South Korea Visa from Dubai: K-ETA, the C-3-9 Visa and the Two-Year Rule

The short answer: Emiratis can visit South Korea without a visa for up to 90 days, but they need a K-ETA (KRW 10,000) before they fly. Most expat residents, including Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals, need a short-term visit visa (C-3-9) from the Korean Consulate-General in Dubai or the Embassy in Abu Dhabi. For these nationalities the Dubai consulate also asks for two years' continuous UAE residence. The standard fee is USD 40 for a single entry, paid in dirhams, and processing takes seven calendar days.

Seoul's palaces and night markets, Busan's beaches, Jeju's volcanic coast and the autumn colours of Seoraksan are about eight and a half hours from Dubai. The rules differ sharply by passport, so check which group you are in first.

South Korea visa for UAE residents at a glance

Question	Answer (October 2026)
Emirati citizens	Visa-free for up to 90 days, with a K-ETA
Most expat passports	C-3-9 short-term visit visa, applied for in the UAE
Where to apply	Consulate-General in Dubai (Dubai and Northern Emirates residents) or Embassy in Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi and Al Ain residents)
Extra rule	Two years' continuous UAE residence for 33 nationalities, including India, Pakistan and the Philippines
Fee	USD 40 single entry, USD 70 double, USD 90 multiple (standard rates; some nationalities differ)
Processing	7 calendar days, no urgent service

K-ETA for Emiratis

The UAE and South Korea have had a mutual visa waiver since 2016, so Emirati citizens can stay up to 90 days without a visa. Like other visa-free visitors, though, they need a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) to board their flight. Korea has suspended the K-ETA requirement until 31 December 2026 for 22 countries and territories, including the US, the UK, Japan and Singapore, but the UAE is not one of them.

• Apply only on the official site, k-eta.go.kr, or the K-ETA app
• When: at least 72 hours before departure; two weeks ahead is safer
• Fee: KRW 10,000 per person, plus a card charge
• Validity: two years, or until your passport expires, for multiple trips

Residents with UK, US, Japanese or Singaporean passports are on the exempt list and need neither a visa nor a K-ETA until the end of 2026.

The C-3-9 tourist visa for expat residents

There is no outsourced visa centre for Korea in the UAE. You apply in person, by appointment, at the Korean mission that covers the emirate on your residence visa:

• Consulate-General of the Republic of Korea, Dubai: residents of Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah
• Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Abu Dhabi: residents of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain

Your UAE residence visa must be valid for at least six months.

The two-year residence rule

Since 2022 the Dubai consulate has required nationals of 33 countries to have held a UAE residence visa continuously for the past two years. The list includes India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Egypt, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, along with China, Indonesia, Nepal, Vietnam and others. There are exceptions, for example for government invitees and family members of UAE nationals. If you have lived in the UAE for less than two years, ask the consulate before you book, as you may have to apply from your home country.

Documents for a South Korea visa from Dubai

The consulate gives each visa type its own checklist, and documents must be in English or Korean; Arabic documents need a translation submitted with the original. Expect to provide:

• Passport and the visa application form, with a photo
• UAE residence visa and Emirates ID
• An employer letter or NOC, issued within the last month
• A bank statement, issued within the last two weeks
• Flight and hotel bookings and your itinerary

All other documents must be less than three months old. Check the consulate's current checklist for your visa type before your appointment.

Fees and processing

Under the fee list in force since January 2025, the standard fees are USD 40 for a single entry of up to 90 days, USD 60 for a single entry of more than 90 days, USD 70 for a double entry and USD 90 for multiple entry. You pay by card in dirhams, at USD 1 = AED 3.68, so a single-entry visa costs about AED 147. Some nationalities have their own rate, so confirm yours with the consulate.

Processing takes seven calendar days from submission, and there is no urgent service. The consulate keeps your passport while it decides. If you are refused, the fee is not refunded and you must wait before applying again.

Jeju Island without a visa

Most nationalities can visit Jeju for up to 30 days without a visa, if they fly there without stopping elsewhere in Korea first. Pakistani, Egyptian, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals are excluded; Indian and Filipino nationals are not. In practice it rarely helps from the UAE: there is no direct flight to Jeju from the Gulf, and connecting through Seoul or Busan cancels the exemption.

Arrival card and flights

Korea also has a free e-Arrival Card, which you can file online within 72 hours before you land. Reports in 2026 differ on whether the paper card is still accepted, so filing online is the safer choice.

Emirates flies non-stop from Dubai to Seoul Incheon in about 8 hours 20 minutes, a little longer on the way back. Korean Air suspended its Dubai flights in February 2026 because of the regional conflict, and we found no confirmed restart date, so check with the airline before you book.

Frequently asked questions

Do UAE residents need a visa for South Korea?

Most do. Emiratis are visa-free with a K-ETA, but most expat passports, including Indian, Pakistani and Filipino, need a C-3-9 visa from the Korean consulate in Dubai or the embassy in Abu Dhabi.

Can Indians in Dubai apply for a Korean visa from the UAE?

Yes, at the Consulate-General in Dubai, if they have held a UAE residence visa continuously for the past two years and it is valid for at least six more months.

How much is the South Korea visa fee in Dubai?

The standard single-entry fee is USD 40, about AED 147, paid by card. Double entry is USD 70 and multiple entry USD 90. Some nationalities pay a different rate.

How long does a South Korea visa take in Dubai?

Seven calendar days from submission. There is no urgent service, and the consulate keeps your passport until it decides.

Do Emiratis need a K-ETA for South Korea?

Yes. The UAE is not on the list of countries exempt from K-ETA until the end of 2026. Apply at k-eta.go.kr at least 72 hours before your flight.

Can I visit Jeju without a visa from Dubai?

Only in theory for most UAE residents. Jeju's 30-day visa-free entry needs a flight that does not stop elsewhere in Korea, and there is no direct flight from the Gulf. Pakistani, Egyptian, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals are excluded.

Planning a trip to South Korea

A week covers Seoul and a day trip to the DMZ; ten days adds Busan or Gyeongju by KTX train. See South Korea visa services for help preparing your application, browse holiday packages, or talk to us about flights and hotels.

Related guides

• Japan visa from Dubai
• China visa for UAE residents
• Vietnam visa for UAE residents
• Japan itinerary from Dubai

Last checked 8 October 2026 against notices from the Korean Consulate-General in Dubai and the Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the Korea Ministry of Justice's K-ETA exemption list and Korean press reporting. Fees, document rules and the K-ETA exemption list change; this guide is general information, not immigration advice. Confirm the current requirements with the consulate before you apply.