Do UK citizens need a visa for South Korea?
No visa needed. UK citizens get up to 90 days in South Korea visa-free — nothing to apply for before you fly. Status per the Passport Index snapshot of 12 January 2025.
Entry rules at a glance
What the dataset says for a UK passport arriving in South Korea, snapshot 12 January 2025:
| ENTRY REQUIREMENT | NONE — VISA-FREE |
|---|---|
| MAX STAY | 90 DAYS |
| HOW YOU ENTER | PASSPORT STAMP ON ARRIVAL |
| EXTENSIONS | VARIES — CONFIRM VIA HIKOREA.GO.KR |
| DATA SNAPSHOT | PASSPORT INDEX · 2025-01-12 |
Same border, four passports
| Passport | Entry | Max stay | Briefing |
|---|---|---|---|
| US PASSPORT | NONE — VISA-FREE | 90 DAYS | VIEW → |
| UK PASSPORT | NONE — VISA-FREE | 90 DAYS | THIS PAGE |
| CA PASSPORT | NONE — VISA-FREE | 180 DAYS | VIEW → |
| AU PASSPORT | NONE — VISA-FREE | 90 DAYS | VIEW → |
Official sources
Planning South Korea? Start here
People also ask
How long can UK citizens stay in South Korea without a visa?
Up to 90 days without a visa, per the Passport Index snapshot of 12 January 2025. Entry rules change — re-check hikorea.go.kr before booking.
Can UK citizens extend a stay in South Korea?
Extensions are decided by the Korea Immigration Service (HiKorea), not by the entry rule itself, and policies shift without much notice. Check hikorea.go.kr for what is currently possible — don't plan around an extension you haven't confirmed.
Do I need an onward ticket to enter South Korea?
Possibly — proof of onward travel is a routine airline and border check that sits outside the visa dataset on this page. Confirm on gov.uk and with your carrier before booking a one-way ticket.
What happens if UK citizens overstay in South Korea?
Overstaying any permitted stay can mean fines, deportation or future entry bans — the specifics are set by the Korea Immigration Service (HiKorea) and are not part of this dataset. If you're close to the limit, check hikorea.go.kr for exact consequences and options.
AS OF 2025-01-12 · PASSPORT INDEX SNAPSHOT · NOMAD DESK VISA MATRIX