)
- If you are a Chinese group tourist holding a group-tourist visa to Japan and meet certain requirements (e.g. using a travel agency that only attracts Chinese group tourists), you are permitted to enter Korea without a visa.
- If you hold an e-visa to Australia and a visa label is attached to your passport, you are permitted to enter Korea without a visa. However, if the label is not on your passport, you are granted no-visa entry only when you depart from Australia and transit through Korea.
Condition of Permission
You have a confirmed onward flight ticket for departure within 30 days after entering Korea, in addition to having no record of criminal offence such as overstay in the countries mentioned above
You had not been denied entry into Korea, or had not been fined more than 5 million KRW or not have been forcibly evicted or received a deportation order for violation of law in the past 3 years preceding the date of entry
You stayed no more than 3 days in the country of transit or stopover. (But, Not applicable when the person is returning to the immediate previous point of departure(country of transit or stopover)
For hloders of U.S., Canada, Australia, or New Zealand e-visas, a visa sticker must be attached to the passport; if unattached, visa free entry will be applicable when departing from the 4 countries mentioned above bound for the country of origin or a third country.
Person who plans to visit Korea for tour or transit without a visa.
Eligible Applicants 2
Nationals of countries, except for the 24 xecluded countries (Syria, Sudan, Iran, Macedonia, Cuba, Republic Of Kosovo, Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Ghana, Yemen, Gambia, Senegal, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Somalia, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Cameron, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Egypt) that are not granted visa free entry into Korea. (a) Persons who hold a visa to the United States(including Guam and Saipan), Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, who transit through Korea to enter the abovementioned countries; or (b) persons who stayed in and departed from one of the abovementioned countries and transit through Korea bound for the country of origin or a third country. (a) Persons who hold a visa (or permanent residency) to at least one of the 30 European countires (Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Rumania, Luxemburg, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Malta, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Iceland, Ireland, Estonia, United Kingdom, Austria, Italy, Czech, Cyprus, Portugal, Poland, France, Finland, Hungary), who transit through Korea bound for one of the 30 European countries; or (b) persons who departed from one of the 30 European countries, transit through Korea bound for the country of origin or a third country.
Requirements 2
Persons who hold a visa (re-entry permit, permanent residency, etc.) to enter the United States, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand (hereinafter referred to as “the four advanced countries”) and
1) who go to one of the four advanced countries in transit through Korea; or
2) who stay in one of the four advanced countries and take a direct flight from the country to Korea to go to a country of nationality or a third country.
Please be noted that:
- If you are a U.S. visa holder who transit through Korea and Saipan to reach the U.S. as the final destination, you are permitted to enter Korea without a visa. (However, if you depart from the U.S. and enter Korea via Saipan, you are not granted no-visa entry to Korea.)
- If you are a Chinese group tourist holding a group-tourist visa to Japan and meet certain requirements (e.g. using a travel agency that only attracts Chinese group tourists), you are permitted to enter Korea without a visa.
- If you hold an e-visa to Australia and a visa label is attached to your passport, you are permitted to enter Korea without a visa. However, if the label is not on your passport, you are granted no-visa entry only when you depart from Australia and transit through Korea.
Condition of Permission 2
You have a confirmed onward flight ticket for departure within 30 days after entering Korea, in addition to having no record of criminal offence such as overstay in the countries mentioned above
You had not been denied entry into Korea, or had not been fined more than 5 million KRW or not have been forcibly evicted or received a deportation order for violation of law in the past 3 years preceding the date of entry
You stayed no more than 3 days in the country of transit or stopover. (But, Not applicable when the person is returning to the immediate previous point of departure(country of transit or stopover)
For hloders of U.S., Canada, Australia, or New Zealand e-visas, a visa sticker must be attached to the passport; if unattached, visa free entry will be applicable when departing from the 4 countries mentioned above bound for the country of origin or a third country.
Person who plans to visit Korea for tour or transit without a visa.
Eligible Applicants 3
Nationals of countries, except for the 24 xecluded countries (Syria, Sudan, Iran, Macedonia, Cuba, Republic Of Kosovo, Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Ghana, Yemen, Gambia, Senegal, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Somalia, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Cameron, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Egypt) that are not granted visa free entry into Korea. (a) Persons who hold a visa to the United States(including Guam and Saipan), Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, who transit through Korea to enter the abovementioned countries; or (b) persons who stayed in and departed from one of the abovementioned countries and transit through Korea bound for the country of origin or a third country. (a) Persons who hold a visa (or permanent residency) to at least one of the 30 European countires (Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Rumania, Luxemburg, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Malta, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Iceland, Ireland, Estonia, United Kingdom, Austria, Italy, Czech, Cyprus, Portugal, Poland, France, Finland, Hungary), who transit through Korea bound for one of the 30 European countries; or (b) persons who departed from one of the 30 European countries, transit through Korea bound for the country of origin or a third country.
Requirements 3
Persons who hold a visa (re-entry permit, permanent residency, etc.) to enter the United States, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand (hereinafter referred to as “the four advanced countries”) and
1) who go to one of the four advanced countries in transit through Korea; or
2) who stay in one of the four advanced countries and take a direct flight from the country to Korea to go to a country of nationality or a third country.
Please be noted that:
- If you are a U.S. visa holder who transit through Korea and Saipan to reach the U.S. as the final destination, you are permitted to enter Korea without a visa. (However, if you depart from the U.S. and enter Korea via Saipan, you are not granted no-visa entry to Korea.)
- If you are a Chinese group tourist holding a group-tourist visa to Japan and meet certain requirements (e.g. using a travel agency that only attracts Chinese group tourists), you are permitted to enter Korea without a visa.
- If you hold an e-visa to Australia and a visa label is attached to your passport, you are permitted to enter Korea without a visa. However, if the label is not on your passport, you are granted no-visa entry only when you depart from Australia and transit through Korea.
Condition of Permission 3
You have a confirmed onward flight ticket for departure within 30 days after entering Korea, in addition to having no record of criminal offence such as overstay in the countries mentioned above
You had not been denied entry into Korea, or had not been fined more than 5 million KRW or not have been forcibly evicted or received a deportation order for violation of law in the past 3 years preceding the date of entry
You stayed no more than 3 days in the country of transit or stopover. (But, Not applicable when the person is returning to the immediate previous point of departure(country of transit or stopover)
For hloders of U.S., Canada, Australia, or New Zealand e-visas, a visa sticker must be attached to the passport; if unattached, visa free entry will be applicable when departing from the 4 countries mentioned above bound for the country of origin or a third country.
