Building the social and technical bridges to enable open sharing and re-use of data
RDA EURDA USCONTACT US LOGINREGISTRATION

International Data Week 2022 - Travel guide

You are here

Home
10 June 2022 1159 reads

Back to Plenary 19th

Last updated: 10 June 2022

Travelling To the Republic of Korea: All You Need To Know

As of 8 June, all international travelers to the Republic of Korea will not be required to quarantine regardless of their vaccination status. COVID-19 testing will still be in effect, making it necessary for travelers to submit a negative COVID-19 test result. Travelers must do a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test before departing to Korea and an additional PCR test within three days of arrival in Korea and submit a negative PCR test result. For more details please check below.

From May 23, along with current PCR test, the Republic of Korea accepts negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) results for travellers boarding flights to the country. Antigen and PCR tests must still be professionally administered. 

From April 1, fully vaccinated travelers can enter the Republic of Korea quarantine-free. Only non vaccinated travelers and the following countries are excluded from the self-quarantine exemption: Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Myanmar.

"Fully vaccinated" means you have received two doses of an mRNA Covid-19 vaccine (or a single dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson) at least two weeks prior to departure and no earlier than 180 days before boarding. If the 2nd dose was taken more than 180 days ago, a booster dose is required. 

To help you plan your travel to the Republic of Korea smooth, please familiarise yourself with the current requirements below.

  •  Visa Requirements

From September 1st, 2021, visa-free foreign visitors need an approved K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) to enter Korea. Please refer to the K-ETA website to know if you are eligible to apply. For more information about visa requirements by country, visit the Korea Visa Portal.

Letter of Invitation

If you need to submit an official Letter of Invitation from the conference organizers to help facilitate the visa process, please send all requests to visa@internationaldataweek.org. Please note that Letters of Invitation are only issued to registered and paid/approved delegates.

  • Travel restrictions requirements

Use the Sherpa Travel Restrictions Map (also available on Korean Air’s COVID-19 Update Center) to view entry restrictions and Covid-19 travel requirements depending on your passport-issuing country, departure country and vaccination status.

Filling out the Q-CODE (a vaccination registration online ssytem) in advance of entering South Korea is not a requirement anymore. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency still reccomend to use Q-code for faster immigration process at the airport. You can enter the vaccination history into the Q-CODE online before the departure. The registration system will issue a QR code that you will be required to scan upon arrival. For more information, please visit the Q-Code Quarantine Information Pre-entry System website.

  • PCR test requirements

- Pre-departure
All travelers entering Korea are required to submit a pre-departure negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate in English or Korean upon arrival. From May 23rd, 2022 onwards, Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) taken at a hospital or clinic within 1 day of departure OR ​a pre-departure PCR test taken within 2 days of departure ​will be accepted. Travellers must take PCR tests within 48 hours of departure or RATs within 24 hours of departure. For more information on Covid-19 test requirements, please refer to this page: https://idw2022.org/data/download/FAQonCOVID-19TestRequirements.pdf .

- Upon arrival in the Republic of Korea
Short-term visitors (foreigners) must take a PCR test (RAT not allowed) within 3 days of arrival at their own cost. They can take the test at Incheon Airport or at a medical institution near their accommodation (refer to the list here). PCR test at Incheon Airport requires pre-booking that can be done online via Safe2GoPass website. After taking the test, results will be sent by email within 16 hours. Travellers may proceed to their accommodation by public transport, taxi or private vehicle. You do NOT need to self isolate after the testing. For more information on Incheon Airport Covid-19 testing centers and to reserve your PCR test, please visit https://www.airport.kr/ap_cnt/en/svc/covid19/medical/medical.do.

- Staying in South Korea 7 days or more
All overseas entrants who intend to stay for 7 days or more do NOT require to take additional tests. That means that once you take the PCR test on arrival at the airport, no more testing is needed. Unless your country requires for re-entry.

Covid-19 Cases & Vaccination in the Republic of Korea

Please refer to the official Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s dedicated website for detailed information on Covid-19 cases and statistics. More than 80 percent of the South Korean population have been fully vaccinated and more than 60 percent have received booster shots. Check the latest updates on Covid-19 vaccination in Korea here or here.

Information on this page is provided for reference only; we strongly advise attendees to personally check entry and visa requirements before making travel arrangements. For the latest information on traveling to Korea, please check with your airlines and the relevant ROK embassy/consulate in your home country. For more information about COVID-19 developments in Korea and related policies, please refer to the official Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency website.

Useful Links