Foreign nationals arriving in Korea go through entry inspection at the airport or port. If documents are missing, or there is doubt about whether the purpose of entry fits the status, entry may not be permitted right away. This guide covers the inspection requirements, what happens on refusal and the conditional entry permit. Whether you can enter is decided at the inspection itself, so no outcome can be stated in advance.
Key points
- Inspection checks the validity of passport and visa, travel authorization, whether the purpose of entry fits the status, the stay period, and whether you are subject to an entry ban or refusal (Article 12(3)).
- If you cannot prove the requirements, entry may be refused (Article 12(4)).
- A person who needs special checking can be given a conditional entry permit (Article 13).
- A person refused entry is subject to return, at the cost and responsibility of the carrier (Article 76).
1. Inspection requirements
Article 12(1) requires a foreigner to submit a passport and arrival card at the port of entry and undergo inspection. Under paragraph 3, officers permit entry after checking that:
- The passport and visa are valid (visa only where the Act requires one)
- Any travel authorization is valid (where applicable)
- The purpose of entry fits the status
- The stay period is set under Ministry of Justice rule
- The person is not subject to an entry ban or refusal under Article 11
People with valid registration and similar may skip the arrival card (Enforcement Decree, Article 15(1)). If you cannot prove you meet the requirements, entry may be refused (Article 12(4)).
2. Grounds for entry ban or refusal
Article 11(1) lists foreigners the Minister of Justice may ban from entry: persons who may harm public health, such as those with infectious disease or drug addiction; persons trying to enter with firearms, swords or explosives unlawfully; persons likely to harm the nation's interests or public safety; persons likely to harm economic or social order; persons needing relief such as those unable to pay for their stay; persons who left after a deportation order and 5 years have not passed; and others the Minister finds unsuitable. If a person's home country refuses entry to Korean nationals on the same grounds, Korea may refuse as well (paragraph 2). For lifting a ban, see the entry ban removal guide.
3. Conditional entry permit
Under Article 13(1), the head of a regional immigration office may grant conditional entry to:
- A person who could not meet the passport or visa requirement for unavoidable reasons but is recognized as able to meet it within a set period
- A person suspected of an entry-ban ground or of not meeting the entry purpose requirement who needs special examination
- Others for whom conditional entry is considered necessary
The office issues a conditional entry permit with conditions such as residence restrictions and a duty to attend when summoned, and may require a deposit of up to KRW 10 million (as of October 2026, Article 13(2)). Under Enforcement Decree Article 16, the period is set within 72 hours and may be extended within that limit for unavoidable reasons. If the requirements are met within the period, inspection is carried out and the date of entry is the date of the conditional permit.
4. Breaking conditions, and refusal
Breaking the conditions of a conditional entry permit can bring up to 1 year in prison or a fine of up to KRW 10 million under Article 95, item 2 (as of October 2026). The Enforcement Rule Annex 7 standard fines are below and can be reduced or increased within one half (Enforcement Rule, Article 86(2)).
| Violations | Standard fine |
|---|---|
| 1st | KRW 1 million |
| 2nd | KRW 3 million |
| 3rd | KRW 5 million |
| 4th or more | KRW 10 million |
The deposit can be forfeited in whole or in part for a breach (Article 13(3)), and breach is also a ground for deportation (Article 46(1), item 5). A person refused entry is subject to return (Article 76(1), item 3), and where a decision to refuse entry is considered important, the officer reports to the Minister of Justice (Enforcement Decree, Article 15(6)).
5. What to prepare before arriving
- Check passport validity and visa. Prepare the visa or travel authorization that matches your purpose.
- Bring material that proves your purpose. An invitation, proof of employment or enrollment, and accommodation bookings may help.
- Check for entry ban grounds. If you were deported before, confirm whether 5 years have passed.
- Answer questions truthfully on the spot. Do not say anything that differs from your documents. False statements in applications can be punished separately under Articles 7-2 and 26.
- If given a conditional entry permit, follow the conditions exactly. Note the period, residence restriction and appearance time.
6. What an administrative scrivener can do
We check visa issuance certificate and visa application documents, organize material proving your purpose of entry, review entry ban grounds, and translate foreign documents. Acting for you at the airport on a refusal, and criminal investigation and trial defense after a complaint, are outside the scope of an administrative scrivener and we do not handle them.
Once your arrival is set, check your documents and entry-purpose materials first. If you are worried about a visa application, see the visa denial guide too.