What it means in practice
90 days is about three months. If you arrive on 1 November 2026, your last legal day is 29 January 2027, because the arrival day is day one. Use the stay calculator for your own dates.
How South Korea counts your stay: The visa-free period depends on nationality and is granted at entry: e.g. 90 days for the USA and Germany, 60 days for Russia, 30 days for Kazakhstan, 180 days for Canada.
Before you go
Official details are shown in English.
- Korea e-Arrival Card — From 3 days before arrival; Free. Foreigners entering without a K-ETA (e.g. nationals on the temporary K-ETA exemption list, or visa holders) submit arrival information online. K-ETA holders do not have to submit a separate arrival card. Nationals of K-ETA-exempt countries may apply for a K-ETA voluntarily (fee applies) to skip the arrival card. The site has a checker for whether you need to file. Official site
At the border
Official details are shown in English.
- Valid passport (and K-ETA or visa if your nationality needs one)
- K-ETA is not a visa and does not guarantee entry; the immigration officer makes the final decision
How to avoid overstaying
- Go by your stamp or visa. The date the officer gives you is the one that counts, even if it is shorter than the maximum.
- Plan to leave a day or two early. With 90 days, book your exit before the last legal day so a cancelled flight doesn't push you over.
- Extend before you run out. Not confirmed on an official page for visa-free visitors; ask the Korea Immigration Service (call 1345) before your permitted stay ends.
- Penalties. Our data does not list the overstay penalty for South Korea. Ask the immigration authority before you risk it: fines, deportation and entry bans are common elsewhere.
Good to know
Official details are shown in English.
- The temporary K-ETA exemption ends on 31 Dec 2026 (KST). No decision on 2027 had been published as of 30 Oct 2026; exempt nationals travelling in 2027 should recheck k-eta.go.kr.
Staying longer
Visa-free days are for visits. For months or years in South Korea, these are the long-stay routes in Bordr's guide (checked against official sources):
Official details are shown in English.
- Digital Nomad (Workation) Visa F-1-D — Granted for 1 year, extendable in 1-year steps up to 3 years in total
- Student visa (D-2) — Initial stay up to 2 years, matching the admission period; register for an alien registration card within 90 days of arrival
Costs, income thresholds and how to apply are in the Bordr guide.
Questions
Do Hong Kong SAR passport holders need a visa for South Korea?
Hong Kong SAR passport holders can visit South Korea without a visa for up to 90 days.
How long can Hong Kong SAR passport holders stay in South Korea?
Up to 90 days, according to Bordr's data. The visa-free period depends on nationality and is granted at entry: e.g. 90 days for the USA and Germany, 60 days for Russia, 30 days for Kazakhstan, 180 days for Canada.
Can I extend my stay in South Korea?
Not confirmed on an official page for visa-free visitors; ask the Korea Immigration Service (call 1345) before your permitted stay ends.
What do I need at the border in South Korea?
Valid passport (and K-ETA or visa if your nationality needs one); K-ETA is not a visa and does not guarantee entry; the immigration officer makes the final decision.
When was this checked?
Bordr last checked the entry rules for South Korea against official sources on 30 October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the official source before you travel.
Sources and last check
Entry rules for this destination were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026. Visa-free days come from the passport matrix in the Bordr app, corrected where the official rules differ.
- K-ETA official site (Ministry of Justice)
- K-ETA notice — temporary exemption extended to 31 Dec 2026
- K-ETA FAQ — who is exempt
- MOFA (Embassy in Switzerland) — K-ETA temporary exemption list until 31 Dec 2026
- MOFA (Consulate in Hagåtña) — K-ETA exemption notice, 29 Dec 2025
- MOFA (Embassy in Finland) — K-ETA implementation
- MOFA (Embassy in Austria) — visa waiver agreements table
- MOFA (Embassy in Canada) — visa-free entry
- Korea e-Arrival Card portal
This page is general information, not legal advice. Entry rules change and border officers have the final say. Check the official government source for your destination before you travel.
Includes visa data from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), retrieved 1 November 2026; Bordr's official-source checks take precedence.
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