COVID-19
[UPDATE - COVID-19] Quarantine Conditions for Inbound Travelers in Korea
Entrants fully vaccinated will be exempted from quarantine from March 21 if their vaccine status is already registered in Korea.
If you are vaccinated,
Quarantine Exemption
From March 21, 2022, entrants who are fully vaccinated will be exempted from quarantine when they arrive in Korea, if their vaccine status is already registered in Korea.
Those who have been vaccinated abroad and did not register their vaccine status in Korea will be exempted from April 1, 2022.
*A person is fully vaccinated if they got their 2nd shot (1st for Jansen) within 180 days and or if they received their 3rd shot (no time limit after the booster shot)
Entrants must register in advance their PCR certificate, vaccination certificate, and quarantine exemption certificate on the Q-Code System before the entry starting from March 21.
*Even if vaccination is completed overseas, if their vaccine is already registered in Korea and is confirmed through Q-CODE in Korea, their vaccine status is considered to be registered in Korea. (Check our [COVID-19] Your guide to vaccination in Korea)
*Pre-register system is automatically linked to the COOV system
However, entrants from Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, and Myanmar are excluded from quarantine exemption even if they are fully vaccinated.
COVID Test
All entrants still need to conduct three Covid-19 tests:
- PCR test within 48hrs before boarding
- PCR test on the first day after entry
- On the 6th to 7th days after entry (simplified to taking a rapid antigen testing (RAT) starting from March 10.)
If you are not vaccinated,
Conditions for Long-term Residents and Korean Nationals
- Entrants must register their sanitary information on the Q-Code System before the entry starting from March 21.
- Non-vaccinated Korean nationals and foreign nationals who reside in Korea have to self-quarantine at their place of residence for 7 days unless this place of residence is not judged as suitable by the Korean authorities (in this case they will serve the quarantine at a designated government facility at their own cost - KRW 1,050,000 per person).
*More info here
- At Incheon Airport, if no symptoms are detected, the traveler can go by private car, designated taxi (~70,000 KRW) or designated shuttle (free) to his/her place of residence, then proceed to a Covid-19 test at the nearest center within 3 days, by foot or directly from the airport. Usage of public transportation is not allowed.
*You can call the KCDA hotline at 1339 (available 24/7) or this website to know about the nearest test center.
- If symptoms are detected at the airport, the traveler will be subject to a Covid-19 test at the airport and will have to wait there until further notice.
- During your quarantine, you shall download the 'Self Diagnosis' application and fill in your status twice a day. You will also receive a phone call from your local administration every day to check on your status.
Conditions for Short-Term Visitors (non-residents)
*The waiver on visas for short-term stay (less than 90 days) was reestablished in November 2021. However, short-term travelers need a K-ETA before arrival and to apply here.
- Entrants must register their sanitary information on the Q-Code System before the entry starting from March 21.
- Non-vaccinated foreign nationals who are short-term visitors in Korea, or Korean nationals and/or foreign residents whose place of residence is deemed not suitable for quarantine, will serve the 7 days quarantine at a designated government facility at their own cost (KRW 1,050,000 per person). Quarantine facilities are randomly assigned and cannot be changed for personal reasons.
- The Consent for Isolation must be completed and submitted to the airlines.
*See Attachment 1 in this link.
- Visitors will be tested automatically at their quarantine facility.
- Transportation from the airport to the government facility is provided.
- They shall download the latest version of 'Self Diagnosis' prior to entry in Korea and conduct self-diagnosis twice a day. You will also receive a phone call from the KCDA everyday to check on your status.
- Packages of food and other necessities will be provided to you..
Exceptions for Short-Term Visitors with Family in Korea
Non-vaccinated foreigners in short-term stay can change to self-quarantine :
- If they have family relationship with a resident in Korea
- If self-quarantine is possible
- The resident in Korea hosting them should be a Korean or a foreigner with a long-term stay visa
- The family relationship can be : spouse, direct ascendant and descendant, relative within 3rd degree
Procedure
- Change can be made at the airport or at the quarantine facility
- Required documents : ID card + proof of the family relationship + certification letter (they should be prepared before entering in Korea)
- The family should pick up the visitor at the airport or at the quarantine facility ; if it is difficult, the visitor will be in quarantine in a designated facility until the family submits required documents
- The general standards and requirement for self-quarantine apply to the visitor, such as installation of the self-quarantine app
Documents to submit
- The relationship should be proved by an official document such as a family or marriage certificate
- In case of official documents issued by a foreign government, apostille is required
- In case of non-English documents, a certified translation is required
- The resident should submit a letter which certify the protection of the person subject to self-quarantine which clearly expressed that he/she will provide its residence to the visitor for its quarantine, and that he/she will actively cooperate to comply with self-quarantine rules and monitoring of related organizations during the quarantine period
*Find the certification letter here
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