Visa preparation
Confirm your purpose and application channel, then prepare documents.
Decide your purpose and duration
List what you will actually do and how long you will stay, then check the matching stay category.
Read your mission’s visa notice
Check jurisdiction, appointment method, location and opening days. Jurisdiction can differ within one country.
Prepare documents and authentication
Get the current checklist; distinguish originals/copies, translations/authentication and issue-date rules. Request institution or employer documents.
Confirm submission and fees
Use official submission/payment instructions and keep the receipt. Do not rely on an agent’s promise of guaranteed approval.
Check your result and visa details
Check issuance, name, entry validity, category and stay period. Leave flexibility in travel plans while review is pending.
Plan your first stay and budget
Plan initial accommodation, transport, food, connectivity, emergency funds and insurance. Verify contract details before transferring a large deposit.
Start in LAMA-KBefore departure
Arrange transport, contact and your first stay; recheck entry procedures.
Recheck passport and flight
Check matching passport/ticket names, times, terminals and transit rules. Keep document copies separately and securely.
Recheck entry procedures
Check visa, K-ETA and arrival declaration requirements separately. Submit an e-Arrival Card through the official site during its allowed window if required.
Keep your first address and contacts
Save your accommodation address in Korean and a language you understand, plus check-in time and school, employer or pickup contacts.
Arrange connectivity, payment and transport
Check phone connectivity, card/cash access, airport transport and a backup for late arrival.
Check baggage, medicines and food
Check airline baggage and official customs/quarantine guidance. Verify import and declaration conditions for medicines, food, animals and plants.
Practice first-day Korean
Practice greetings, directions, transport and ordering food. Keep important phrases and your destination address available without your phone.
Start in LAMA-KAfter arrival
From the airport to settling in, keep track of your next steps.
Immigration, baggage, then customs
Follow airport instructions for immigration, baggage and customs. Ask staff when unsure and check goods requiring declaration.
Check in with your contact and reach your stay
Tell family, school or work you arrived and use your planned transport. Keep your first address and emergency contacts easy to find.
Check the accommodation and contract
Check the home, contract party, deposit, rent, fees and return terms. Keep your contract and payment records.
Start in LAMA-KCheck registration and stay deadlines
For a long stay, check registration requirements, deadlines and appointments. Also check stay expiry and address-reporting duties on Hi Korea.
Check conditions before study or work
Confirm your first schedule with school or work. Before any job or part-time work, check permitted activities and required authorization.
Continue learning and find support
Find immigration advice and local support, and keep learning Korean. After basic lessons, you can share experiences in the community.
Frequently asked questions
What should I check and prepare before travelling to Korea?
Start while you are still abroad. Prepare step by step, from your visa to your first day in Korea.
Does the same language mean the same visa rules?
No. Passport nationality, purpose, duration, residence and personal circumstances matter. LAMA-K language and community country do not determine visa eligibility.
Does checking items submit an application?
No. This is a preparation record. Submit through the official channel or mission and obtain its application reference or receipt.
Does K-ETA replace a visa?
K-ETA applies to eligible visa-free travel. It does not replace a visa required for study, work or a long stay.
What are the fees and processing times?
They vary by nationality, category, submission channel and timing. Check current mission notices and allow for additional documents or schedule changes.
Can I start working after entering as a tourist?
Tourist entry or K-ETA alone does not authorize employment. Confirm the required work status and permissions before working.
Check official guidance
Official websites use the languages provided by each authority.
- Korea Visa Portal · Visa Navigator
- MOFA · Korean missions overseas
- e-Arrival Card · Navigator
- Incheon Airport · Arrival procedures
- Korea Customs Service · Restricted goods
- Hi Korea · Immigration services
- Korea Visa Portal · Application process
- Korea Visa Portal · Application status
- Immigration Contact Center · 1345