Visa · K-ETA · 90 Days · No Medical Visa Required

Visa-Free Entry to Korea for Medical Treatment 2025

Citizens of the following countries enter Korea visa-free for 90 days and can receive urology treatment without a medical visa, provided the stay does not exceed 90 days:

Visa-free countries include: USA, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, all EU/EEA member states, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and approximately 100 other countries. Full list at hikorea.go.kr.

Do I Need a K-ETA?

As of 2024, Korea suspended the K-ETA requirement for most Western countries. Check the current status at k-eta.go.kr or the Korean Embassy website for your country before travel. Most English-speaking country passport holders do not currently require K-ETA for stays under 90 days.

Do I Need a Medical Visa?

No. Urology treatment as a tourist/visitor on a visa waiver is legally permitted in Korea for stays under 90 days. A dedicated medical visa (C-3-3) exists for longer stays or complex treatment requiring extended hospitalisation — not required for standard urology procedures (most are 3–14 day stays).

Fly to Gimhae Airport (PUS) — Not Seoul Incheon

Busan has its own international airport: Gimhae International Airport (IATA: PUS). Direct flights from Japan, China, Southeast Asia, and Hong Kong. From most Western countries: connect via Seoul Incheon (ICN) — the domestic connection to Gimhae is 55 minutes. Alternatively, fly to Incheon and take the KTX (high-speed rail) to Busan — 2.5 hours, USD $30–$50.

Verify before travel: Visa regulations change. Check with your country's Korean embassy or consulate, or hikorea.go.kr, within 2–4 weeks of your travel date.

90-Day Visa-Free — What You Can and Cannot Do

Citizens of approximately 100 countries enter Korea visa-free for 90 days under the visa waiver programme. During this 90-day period, receiving private medical treatment (including urology surgery) is legally permitted — you are in Korea as a visitor, and spending money on medical care is no different from spending money on tourism.

What you cannot do on a visa waiver: work for pay, engage in journalism requiring government accreditation, or stay beyond 90 days without obtaining a separate visa. For standard urology procedures (3–14 days), the 90-day visa waiver is more than sufficient.

Countries Currently Eligible for Visa-Free Entry

  • Americas: USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and most Central/South American countries
  • Europe: All EU/EEA member states, Switzerland, Norway, UK
  • Asia-Pacific: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and more
  • Middle East: UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Israel
  • Africa and others: Limited — check hikorea.go.kr for your specific passport

K-ETA — Current Status as of 2025

Korea suspended the K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorisation) requirement for most Western nations in 2023. As of mid-2025, most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and NZ citizens do not require K-ETA for stays under 90 days. However, this policy is subject to change — verify at k-eta.go.kr within 2 weeks of your travel date.

Arriving at Gimhae Airport — Immigration for Medical Patients

At Korean immigration, you will be asked the purpose of visit. 'Tourism' or 'medical treatment' are both valid entries. You do not need to show a clinic appointment letter at immigration — Korea does not require this for routine medical visits. Bring your return flight booking and hotel reservation as standard entry documentation.

Do not bring prescription medication in quantities exceeding a 3-month personal supply without documentation. Korean customs regulations on controlled substances (some testosterone preparations, certain analgesics) require a valid foreign prescription and Korean import permit for larger quantities. Confirm specific medication rules with the Korean Embassy for your country.