Visa-Free Entry to Jeju Island: Conditions and Restrictions
South Korea's Jeju Island is a territory with a special status, and a visa-free entry arrangement applies to those arriving for tourism or transit purposes. This guide explains the conditions for visa-free entry to Jeju, the list of restricted countries, and the Jeju transfer program in detail. The information is based on the official source of the Immigration Service of the Republic of Korea.
You can find complete information about the general types of visa-free entry to Korea in our article Visa-Free Entry to Korea: A Complete Guide.
Visa-free entry to Jeju: the basic rule
Under the Special Act on the Establishment of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and the Development of the Free International City, foreign nationals arriving at Jeju's ports and airports for tourism or transit may enter visa-free, except for citizens of the restricted countries designated by the Minister of Justice.
Conditions for visa-free entry to Jeju
- Length of stay: 30 days
- Permitted area: Jeju Island only
- Main condition: you must arrive on Jeju Island by a direct international flight or ship
Note: even if you enter visa-free, the immigration officer at the border control point may refuse to admit you into the country.
Countries restricted from visa-free entry to Jeju
Citizens of the following countries cannot enter Jeju visa-free (effective date: September 1, 2018):
Ghana, Nigeria, Kosovo, Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Cuba, Palestine, Yemen, Egypt, Gambia, Senegal, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Somalia, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Cameroon, Sri Lanka, Myanmar.
Important: Uzbekistan is included in this list of restricted countries. This means that citizens of Uzbekistan cannot enter Jeju visa-free and are required to obtain the appropriate visa in advance.
Jeju transfer (transit) passenger program
This program is for Chinese group travelers who depart from China (including Hong Kong and Macau), enter Korea through Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae, Cheongju, Muan, Yangyang, or Daegu airport, travel to Jeju Island, and stay in designated tourist areas for up to 5 days (via Yangyang airport — up to 10 days).
Conditions
- The group must be organized by a Korean travel agency participating in the Transit Tourism Program together with a Chinese agency that applies for a group tourist visa at the Korean mission in China;
- Holding a domestic flight or ship ticket departing for Jeju within 5 days (via Yangyang — 10 days);
- Status: Tourist/Transit (B-2), duration: 15 days.
Entry airports and permitted tourist areas
- Incheon / Gimpo International Airport: Seoul Capital Area (Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi-do), Gangwon-do
- Gimhae International Airport: Busan, Daegu, Ulsan, Gyeongsang-do, Seoul Capital Area
- Yangyang International Airport: Seoul Capital Area, Gangwon-do (up to 10 days)
- Cheongju International Airport: Gangwon-do, Seoul Capital Area
- Muan International Airport: Daejeon, Sejong, Chungcheong-do, Seoul Capital Area
- Daegu International Airport: Gwangju, Jeolla-do, Seoul Capital Area
General visa-free entry: 30–90 days
Citizens of the designated visa-free countries can generally travel to Korea (including Jeju) visa-free and stay for up to 30 days. The following countries may stay longer:
- Canada — up to 6 months
- Up to 90 days: USA, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Slovenia, Argentina
For the detailed list and transit rules, see our general guide.
Summary for citizens of Uzbekistan
Since Uzbekistan is on the list of countries restricted from visa-free entry to Jeju, an appropriate visa is, as a rule, obtained in advance for travel/study to Jeju or other regions of Korea.
Note: these rules change from time to time, and some programs were temporarily suspended during the pandemic. Before traveling, be sure to check the information from the official immigration service of the Republic of Korea (hikorea.go.kr) or a nearby embassy.
Ray Consulting specialists provide full assistance in obtaining a student visa to Korea (D-2, D-4) and processing other documents. Contact us for a free consultation.
