PassportSouth Africa

South Korea: do South Africans need a visa?

South Africans need an online travel authorisation before flying to South Korea. You can stay up to 30 days per visit.

K-ETA required. South Africa is on the official K-ETA eligible countries list, so South Africans apply online for an electronic travel authorisation before travel instead of a visa.1213657

Before you travel

Purpose of visit

Tourism, visiting family, short business meetings and conferences. Paid work and study are not allowed.3

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Passport validity

Valid for the whole stay. Korea does not publish a 6-month rule for short visits.4

Not yet confirmed by an official source

How to apply

If you need a K-ETA: apply only at www.k-eta.go.kr or the official K-ETA app, at least 72 hours before boarding. Fee KRW 10,000 (about USD 7 to 8), non-refundable. Usually processed within 72 hours. A K-ETA is reported to be valid for 3 years. If exempt in 2026, you can still apply voluntarily (fee applies); a K-ETA holder does not need to submit an arrival card.128

Confirmed on an official government source

Where South Africans apply

K-ETA is online only. For visits over 30 days, work or study: Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Pretoria (overseas.mofa.go.kr/za-en). The embassy's visa pages could not be opened.9

Not yet confirmed by an official source

Travel insurance

Not published by official sources

Return or onward ticket

Not published by official sources

Proof of funds

Not published by official sources

Accommodation or invitation

Not published by official sources

Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

No vaccinations required. Health questionnaire only if arriving from a designated quarantine area or showing symptoms. Returning to South Africa: South Korea is not on South Africa's yellow fever risk list, so no certificate is needed on return.4

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Arrival forms

Travellers without a K-ETA (including those using the 2026 exemption) must submit an arrival card. Fill it in free online at www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr up to 3 days before arrival, or on paper on arrival. K-ETA holders are exempt from the arrival card.21011

Confirmed on an official government source

Extending your stay and overstaying

Visa-exempt stays (B-1) are generally not extendable. Overstay leads to fines and possible entry bans.3

Not yet confirmed by an official source

Transit

Not published by official sources

Travelling with children

Applicants aged 17 or younger or 65 or older are exempt from K-ETA. They still need an arrival card. Carry an unabridged birth certificate when leaving South Africa with minors.12

Confirmed on an official government source

What changed

9 March 2026Korea Immigration Service warned about fake e-Arrival Card websites that ask for payment. The only official site is www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr and it is free.
23 December 2025Ministry of Justice extended the temporary K-ETA exemption for the countries already covered to 31 December 2026 (KST). Travel news sources report that South Africa is included.

Sources

Official

The destination's own government

  1. 1K-ETA, Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea k-eta.go.kr
  2. 2K-ETA, Ministry of Justice notice on extension of temporary exemption k-eta.go.kr
  3. 3Korea Immigration Service, Visa Navigator (May 2023) immigration.go.kr
  4. 9Embassy of the Republic of Korea in South Africa overseas.mofa.go.kr
  5. 10e-Arrival Card, Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea e-arrivalcard.go.kr
  6. 11Korea Immigration Service immigration.go.kr
  7. 12K-ETA FAQ, Ministry of Justice k-eta.go.kr
  8. 13Korea Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice (K-ETA eligible countries search) k-eta.go.kr

Other government

Official advice from other governments

  1. 4UK FCDO gov.uk

Reference

Used to find official sources, never the final word

  1. 6Passport Index discover.passportindex.org
  2. 8Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org

News and guides

Leads we check, never the answer

  1. 5VisasNews visasnews.com
  2. 7Turis.io blog blog.turis.io

Last researched 5 October 2026. Rules change; confirm with the embassy before you book.