As the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, international travel is on the rise. A country that, through its rich culture, has enraptured the hearts of many travelers (including myself), is South Korea. The promotion of Korean tourism has ramped up recently with the country’s government even naming 2023-2024 as the “Visit Korea Year”. As someone who made the trip in late summer of 2023, I hope my firsthand experience is useful information for how to travel to South Korea as a US citizen.
This guide is a helpful reference for all the lifted COVID related travel restrictions for South Korea as well as any entry requirements still in place.
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The information in this post is true to the best of my knowledge through my extensive research and firsthand experience. However, with frequently changing global regulations and geopolitical situations, I am not responsible for the contents being 100% accurate nor am I responsible for any disappointment or upset as a result of following said advice.
These travel guidelines are directed at US Passport holders going to Korea for tourism. US citizens can visit Korea for tourism without any special visa for up to 90 days. I cannot provide information on traveling to Korea as a student, for work, or as a visitor from other countries. The following information is true to the best of my knowledge as of September 2023; with ever-changing global situations, travel regulations are always subject to sudden change.
Do You Need to Fill Out Any Forms to Enter Korea?
As stated earlier, you can stay up to 90 days visa free in South Korea for tourism. During the pandemic, however, a new online visa form called a K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) was required even for such short term visits. In an update to travel measures, you do NOT need a K-ETA to enter South Korea from April 1st 2023 – December 31st 2024. Since this is a fairly recent development, I will provide the link to the official K-ETA website here, for reference when/if this requirement is reinstated.
An even more recent online form: the Quarantine COVID-19 Defense Code or Q-Code was introduced. However, it was recently announced that even this Q-Code is no longer required. Since the removal of this requirement was very recent (and may return), I think it’s helpful to provide a few details of the process of getting this Q-Code:
The official website for the Q-Code can be found here. You will be asked to fill out some general information including your legal name as it is printed on your passport, passport number, the address you will be staying in within Korea and a phone number that can be called within the country: this can be your own phone number if you choose to get a SIM card or that of an acquaintance in Korea such as the host of your accommodation (such as an Airbnb host). You’ll also provide some health information (Basically to tell if you have been sick recently). Due to the time sensitivity of the health inquiry, you must fill out the Q-Code form no more than three days prior to travel. When the form is complete, you are emailed the Q-Code (which is just a QR code that can be scanned from a smart phone)to have ready when you arrive in Korea. Again, as of this writing, this form is no longer required but I think this information is helpful to have for reference just in case it is reinstated.
Other Lifted COVID Travel Requirements for South Korea
As of this writing, you no longer need a negative COVID test to enter South Korea. You previously needed a rather pricey PCR test taken within a narrow time window of your flight. You also don’t need proof of vaccination. Perhaps best of all, you no longer have to quarantine for two weeks! During the pandemic, travelers to Korea had to quarantine for two weeks at their own expense in a predesignated hotel upon arrival.
So… What Do You Still Need to Get Into Korea?
Just make sure you have an up to date Passport (seriously… please don’t travel with a nearly expired Passport…), don’t bring any illegal/prohibited substances with you, and be ready to fill out an arrival card when you land. These small cards are usually at easy to find desks just before the line through immigration. One of the necessary fields to fill out on your arrival card is your address within Korea. For this reason, do be sure to have your accommodation booked ahead of time and its exact address handy. This may seem obvious, but some travelers don’t mind playing it by ear and just choosing a hotel when they arrive at their destination.
You will also see a field to write a phone number. You may recall earlier when I described the process of getting a Q-Code requiring a callable phone number, whether that be your own number or the number of your host. As the requirement of the Q-Code was so recently lifted, it’s a little unclear if the number you provide on the arrival card also has to be callable. I would play it safe and still be prepared with a callable phone number when you arrive in Korea.
Some Common Korea Travel Questions
A little recap of the lifted travel restrictions for South Korea plus some other relevant Korea travel questions:
Do you need a COVID test to travel to Korea? – NO
Do you have to be vaccinated to enter Korea? – NO (This one deserves a reminder: this is for US Citizens. I cannot speak to this requirement for those coming from other countries.)
Do you need a K-ETA? – Not until the year 2025
Does Korea still require the Q-Code? – NO.
Do you still have to quarantine for two weeks? – NO. But DO have your accommodation booked ahead of time and its exact address to fill out your arrival card.
Do you need a SIM card to travel to Korea? – NO. If a callable contact number is requested, it can be that of the host of your accommodation (ask their permission first of course).
It’s up to you if you want to have a SIM card while in Korea, as having a working phone number obviously has many benefits. I personally have traveled around Korea for many months without a SIM card and have had no problems since high speed WiFi is pretty easily accessible.
Is Korea still doing contact tracing for COVID? – NO.
For anyone unaware: During the pandemic, Korea instituted a method of contact tracing to reduce the spread of COVID which involved checking into public spaces and businesses with your personal information (so that you could be notified if there was an outbreak of COVID cases at a place you recently visited). Happily, this is no longer in place! You can freely enter businesses like restaurants, cafes, and museums without signing in with personal info.
Are face masks still required in Korea? – NO. There is no longer a mask mandate in South Korea. You may still see some people with masks (particularly the elderly and a handful of people on public transit) but you will not garner any judging stares if you choose not to wear one.
Compared to the strict requirements to enter the country during the pandemic, traveling to South Korea in 2023 is frankly a breeze (aside from the plane ticket price anyway). At least as of writing this post, it’s a time for Korea travel enthusiasts to celebrate and see all that this beautiful country has to offer! (Read my packing list for South Korea to learn about some helpful items to arrive with.) I hope you’ll check out more of my stories in the links below for some ideas and inspiration for your Korean adventures!
