Visa for South Korea

Short stays up to 90 days – when is a visa not required?

If you are travelling purely for tourism or for short, unpaid business meetings and are staying for no longer than 90 days, nationals of Poland are exempt from the visa requirement.

When do you have to apply at the consulate?

You must obtain a visa before travelling if:

• your trip lasts more than 90 days,

• you are planning installation or maintenance work, studies, or employment,

• you need a one-year multiple‑entry business visa.

Applications are accepted by the Consulate of the Republic of Korea in Warsaw; personal appearance is currently required.

Types of visas and fees

• Business / Service
  • single-entry up to 90 days – PLN 160
  • multiple-entry, one year – PLN 360

• Tourist – intended mainly for foreign nationals residing in Poland.

• Other categories (installation, employment, student) have individual sets of supporting documents; the standard fee is usually PLN 140, but the consulate confirms the amount when accepting the documents.

Required documents (basic set)

1. Passport valid for ≥ 6 months with at least 6 blank pages next to each other.

2. Visa application form – completed and signed; colour printout is not required.

3. Biometric photograph (light background, face straight ahead, no glasses).

4. Bank statement with the bank’s stamp and signature.

5. Flight and hotel reservation covering the entire requested stay.

6. Residence card – if you do not hold Polish citizenship.

Additionally for an installation visa or one‑year visa: a copy of the Korean company’s Certificate of Business Registration, assignment letter, employment certificate, sometimes a letter of guarantee and the employer’s financial documents. Sometimes a translation into English or Korean is required.

Step‑by‑step procedure

1. Fill in a short online form – you will receive instructions on compiling your file.

2. Prepare the documents and book an appointment at the consulate.

3. Appear in person; submit your application and pay the fee.

4. Collect your passport – on average after 7 days (no express service available).

5. Visa issued – it will be affixed to your passport and also sent in electronic form.

K-ETA in 2026: do you need it?

Poland is on the list of countries temporarily exempt from K‑ETA. The Ministry of Justice of Korea has extended this exemption until 31 December 2026. Until that date you may fly to Korea for a short stay without K‑ETA.

You may, however, obtain K‑ETA voluntarily. With an approved K‑ETA you do not fill in an arrival card on entry. The fee is non‑refundable and the approval is valid until its expiry date.

With Notberg you may order a K‑ETA for South Korea. A decision usually arrives within 1 day. Service packages: Standard (around 4 days), Premium (1 day) or Instant, processed immediately.

Visas for Korea through Notberg

Sticker visas are issued by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Warsaw. Options available from Notberg:

• work visa for installation or maintenance work up to 90 days, processing around 7 days,

• student visa D‑2 for a bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, research or exchange programme, around 22 days,

• family visa F‑3 or F‑1 for a student’s family members, around 22 days,

• tourist visa for foreign nationals residing in Poland who require a visa, around 5 days.

Service packages: for a tourist visa – Standard (around 5 days) or Premium (around 2 days); for work, student and family visas – Standard (around 5 days) or Premium (1 day). Student and family visas are also available as multiple‑entry.

Errors in work and tourist visa applications

• Overly generic employment certificate. It must state the period of employment, position and nature of work.

• Assignment letter without the proper signature. It must be signed by the company’s authorised decision‑makers, and the purpose and details of the trip must be included in the text.

• Travel plan without dates. For a tourist visa, prepare an outline itinerary in bullet points, with dates and places of stay.

Questions about K-ETA and long‑term visas

Can a student’s family apply together with them?

No. An F‑3 visa is a separate application, independent of the student’s visa. The student must study in Korea for at least 6 months.

Can the university block a student visa?

Some Korean universities have restrictions on issuing visas. Before we accept your order, we check whether your university has any. A Standard Admission Letter is also required.

What happens after 31 December 2026?

If Korea does not extend the exemption, K‑ETA will again be mandatory before the flight. Check the embassy’s notice a few weeks before your departure.

Frequently asked questions

• Is the visa placed in the passport? Yes, the original document is required.

• Can the application form be printed double‑sided? This is allowed as long as it is legible.

• How long must the passport be valid? At least 180 days from the application date.

• Can the consulate speed up the process? No; the procedure takes from several days to around two weeks.

• I do not have tickets and hotel yet – what should I do? You may provide preliminary reservations (so‑called dummy bookings), also prepared by an intermediary.