Visa requirement
South Korea visa for German citizens
Official-source answer with stay limit, cost, required documents and last verification date.
Do German citizens need a visa for South Korea?
Checked answer — confirm before travel
German citizens need an ETA (electronic travel authorisation) before travelling to South Korea.
Last verified:
What this means: An ETA is an electronic travel authorisation you apply for online before you fly — it is not a visa, but you cannot board without it.
Confidence: Medium Likely current — confirm details with the official source.
This answer is for ordinary German passport holders travelling as citizens of that passport. Residence permits, long-stay visas or living in another country can change which embassy or rule applies.
Visa types at a glance
| Visa type | Availability | Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa-free? | No visa, ETA required | Up to 90 days. |
| eVisa? | No | No eVisa route is stored for this corridor. |
| Visa on arrival? | No | No visa-on-arrival route is stored for this corridor. |
- 90 days
- 10000 KRW
- Apply online before you fly
Before you travel
- 1 Entry step Apply online before you fly Official route (opens in a new tab)
- 2 Stay limit 90 days
- 3 Official fee 10000 KRW
- 4 Passport validity Official rule stored below. See full note
- 5 Transit airside: not required; landside: conditional. Full note below. See full note
- 6 Freshness Checked 23 Jul 2026; confidence: medium
Shareable verdict: German citizens need an ETA (electronic travel authorisation) before travelling to South Korea. Checked 23 Jul 2026.
Open SVG cardCost note
The K-ETA application fee is KRW 10,000. The official K-ETA notice also says the temporary exemption for currently exempt countries/regions is extended through 31 December 2026, so eligible travellers should confirm whether the fee is waived for their passport at the time of application.
Passport and transit notes
- Passport validity
- The K-ETA application flow requires a valid passport. The public K-ETA eligibility table used for this wave does not publish a single six-month rule for every listed passport, so check the official source and carrier requirement before departure.
- Validity source (opens in a new tab) Validity guide
- Transit
- airside transit: not required; landside transit: conditional; Transfer passengers who do not enter South Korea are exempt from K-ETA. Clearing immigration uses the normal K-ETA or temporary-exemption rule.
- Transit source (opens in a new tab) Transit guide
What you need
- German ordinary passport
- Approved K-ETA before boarding unless an official temporary or traveller-category exemption applies
- Return or onward travel details if requested
- Accommodation details, trip purpose and sufficient funds if requested by the carrier or immigration officer
Why this verdict
German citizens' entry guidance is based on South Korea's official K-ETA / Korea Visa Portal source set (listed in the official K-ETA eligibility guide). This guidance is intentionally conservative: ordinary passport, short-term visitor travel only. Work, study, residence, employment, long-term stay, special travel documents, refugee documents, airline handling and immigration discretion can change the practical answer. Reconfirm on the official Korean source before booking.
Conditional rules
- Work, study, residence, employment or long-term stay Visa required
Short-term visitor or K-ETA travel does not cover work, study, residence, employment or long-term stay.
- Transfer passenger who does not enter South Korea Conditional
The K-ETA FAQ says transfer passengers are exempt from K-ETA. If the traveller clears immigration, the normal entry rule applies.
- Official temporary K-ETA exemption applies Visa-free
Up to 90 days. K-ETA's official notice says the temporary exemption for currently exempt countries/regions is extended through 31 December 2026. The K-ETA site should be checked for the traveller's exact passport before departure.
Frequently asked questions
Do German citizens need a visa for South Korea?
German citizens need an ETA (electronic travel authorisation) before travelling to South Korea. (ETA required.) Verified 23 Jul 2026 against the official source.
How long can German passport holders stay in South Korea?
Up to 90 days.
How much does entry to South Korea cost for German citizens?
The official fee is 10000 KRW. This page tracks the official government fee only, not agent markup.