How many months of passport validity do you need for South Korea?
To enter South Korea, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
The rule
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
Travel insurance
This destination does not require insurance to enter, according to the official source. It is still worth having: abroad, a doctor visit or an evacuation comes out of your own pocket.
One option
SafetyWing Nomad Insurance covers up to US$ 250.000 in medical costs and US$ 100.000 for evacuation.
Affiliate link: if you buy, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It changes no rule and no verdict on this site.
What else you may be asked for on entry
Besides your passport. Each one with the official wording behind it.
Proof of onward travelrequired
You must have an onward or return ticket.
Only the UK (FCDO) mentions it. The US source does not.
Official travel advice from the UK (FCDO) and the US (State Department). Each source is written for ITS OWN nationality, not yours: a duty may not apply to you, and one that neither source mentions may.
Check your own dates
The rule is one thing; whether your passport clears it on your travel dates is another. Turkey counts 150 days, not five months. Costa Rica counts one day. Schengen countries check two rules at once.
If you are staying a while
Different source, different confidence. Unlike the entry rule above — which comes from government advice — this profile is our own hand-maintained research, last reviewed 2026-09-29. Treat it as orientation, not as an official figure, and check anything you plan to act on.
Country context
Main language: Korean · Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter; cold winters
World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and CIA World Factbook (public domain). This is country context, not the destination profile: cost of living, safety and taxes are researched by hand for 41 destinations.
What happens if you do not meet it
Airlines check validity at check-in and can refuse to board you — they face fines of 3,500 to 10,000 US dollars for carrying a passenger who is then refused entry. One denied boarding costs the traveller between 1,200 and 2,400 US dollars in lost fares, hotels and rebooking. In 2025, 1.2 million people were denied boarding or entry over passport problems, and 40% of those were validity.
Source, word for word
To enter South Korea as a tourist for up to 90 days, your passport must have an 'expiry date' after the date you are leaving South Korea. To enter South Korea on a long-term visa, your passport should have an 'expiry date' at least 6 months after the date you arrive. Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to. You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
Other destinations
Vietnam · Brunei · Ethiopia · Korea, DPR (North Korea) · Netherlands · Somalia