Is a visa required for South Korea for the Portuguese?
No, Portuguese citizens do not need a visa to travel to South Korea. The country’s visa-free entry policy permits short stays of up to 30, 90, or 180 days, depending on the visitor's nationality.
What is the allowed duration of stay for the Portuguese in South Korea?
- Visitors from these countries can enjoy a stay of up to 30 days in South Korea without the need for a visa: Bahrain, Brunei, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vatican City.
- A 90-day visa-free stay is granted to travelers from the following nations: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malta, Mexico, Norway, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States.
- Canadian citizens are permitted to stay for up to 180 days under South Korea's visa-free program.
What documents do citizens from Portugal need when traveling to South Korea?
When visiting South Korea, travelers must have the following essential documents:
- A valid passport: The passport must remain valid for at least six months after the date of entry.
- Return or onward ticket: Proof of onward travel or a return ticket is essential to show compliance with entry regulations.
- Accommodation information: Visitors may need to present a confirmed hotel reservation or provide the address of their host in South Korea.
- Recommended travel insurance: Although not a requirement, it is advisable to secure health insurance that includes coverage for medical emergencies during the trip.
From January 1, 2026, South Korea will introduce a mandatory electronic arrival card, the e-Arrival Card, for all foreign citizens. It replaces the paper form that was previously filled out on the plane or at the airport. The data must be entered online in advance, no earlier than 3 days before the trip, on the official website.
The form requires passport details, travel information, and the address of stay in the country. After submitting the form, the confirmation is stored in the system, so it is usually not necessary to print it out. If you do not fill out the e-Arrival Card in advance, border guards may ask you to fill it out on the spot, which will delay the clearance process.
Do Portuguese citizens need health insurance for South Korea?
It is highly recommended for the Portuguese to purchase travel health insurance before visiting South Korea. This ensures coverage for unexpected medical expenses, including hospitalization and emergency care, during your stay. South Korea’s healthcare is excellent but can be costly without insurance.
What should Portuguese citizens explore in South Korea?
South Korea offers an exciting blend of history, modernity, and stunning landscapes. Here are some highlights for Portugal visitors:
1. Seoul:
- Gyeongbokgung Palace: A magnificent historic site offering cultural performances and nearby attractions like Bukchon Hanok Village.
- Myeongdong: Perfect for indulging in street food and shopping for local goods.
- Namsan Seoul Tower: An iconic location with scenic city views, especially beautiful at sunset.
2. Busan:
- Haeundae Beach: A popular seaside destination with a relaxed atmosphere.
- Gamcheon Culture Village: A vibrant neighborhood with colorful houses and artistic installations.
3. Jeju Island: Known for its natural beauty, Jeju is a paradise for hiking and beach lovers, with highlights like Halla Mountain and volcanic craters.
4. Gyeongju: Dubbed the “Museum without Walls,” this city boasts historic landmarks like Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto.
South Korea promises memorable experiences for all travelers, including those from Portugal.
Conditions for obtaining a transit visa for South Korea:
- Flying to a third country through an Incheon International Airport, transit by any other means of transport is not allowed. The final destination should differ from the country of your departure.
- The interval between arrival and departure is 72 hours – a transit visa to the Republic of Korea is valid for only three days.
- Taking part in a tour for transit passengers – tourists traveling in South Korea are not free to leave the airport.
Transit passengers are accompanied by assistants. Employees of the transit tourism desk will help you pass customs control and offer several options for excursion routes. A transit visa to South Korea is required for citizens who cross the territory of the country with the purpose of further travel through the continent.
If you want to stay in Korea for more than three days and then go on a further trip, we recommend that you apply for a short-term transit visa for up to 15 days. A multiple-entry transit visa valid for up to 90 days and can be obtained by citizens who make regular frequent flights through Korea.
It is not necessary to issue a transit visa to foreigners who have a valid visa to the USA, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Australia.
Cats and dogs under the age of 90 days are exempt from a titer analysis for antibodies to rabies. Adult pets must be chipped, vaccinated, and have a quarantine certificate.
What documents are required?
- Passport of the animal. The document is issued by a licensed veterinary clinic after examining the pet. It displays data on the breed, age, vaccinations. Also, the 15-digit identification code of the microchip implanted under the animal's skin is entered into the passport.
- Chipping. The microchip must work according to HDX or FDX-B technology, as well as meet the requirements of international standards ISO 11784 and ISO 11785. It is not necessary to change old-style chips, but you must have a reading device with you.
- Vaccination. After reaching the age of more than 90 days, the animal must be vaccinated. Importing an animal to South Korea will also require comprehensive vaccination against plague, infectious hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus enteritis, etc.
- Rabies virus antibody titer test. You can take a blood test at least 30 days after vaccination, since the vaccination begins to work only after 21 days. Serological research is carried out only in accredited anti-rabies laboratories. The permissible concentration of antibodies in the animal's blood is at least 0.5 IU/ml. With lower indicators, re-vaccination of the pet is required.
Important! Rabies antibody titer analysis is performed at least 30 days and at most 24 months before the trip.
In order not to postpone the trip at the last moment, you should do the rabies titer analysis in advance, approximately 2-3 months before departure.
1. When entering Korea
There is a system of "red" and "green corridors" in Korea.The "Green Corridor" is designed for individuals moving goods that are exempt from duty and taxes. If you are in doubt as to whether you need to declare the goods you are importing, it is recommended to choose the "red corridor" to avoid possible misunderstandings.
Goods that need to be declared should be packed in such a way that they can be easily presented to a customs official if necessary.
Important! It is categorically not recommended to move the luggage of strangers. If such goods turn out to be prohibited or restricted for import, the person who directly moves them will be responsible for the offense.
It is prohibited to provide customs authorities with inaccurate or incomplete information. Such actions can be followed by a confiscation of the goods as a punishment.
Duty-free import
Goods with a value of not more than 400 dollars are imported into Korea duty-free and tax-free. If the value of the imported goods exceeds the specified limit, customs payments are paid only in respect of the excess.
In addition to the above, it is also allowed to import without a duty:
- 1 liter of alcoholic beverages (worth less than 400 dollars);
- 2 ounces of perfumery products (~56.6 g);
- 200 cigarettes;
- 50 cigars;
- 250 g of tobacco.
Personal property (clothing, toiletries, personal jewelry, including a wristwatch) may be imported duty-free, provided that:
- These things are intended for personal use;
- The goods will not be used by other persons, are not intended as a gift, for sale or exchange for other goods.
Members of the same family are allowed to sum up the quotas that belong to each individual.
Items intended as gifts are included in the 400 dollar duty and tax exempt total.
If a person moves goods in excess of the established quotas, it is necessary to declare the goods and pay customs payments, namely: duty, VAT, as well as special taxes. In this case, a simplified rate of duty is applied in the form of 20 to 55%.
Duties and taxes are calculated as a percentage of the contractual value of the goods (the value at which the goods were purchased). If the value of the goods cannot be determined, it is established at the discretion of the customs officer. Payments are accepted only in Korean won. A person cannot pay customs fees using a credit card or in any other way.
Items that should be declared:
- Goods exceeding the established quota numbers;
- Goods designed for sale in Korea;
- Foreign currency and other means of payment summing up to more than 10,000 dollars;
Goods restricted to import:
- Cold weapons and firearms, cartridges for them, explosives;
- Narcotic and psychotropic substances, as well as any drugs containing such substances;
- Goods made from animal materials that are under special protection and the use of which is restricted or prohibited;
- Goods, the import of which is restricted by the quarantine service (food products, animals and plant materials);
- Animals, plants protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as well as their derivatives.
Restrictions on goods may be introduced for reasons of public safety and welfare of the state, as well as for the purpose of protecting national fauna and flora. A special permit is required to import such goods into the country.
Goods prohibited for import:
- Books, publications;
- Images, films and other materials of pornographic content;
- Any materials that may be considered as ones violating the constitutional order, public security and traditional foundations;
- Counterfeit coins, banknotes, negotiable instruments.
When declaring goods, the following documents must be submitted:
- Passport;
- Plane ticket;
- Customs declaration (if required).
2. When leaving Korea
Duties and taxes are not payable on goods whose value does not exceed 400 dollars.
In addition, a person has the right to export the following goods without payment of customs payments within the specified restrictions:
- 1 liter of alcoholic beverages;
- 200 cigarettes;
- 50 cigars;
- 2 ounces of perfumery products (~56.6 g);
- 250 g of tobacco products. The export of alcoholic beverages is allowed for individuals over the age of 20, cigarettes – over the age of 19.
The amount of foreign or Korean currency being exported that exceeds 10,000 dollars must be declared.
When moving souvenirs purchased in Korea, you should be aware that any restrictions and prohibitions may apply to materials of animal and plant origin. Such goods are recommended to be submitted to customs officials for inspection.
If a person takes out of Korea any expensive items (computers, video and photo cameras) with the intention of further importing the goods, such goods must be declared. One of the possible proofs of ownership of goods being brought back can be a receipt.
Goods that are subject to mandatory declaration when taking them out of Korea:
- Animals, plants protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as well as their derivatives;
- Korean and foreign currency, the value of which exceeds 10,000 dollars;
- Firearms and cartridges for them;
- Objects of cultural and historical heritage.
Export of the abovementioned goods is carried out on the basis of a permit.
