Ah, visas. You can’t live with them, and you can’t live in a foreign country without them. They often take an annoyingly long time to obtain, they require extreme amounts of time and effort on the part of the expat and, just when you think you have the whole thing figured out, your friendly immigration official shakes his head and refuses to stamp your passport. Oh yes, if there is one downside to living and working in a foreign country, it’s the bureaucratic red tape – but then, life isn’t always easy, right? It’s always worth it in the end, and when your bureaucratic nightmare is over, you’re left with an amazing experience. Suddenly, you’re far from home in a country that seems to worship pickled cabbage. Let the adventure begin!
If you get nervous just thinking about obtaining a Korean visa, fear not. We’re here to help you make sense of the mumble jumble that is the Korean immigration system.
Depending on which country you come from, there are different rules that apply to your ability to obtain a visa in South Korea. Canadians can stay in South Korea for up to six months as a tourist, while Americans and members of the European Union (excluding Italians, who can stay in Korea for up to two months) can stay for up to ninety days. There are several types of visas one can obtain to work legally in the country, most of which require you to be outside the country at the time of visa application.
Most nationalities can remain in Korea without a visa for a period of one to three months. For more updated information on this, please contact your local Korean embassy.
