Jeju Entry Requirements
Visa, immigration, and customs information
Visa Requirements
Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.
Citizens of most countries worldwide can enter Jeju without any visa when arriving directly at Jeju International Airport (CJU) or via Jeju seaports. This Jeju Visa Waiver Program is a deliberate policy to support Jeju's tourism economy and its status as a free international city. Visitors under this program are permitted to stay in Jeju only, if you wish to travel to mainland South Korea during the same trip, you must meet mainland visa requirements.
The Jeju waiver applies ONLY when arriving directly into Jeju (CJU airport or Jeju seaports). It does not permit onward travel to mainland Korea unless you separately qualify under South Korea's national visa policy. Visitors must hold a return or onward ticket and proof of accommodation. Stay is limited to 30 days for tourism. Work and study are not permitted.
Many nationalities benefit from South Korea's bilateral visa-free agreements, granting 90-day visa-free entry through any Korean port of entry, including Incheon International Airport (ICN). Travelers in this category can visit both mainland South Korea and Jeju freely within their 90-day allowance. This is the most flexible entry option for planning a complete South Korea and Jeju trip.
Visa-free stays are for tourism, business visits, and transit only. Employment, study, or long-term residence require appropriate visas. The K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) requirement for visa-free travelers was introduced in 2021 and then suspended for many nationalities, check immigration.go.kr for current K-ETA status for your passport before travel.
South Korea's K-ETA is an electronic pre-travel authorization required for certain visa-exempt nationalities entering through mainland Korean ports. It is NOT required for the Jeju direct-arrival waiver. The K-ETA requirement has been subject to multiple temporary suspensions, many Western nationalities have been exempt from the K-ETA requirement during suspension periods. Always confirm the current status for your nationality before booking.
Cost: Approximately KRW 10,000 (around USD 7, 8)
K-ETA is not required if you are entering directly into Jeju under the Jeju Visa Waiver Program. It may be required if you enter mainland Korea first (e.g., via Incheon) and then fly to Jeju. Check the current suspension status at the official K-ETA portal, as of early 2026, the suspension covered many OECD-member nationalities.
Citizens of countries not covered by Jeju's waiver program or South Korea's national visa-free agreements must obtain a visa before travel. Certain nationalities are explicitly excluded from the Jeju Visa Waiver Program for security reasons and require a visa regardless of entry point.
Countries excluded from the Jeju Visa Waiver Program (and therefore requiring a visa even for direct Jeju arrivals) include Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria, Kosovo, and several others designated by the Korean government. Citizens of these countries must hold a valid South Korean visa before travel. Check the Korea Immigration Service website for the current exclusion list.
Arrival Process
Arrival at Jeju International Airport is generally smooth and efficient. The airport handles both domestic and international flights, and the international arrivals hall is compact and well-signposted. Peak travel periods, during cherry blossom season (late March, April), summer holidays (July, August), and the autumn foliage season, see significantly higher passenger volumes, so budget extra time. For the best time to visit Jeju for crowd management, spring and autumn arrivals are popular. Arriving early morning on weekdays moves the fastest.
Documents to Have Ready
Tips for Smooth Entry
Customs & Duty-Free
South Korean customs regulations apply uniformly to all international arrivals, including those entering through Jeju. South Korea uses a two-channel customs system (red channel for declaration, green channel for nothing to declare) and employs X-ray screening and detector dogs. Jeju has no special customs zone separate from South Korea's national customs system, the island's 'free international city' designation refers to its visa policy, not a duty-free import regime for residents. Travelers should be aware that South Korea enforces strict agricultural and biosecurity controls, and the importation of certain food items is heavily restricted to protect domestic agriculture.
Prohibited Items
- Narcotics, psychotropic substances, and cannabis (including CBD products from countries where cannabis is legal, Korean law applies regardless of origin)
- Firearms, ammunition, and explosives without prior authorization from the Korean National Police Agency
- Counterfeit currency, forged documents, and fraudulent credit cards
- Publications, films, or media that threaten public order, national security, or public morals as defined by Korean law
- Items infringing intellectual property rights (counterfeit goods, pirated media)
- Live animals and animal products without valid health certificates and import permits, strict for poultry and pork products due to avian influenza and ASF concerns
- Raw fruits, vegetables, seeds, and soil without phytosanitary certification, South Korea enforces strict agricultural biosecurity at all entry points
- Products made from endangered species listed under CITES without documentation
Restricted Items
- Prescription medications, bring a doctor's letter in English for any controlled substance or injectable medication. Quantities exceeding a 90-day personal supply require import approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
- Hunting rifles and sports firearms, require advance import permits from the National Police Agency. Contact the Korean embassy in your country before travel
- Communication equipment (satellite phones, specific radio devices), may require prior approval from the Ministry of Science and ICT
- Cultural properties and antiques, items of potential historical or cultural significance may be subject to export/import controls. Obtain certificates of origin where possible
- Certain food products from animal sources (dairy, meat), subject to strict biosecurity controls. Declare all food items at customs even if you believe they are permitted
Health Requirements
South Korea, including Jeju, currently imposes no mandatory vaccination requirements for entry from most countries. The country successfully managed its COVID-19 response and has removed pandemic-era entry restrictions. Jeju's subtropical climate and developed healthcare infrastructure mean health risks for visitors are low by international standards. That said, travelers should ensure their routine vaccinations are current and consult a travel medicine specialist for personalized advice based on their health history and specific activities planned.
Required Vaccinations
- Yellow Fever vaccination certificate required only for travelers arriving from Yellow Fever endemic countries (primarily sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South America). If your journey originates from or transits through an endemic country, carry your International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP, 'yellow card').
Recommended Vaccinations
- Hepatitis A, recommended for all travelers. Transmission possible through contaminated food or water
- Hepatitis B, recommended for travelers who may have medical procedures, close contact with locals, or sexual exposure
- Typhoid, recommended for adventurous eaters or those staying in less-developed areas. Risk is low but present
- Japanese Encephalitis, recommended for travelers spending extended time in rural areas of Korea, during summer months (June, September)
- Influenza, recommended year-round given Korea's temperate climate and indoor social culture
- COVID-19, not required for entry but recommended to be up to date on current boosters per your home country's guidelines
- Routine vaccinations, ensure measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, and varicella are current
Health Insurance
South Korea does not require travelers to carry health insurance as a condition of entry. But it is strongly recommended. Medical care in South Korea is of high quality but costs can be substantial for uninsured foreign visitors. Emergency room visits, hospitalization, and specialist consultations are significantly more expensive without the National Health Insurance system that covers Korean residents. Purchase complete travel insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation before departure. Some credit cards offer travel medical coverage, verify limits and exclusions before relying on them.
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Important Contacts
Essential resources for your trip.
Special Situations
Additional requirements for specific circumstances.
Children traveling with both parents require no additional documentation beyond their own valid passport. Children traveling with one parent should carry a notarized letter of consent from the absent parent, translated into English or Korean, authorizing the child's travel to South Korea, while not always checked, immigration officers may request this for solo-parent entries. Children traveling with neither parent (e.g., with grandparents or on school trips) require a notarized authorization letter from both parents or legal guardians plus the guardian's identification. Child passports must be valid; South Korea does not accept children listed on a parent's passport for entry.
Importing pets into South Korea requires advance planning and can be complex. Dogs and cats must have a microchip (ISO standard 15-digit), a valid rabies vaccination (administered at least 30 days before arrival and within the last 12 months), and a health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian within 10 days of travel. Pets from non-rabies-free countries (including most of the world) are subject to a quarantine period of 10 days at the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency facility at Jeju airport, at the owner's expense. Pets from designated rabies-free countries (e.g., Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, Hawaii) are exempt from quarantine with correct documentation. Contact the Korea Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (qia.go.kr) at least 2 months before travel to verify current requirements for your pet's country of origin.
The Jeju 30-day waiver and standard 90-day visa-free entry cannot be extended by leaving and re-entering Korea (visa runs are not accepted). Travelers wishing to stay longer than their permitted period must obtain an appropriate long-term visa before traveling. Options include: D-2 (student), E-series (employment), F-series (family), or D-10 (job-seeking for certain graduates). Apply through the Korean embassy in your home country. Overstaying your permitted period, even by one day, results in a fine, deportation, and a ban on re-entry to South Korea (typically 1, 5 years). There are no grace periods. If you have a compelling reason to remain beyond your permitted stay (medical emergency, natural disaster), contact the Korea Immigration Service at 1345 before your stay expires.
South Korea may deny entry to travelers with certain criminal convictions, those involving drug offenses, violence, or fraud. There is no formal pre-clearance system (unlike some countries), the entry decision is made by immigration officers at the border. Travelers who have been previously deported from or denied entry into South Korea are likely to face scrutiny. If you have a criminal record and are uncertain about your admissibility, consult a Korean immigration attorney or contact the Korean embassy in your home country for guidance before booking travel.
Journalists and media professionals visiting Jeju for reporting purposes should enter on a tourist visa if conducting casual travel journalism or social media content creation related to activities like Jeju beaches, Jeju food, and Jeju hotels coverage. Formal news gathering requiring press credentials or official interviews may require a C-1 (short-term) visa with a letter from a media organization. South Korea has no formal pre-accreditation system for tourist-category journalism. But carrying press credentials may invite additional immigration scrutiny. When in doubt, contact the Korean embassy or Korea Tourism Organization's media relations team in advance.
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