Something that I’ve been getting a surprising number of questions about (mostly via social media) is about coming to Korea in 2022. While I made previous posts about traveling to Korea during Covid times (KAD Life: Planning a Trip to Korea – Part 2 – Paperwork and How To: Apply for a Quarantine Exemption to Visit Family as a KAD), things have changed since then.
Even though Covid is *still a thing*, just like many other countries, South Korea has opened up its borders broadly to foreign visitors. While there are still more safety precautions being taken by the Korean government, public, and travel services (airplanes, accommodations), the logistics of coming to Korea as of 2022 are much simplified compared to the previous two years of Covid.
I created an updated list, below, with paperwork that I feel is either necessary or helpful with a trip to Korea these days. That said, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea’s website also has some similar information.
List of Paperwork for a Trip to Korea 2022:
1. Plane ticket & boarding pass (I went with Korean Air again, although this one was serviced through Delta).
2. Valid passport
3. Visa – If under 90 days (and not employed in Korea) then get the K-ETA travel visa. If over 90 days, you have multiple options. I have my F4 Visa this time around. Note, if you come with your F4 Visa but DON’T have your Alien Registration Card (ARC), you’ll want to bring all of the paperwork required to get your ARC card with you.
4. **UPDATED: As of September 3, 2022, travelers from the USA to South Korea will no longer need to show a negative Covid test before departing for South Korea. You can read more about it here. Note, you will still need to take a Covid test within 1 day of your arrival in Korea. And, if you test positive you will need to do quarantine.
5. Q-Code – This is new and is essentially a one-stop-shop for Korea to track foreign entrants’ Covid information and status. You can register as soon as you have your negative PCR test results before coming to Korea. I recommend registering as soon as you can, rather than waiting until you arrive in Korea (and subsequently have to figure out how to do it while waiting in a long line at the airport).
6. Optional; Cell phone plan (I went with a Sim card). If possible, I recommend finding out your Korean cell phone number before you arrive in Korea so that you can refer to it when filling out documentation or paperwork.
7. Optional; Traveler’s insurance (I went with SafetyWing this time, due to a stay greater than 90 days)
8. Optional; Lodging reservation (reservation information; location, dates, contact)
9.Optional; Korean contact information (names, addresses, phone numbers)
10. Optional; American contact information (names, addresses, phone numbers)
11. Optional; Transportation (T-money)
12. Optional; Currency (Credit card, debit, Korean won)
13. Optional; International driver’s license
I hope that this updated information is helpful for those of you planning a trip to Korea!!
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❤ LearningtobeKorean
Learning to be 한국인 