South Africa passport → South Korea

South Korea visa for South African citizens

ETA

ETA · 30 days

South African citizens don't need a visa for South Korea, but must get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) online before the trip. Stays of up to 30 days are allowed. Visa-waiver nationals need a K-ETA (KRW 10,000) unless their country is on the temporary exemption list (valid until 31 Dec 2026); travellers without a K-ETA fill in a free e-Arrival card.

Official details are shown in English.

Status
ETA
Max stay
30 days
Last checked
30 October 2026

What it means in practice

30 days is about a month. If you arrive on 1 November 2026, your last legal day is 30 November 2026, because the arrival day is day one. Use the stay calculator for your own dates.

For a longer base you need an extension, if one exists, or a different visa from the start. Repeated back-to-back entries are at the officer's discretion.

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.

  • K-ETA — Cost: KRW 10,000; Processing: Usually within 72 hours; can take longer; Validity: 3 years or until passport expiry, whichever is first; multiple trips; Stay: Per the visa-free period for your nationality (e.g. 90 days for most visa-waiver countries). Apply on the official site
  • Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) — Before boarding; review usually takes up to 72 hours but can take longer, so apply well in advance; KRW 10,000 (non-refundable). Required for nationals of visa-waiver countries before boarding a flight or ship to Korea. Valid for multiple trips for 3 years or until the passport expires, whichever is first; reapply with a new passport. Exempt: travellers aged 17 or under or 65 or over on the entry date, visa holders, registered foreigners, diplomatic/official/UN passport holders, crew, ABTC holders, cruise tourists and airside transit passengers. Temporarily exempt until 31 Dec 2026 (KST): Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macao, Canada, USA, Guam, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Australia, New Zealand. Use only k-eta.go.kr or the official K-ETA app — look-alike sites charge more. K-ETA does not guarantee entry. 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 30 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.

Costs, income thresholds and how to apply are in the Bordr guide.

Questions

Do South African citizens need a visa for South Korea?

South African citizens don't need a visa for South Korea, but must get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) online before the trip. Stays of up to 30 days are allowed.

How long can South African citizens stay in South Korea?

Up to 30 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.

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.

More destinations for South Africa passports

Popular with nomads

East Asia

All destinations for South Africa passports

South Korea for other passports