Southern Korea – Degree 3: Reconsider Travel
Entry, Exit and Visa Needs
- Passport legitimate at period of entry.
- No visa needed for stays significantly less than 3 months for business or tourism.
- Visa needed for all the other purposes, including work, teaching English, as well as for remains much longer than 3 months.
Surpassing your authorized stay or otherwise not possessing a valid visa may lead to detention and fines.
- In case of an overstay, make an application for a visa expansion through the Korea Immigration Service (KIS) before trying to go out of the nation. Also talk to KIS regarding alterations in visa category.
Military Personnel/DOD and their own families on sales:
- Consult DOD Foreign Clearance Guide, and follow all directions.
- Enter Korea with DOD travel and identification sales.
- Usually do not transit other countries such as for example Asia without having a passport and appropriate visas.
- Family Members/Dependents of Military Personnel/DOD on purchases must present upon arrival passports valid for a minimum 6 months plus A a-3 couch visa.
U.S. national Executive Branch workers on formal company and DOD workers assigned towards the U.S. Embassy (Including family members members/dependents):
- Enter Korea by having a diplomatic or formal passport and a diplomatic or official ROK visa obtained through your sponsoring agency.
- Obtain nation clearance Department that is using of’s eCC system or DOD APACS system.
HIV/AIDS Restriction: The Department of State is unacquainted with any entry that is such for site site site visitors or international residents in Korea.
Go to the Embassy of Korea site for present visa information. Please read our Customs Suggestions web web page.
Security and safety
Public Demonstrations: Demonstrations and rallies are normal in Southern Korea, especially nearby the U.S. Embassy, Seoul City Hall, and areas surrounding army installments. You need to avoid places where demonstrations are taking destination and workout care when you look at the vicinity of any big gatherings, protests, or rallies. Also demonstrations designed to be calm can change confrontational and escalate into violence.
North Korea (The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, DPRK): An armistice contract, supervised by the un, has maintained basic comfort on the Korean peninsula since 1953. Tensions sporadically flare up because of provocative acts by North Korea, including ballistic missile and nuclear tests and restricted armed incursions into ROK-held territory. Some provocations have actually escalated into geographically restricted skirmishes. Southern Korea regularly conducts training that is military and civil protection drills. North Korea usually issues strongly-worded and threatening messages, usually associated with these workouts. Please see our Fact Sheet on North Korea.
Weather-related occasions: hefty rains and flooding might occur throughout the June – August monsoon period or perhaps the might – November typhoon period. See information that is general normal tragedy preparedness in the U.S. Federal crisis Management Agency (FEMA) site.
Sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): to get safety communications by e-mail while making it better to find you in a crisis, register in ACTION.
In the event that Embassy becomes alert to any certain and threat that is credible the security and protection of U.S. residents, we are going to let you know through our web site, social media marketing, and email.
Crime: for many site site visitors, Southern Korea stays an extremely safe nation. Typical crimes happen more often in major urban centers, tourist internet internet internet sites, and crowded markets.
- Simply simply just Take routine security precautions.
- Focus on your environments.
- Report any concerns to neighborhood authorities.
Violent criminal activity just isn’t typical; nevertheless, stay vigilant:
- Workout care in crowded activity, nightlife, and shopping districts.
- If traveling at night, consider traveling in teams.
- Make use of legitimate taxis or general public transport only.
Victims of Crime: Call 112 for crisis support or to report a criminal activity to authorities that are local. We could:
- Support you in finding appropriate care that is medical
- Help you in reporting a criminal activity to police;
- Contact loved ones or buddies for you;
- Explain Korean procedures that are judicial basic terms;
- Offer a crisis loan for repatriation into the united states of america and/or restricted medical help in instances of destitution;
- Assist you in finding rooms and trip plans to your united states of america;
- Substitute a lost or stolen passport.
Sexual attack: In 2017-2018, the Embassy received a few reports of sexual attack from U.S. residents. Many cases included women that are young by acquaintances after having a drink socially. Specialized hospital devices and police are obtainable in Southern Korea to however assist victims solutions in English and responsiveness into the criminal activity are not necessarily consistent. As a whole, sex crimes aren’t penalized as harshly in South Korea as with pittsburgh sugar daddy websites the usa and also the road to prosecution is a challenging one for victims.
Lost or Stolen Passports: If for example the passport is taken, register a written report in the police station that is nearest.
Do not purchase fake and pirated items, just because accessible. It really is against South law that is korean buy these products and against U.S. legislation to create them to the usa. The Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Division within the U.S. Department of Justice has more details.
Prevent fraud and frauds: See Department of State and FBI sites to find out more.
Tourism: The tourism industry is usually controlled and guidelines with regard to recommendations and security inspections are frequently enforced. Dangerous areas/activities are identified with appropriate signage and staff that is professional typically readily available in help of arranged tasks. In case of an accident, appropriate hospital treatment is widely accessible through the entire nation. Away from a major metropolitan center, it could take more hours for very very very first responders and doctors to support an individual and offer life-saving support. U.S. citizens ought to buy medical evacuation insurance. See our website to learn more about insurance firms for international protection.
Neighborhood Laws & Special Circumstances
Criminal Penalties: whilst in Korea, you’re at the mercy of laws that are local. In the event that you violate Korean regulations, you may well be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Know that:
- Immigration violations can cause arrest, fines, and deportation.
- There clearly was small threshold for unlawful medications.
- In the event that you send unlawful medications to/ from Korea, you are prosecuted.
- Commercial disputes can lead to charges that are criminal filed under regional regulations.
Remember that some crimes are prosecutable in the us, no matter neighborhood legislation. For examples, see our web site on crimes against minors abroad together with Department of Justice web site.
Arrest Notification: If you will be detained or arrested, ask officials to alert the Embassy. See our website for more info.
