South Africa passport → South Korea

Do South African citizens need a visa for South Korea?

Electronic travel authorisation (eTA)30 days

South African passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before travelling to South Korea for up to 30 days. It is a short online application, not a full visa.

What this means for your trip

Apply only on the official government site; third-party sites charge extra.
Apply a few days before travel; most approvals are quick but some take longer.
The authorisation is linked to your passport. A new passport needs a new application.

Get trip-ready for South Korea

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South Korea at a glance

Capital: Seoul
Currency: South Korean won (KRW)
Languages: Korean
Calling code: +82
Region: Eastern Asia

Read the South Korea travel guide →

KR37.0°N · 127.5°EPhoto: 우승민 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Palaces, K-culture and late-night street foodGyeongbokgung Palace · Bukchon Hanok Village · Jeju Island

South Korea for other passports

South AfricaeTA30 days
IndiaVisa required
United StatesVisa-free90 days
United KingdomVisa-free90 days
United Arab EmiratesVisa-free90 days
ChinaeVisa
SingaporeVisa-free90 days
PakistanVisa required
BangladeshVisa required
Sri LankaVisa required
NepalVisa required
NigeriaVisa required
PhilippinesVisa required

Nearby in Eastern Asia for South African passport holders

Hong KongVisa-free30 days
MacaoVisa-free30 days
JapaneVisa
MongoliaeVisa
ChinaVisa required
North KoreaVisa required
TaiwanVisa required

Common questions

Do South African citizens need a visa for South Korea?

South African passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before travelling to South Korea for up to 30 days. It is a short online application, not a full visa.

How long can South African citizens stay in South Korea?

Up to 30 days under the current eta rule. Longer stays need a different visa.

Can South African citizens get a visa on arrival in South Korea?

Not under the standard rules.

How many countries can South African citizens visit without a visa?

93 destinations allow entry without a visa arranged in advance (visa-free, visa on arrival or eTA). The South Africa passport ranks #47 of 94 (passports with equal scores share a rank).

Source: Wikipedia contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0). Updated weekly. Rules can change, so give the official site a quick look before you fly.