South Korea entry requirements for German citizens
Short answerGerman citizens need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before travelling to South Korea. Up to 90 days per visit.
- How long you can stay
- Up to 90 days per visit.
- What you need
- Valid passport
- e-Arrival Card (unless you hold an approved K-ETA)
- K-ETA approval if travelling after the temporary exemption ends
- Good to know
- German nationals are on Korea's K-ETA eligible list (visa-free short stays). Germany is one of the 22 countries/regions temporarily exempt from applying for K-ETA; Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the exemption runs until 31 December 2026 (KST). Until then, travellers can enter without a K-ETA but must submit an arrival card, or may voluntarily apply for K-ETA to skip the arrival card. If the exemption is not renewed, K-ETA becomes mandatory before departure.
Source K-ETA Official Portal — Eligible Countries / Allowed Period of Stay; Korean MOFA notices on the K-ETA temporary exemption (22 countries; extended to 2026-12-31 KST)Checked against the source on 2026-10-02
Check your trip, including what you can bring →Full South Korea guide →
South Korea for other passports
- Argentinaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Australiaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Brazilelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Canadaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Chileelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Chinavisa required
- Franceelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Indiavisa required
- Israelelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Italyelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Japanelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Malaysiaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Mexicoelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Netherlandselectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- New Zealandelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Singaporeelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Spainelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- United Kingdomelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- United Stateselectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
Other destinations for German citizens
- Albaniavisa-free short stay
- Argentinavisa-free short stay
- Armeniavisa-free short stay
- Australiaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Bahamasvisa-free short stay
- Bosnia and Herzegovinavisa-free short stay
- Brazilvisa-free short stay
- Canadaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Chilevisa-free short stay
- Chinavisa-free short stay
- Colombiavisa-free short stay
- Costa Ricavisa-free short stay
- Dominican Republicvisa-free short stay
- Ecuadorvisa-free short stay
- Egyptvisa on arrival
- Fijivisa-free short stay
- Georgiavisa-free short stay
- Ghanavisa required
- Hong Kongvisa-free short stay
- Indiaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Indonesiavisa on arrival
- Israelelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Jamaicavisa-free short stay
- Japanvisa-free short stay
- Jordanvisa on arrival
- Kenyaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Macaovisa-free short stay
- Malaysiavisa-free short stay
- Maldivesvisa on arrival
- Mauritiusvisa-free short stay
- Mexicovisa-free short stay
- Mongoliavisa-free short stay
- Montenegrovisa-free short stay
- Moroccovisa-free short stay
- New Zealandelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Nigeriavisa required
- Peruvisa-free short stay
- Philippinesvisa-free short stay
- Qatarvisa-free short stay
- Rwandavisa on arrival
- Saudi Arabiavisa on arrival
- Serbiavisa-free short stay
- Seychelleselectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Singaporevisa-free short stay
- South Africavisa-free short stay
- Sri Lankaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Taiwanvisa-free short stay
- Tanzaniavisa on arrival
- Thailandvisa-free short stay
- Turkeyvisa-free short stay
- United Arab Emiratesvisa-free short stay
- United Kingdomelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- United Stateselectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Uruguayvisa-free short stay
- Uzbekistanvisa-free short stay
- Vietnamvisa-free short stay
- Zambiavisa-free short stay
- Zimbabwevisa on arrival
Informational only — not legal advice. Entry rules change; confirm with the official source above before you travel. See update history