Asia
South Korea visa
Seoul
Korea splits travellers in two. If your passport is on the visa-free list you do not need a visa at all — you need a K-ETA, applied for online, valid three years or until your passport expires, and usable for as many trips as you make in that time. It must be approved before you board, so the 72-hour assessment window is a hard floor rather than a guideline, and applying the night before a flight is how people miss them. Everyone else applies for a conventional visa. We establish which of the two you are before anything is booked.
- K-ETA usually assessed within 72 hoursTypical processing
- K-ETA valid 3 years, multiple useTypical validity
Indicative only — actual processing time and validity are set by the embassy and depend on your nationality, residency and travel history.
How the process works
Free eligibility check
We confirm which visa applies to your nationality and residency.
Document preparation
Your file is reviewed and corrected before anything is submitted.
Appointment & submission
We book the appointment and guide you through biometrics.
Tracking & collection
We track the application and hand back your passport.
Documents you'll usually need
- Passport valid for at least 6 months with blank pages
- UAE residence visa copy (valid at least 3 months)
- Emirates ID copy (front and back)
- Recent passport-size photographs to embassy specification
- Bank statements for the last 3-6 months
- Employment contract or NOC letter from your employer
- Confirmed flight and hotel reservations
- Travel medical insurance for the trip duration
Requirements vary. South Korea may ask for additional documents depending on your nationality and purpose of travel. Send us your details and we'll confirm the exact list before you start.
Common questions about South Korea visas
- What should I know before applying for a South Korea visa from the UAE?
- Korea splits travellers in two. If your passport is on the visa-free list you do not need a visa at all — you need a K-ETA, applied for online, valid three years or until your passport expires, and usable for as many trips as you make in that time. It must be approved before you board, so the 72-hour assessment window is a hard floor rather than a guideline, and applying the night before a flight is how people miss them. Everyone else applies for a conventional visa. We establish which of the two you are before anything is booked.
- How long does a South Korea visa take to process?
- K-ETA usually assessed within 72 hours. That figure is indicative — the embassy sets the actual processing time, and it varies with your nationality, the visa type and how busy the season is. We track the application through to collection and tell you where it stands.
- How long is a South Korea visa valid for?
- K-ETA valid 3 years, multiple use. Validity is decided by the embassy and depends on the visa type you are granted, so it is confirmed on the visa itself rather than at application.
- What documents do I need for a South Korea visa from the UAE?
- Most South Korea applications from the UAE need: Passport valid for at least 6 months with blank pages; UAE residence visa copy (valid at least 3 months); Emirates ID copy (front and back); Recent passport-size photographs to embassy specification; Bank statements for the last 3-6 months; Employment contract or NOC letter from your employer; Confirmed flight and hotel reservations; Travel medical insurance for the trip duration. Requirements vary — South Korea may ask for additional documents depending on your nationality and purpose of travel, so we confirm the exact list for your case before you start.
- How much does a South Korea visa cost from the UAE?
- We do not publish a headline price for South Korea visas. Fees depend on the visa type, the embassy's own charges and the processing speed you choose, so we quote per application once we know your nationality, residency and travel dates. Send us those details and you get an exact figure before anything is submitted.
Guides for South Korea
Written by our visa desk in Dubai, and kept current.
