South Korea Passport Ranking 2026

Explore South Korea passport power with access to 116 visa-free destinations. Ranked #19 globally.

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South Korea Passport

Rank #19 globally
116
Visa-free destinations
183
Easy Access Countries
168.8
Mobility Score

Global Passport Power Ranking

Visa Requirements for South Korea Citizens

Detailed visa information for South Korea passport holders traveling worldwide

Rank Destination Visa Type Duration
#1 Spain Visa Free 90 days
#2 United Arab Emirates Visa Free 90 days
#3 Denmark Visa Free 90 days
#4 Finland Visa Free 90 days
#5 France Visa Free 90 days
#6 Sweden Visa Free 90 days
#7 Italy Visa Free 90 days
#8 Germany Visa Free 90 days
#9 Belgium Visa Free 90 days
#10 Netherlands Visa Free 90 days
#11 Luxembourg Visa Free 90 days
#12 Austria Visa Free 90 days
#13 Portugal Visa Free 90 days
#14 Singapore Visa Free 90 days
#15 Norway Visa Free 90 days
#16 Switzerland Visa Free 90 days
#17 Greece Visa Free 90 days
#18 Ireland Visa Free 90 days
#20 Poland Visa Free 90 days
#21 Hungary Visa Free 90 days
#22 Japan Visa Free 90 days
#23 Slovakia Visa Free 90 days
#24 Croatia Visa Free 90 days
#25 Czech Republic Visa Free 90 days
#26 New Zealand eTA Required 90 days
#27 Estonia Visa Free 90 days
#28 Malta Visa Free 90 days
#29 Australia eTA Required 90 days
#30 Slovenia Visa Free 90 days
#31 Latvia Visa Free 90 days
#32 Malaysia Visa Free 90 days
#33 Cyprus Visa Free 90 days
#34 Lithuania Visa Free 90 days
#35 Romania Visa Free 90 days
#36 United Kingdom eTA Required 90 days
#37 Bulgaria Visa Free 90 days
#38 Iceland Visa Free 90 days
#39 Liechtenstein Visa Free 90 days
#40 Canada eTA Required 90 days
#41 United States eTA Required 90 days
#42 Monaco Visa Free 90 days
#43 Brazil Visa Free 90 days
#44 Argentina Visa Free 90 days
#45 Chile Visa Free 90 days
#46 Hong Kong Visa Free 90 days
#47 Barbados Visa Free 90 days
#48 Andorra Visa Free 90 days
#49 San Marino Visa Free 90 days
#50 Israel Visa Free 90 days
#51 Bahamas Visa Free 90 days
#52 Uruguay Visa Free 90 days
#53 Saint Kitts and Nevis Visa Free 90 days
#54 Brunei Visa Free 30 days
#55 Mexico Visa Free 180 days
#56 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Visa Free 90 days
#57 Antigua and Barbuda Visa Free 180 days
#58 Trinidad and Tobago Visa Free 90 days
#59 Ukraine Visa Free 90 days
#60 Seychelles Visa Free 90 days
#61 Peru Visa Free 180 days
#62 Costa Rica Visa Free 180 days
#63 Vatican Visa Free 90 days
#64 Grenada Visa Free 90 days
#65 Saint Lucia Visa Free 42 days
#66 Paraguay Visa Free 30 days
#67 Panama Visa Free 90 days
#68 Macao Visa Free 90 days
#69 Mauritius Visa Free 90 days
#70 Dominica Visa Free 180 days
#71 Serbia Visa Free 90 days
#72 Solomon Islands Visa on Arrival 30 days
#73 Colombia Visa Free 90 days
#74 Guatemala Visa Free 90 days
#75 El Salvador Visa Free 180 days
#76 Samoa Visa on Arrival 30 days
#77 Honduras Visa Free 90 days
#78 Montenegro Visa Free 90 days
#79 Taiwan Visa Free 90 days
#80 Tuvalu Visa on Arrival 30 days
#81 Tonga Visa on Arrival 30 days
#82 North Macedonia Visa Free 90 days
#83 Georgia Visa Free 360 days
#84 Kiribati Visa Free 90 days
#85 Marshall Islands Visa on Arrival 30 days
#86 Nicaragua Visa Free 90 days
#87 Palau Visa on Arrival 30 days
#88 Bosnia and Herzegovina Visa Free 90 days
#89 Micronesia Visa Free 30 days
#90 Venezuela Visa Free 90 days
#91 Albania Visa Free 90 days
#92 Moldova Visa Free 90 days
#93 Russia Visa Free 60 days
#94 Turkey Visa Free 90 days
#95 Qatar Visa on Arrival 30 days
#96 Timor Leste Visa on Arrival 30 days
#97 South Africa Visa Free 30 days
#98 Belize Visa Free 90 days
#99 Kuwait Visa on Arrival 30 days
#100 Jamaica Visa Free 90 days
#101 Maldives Visa on Arrival 30 days
#102 Fiji Visa Free 120 days
#103 Ecuador Visa Free 90 days
#104 Vanuatu Visa Free 120 days
#105 Saudi Arabia Visa on Arrival 30 days
#106 Guyana Visa Free 30 days
#107 Kosovo Visa Free 90 days
#108 Bahrain Visa on Arrival 30 days
#109 Indonesia Visa on Arrival 30 days
#110 Thailand Visa Free 60 days
#111 Belarus Visa Free 30 days
#112 Nauru Visa Required -
#113 Oman Visa on Arrival 30 days
#114 China Visa Free 30 days
#115 Suriname Visa Required -
#116 Kazakhstan Visa Free 30 days
#117 Bolivia Visa on Arrival 30 days
#118 Papua New Guinea eTA Required 90 days
#119 Botswana Visa Free 90 days
#120 Morocco Visa Free 90 days
#121 Swaziland Visa Free 30 days
#122 Lesotho Visa Free 14 days
#123 Dominican Republic Visa Free 90 days
#124 Namibia Visa on Arrival 30 days
#125 Mongolia Visa Free 90 days
#126 Azerbaijan Visa on Arrival 30 days
#127 Philippines Visa Free 30 days
#128 Malawi Visa on Arrival 30 days
#129 Tunisia Visa Free 90 days
#130 Ghana Visa on Arrival 30 days
#131 Kenya eTA Required 90 days
#132 Armenia Visa Free 180 days
#133 Gambia Visa Free 90 days
#134 Cuba eVisa 90 days
#135 Kyrgyzstan Visa Free 60 days
#136 India Visa on Arrival 30 days
#137 Tanzania Visa on Arrival 30 days
#138 Cape Verde Visa on Arrival 30 days
#139 Zambia Visa Free 90 days
#140 Uzbekistan Visa Free 30 days
#141 Uganda eVisa 90 days
#142 Senegal Visa Free 90 days
#143 Sierra Leone Visa on Arrival 30 days
#144 Rwanda Visa on Arrival 30 days
#145 Zimbabwe Visa on Arrival 30 days
#146 Cambodia Visa on Arrival 30 days
#147 Benin eVisa 90 days
#148 Tajikistan Visa Free 30 days
#149 Gabon eVisa 90 days
#150 Ivory Coast eTA Required 90 days
#151 Sao Tome and Principe Visa Free 15 days
#152 Burkina Faso eVisa 90 days
#153 Togo eVisa 90 days
#154 Algeria Visa Required -
#155 Guinea eVisa 90 days
#156 Vietnam Visa Free 45 days
#157 Niger Visa Required -
#158 Madagascar Visa on Arrival 30 days
#159 Mauritania Visa on Arrival 30 days
#160 Mali Visa Required -
#161 Equatorial Guinea eVisa 90 days
#162 Bhutan eVisa 90 days
#163 Egypt Visa on Arrival 30 days
#164 Mozambique Visa Free 30 days
#165 Turkmenistan Visa Required -
#166 Angola Visa Free 30 days
#167 Laos Visa Free 30 days
#168 Jordan Visa on Arrival 30 days
#169 Guinea Bissau Visa on Arrival 30 days
#170 Cameroon eVisa 90 days
#171 Haiti Visa Free 90 days
#172 Chad Visa Required -
#173 Comoros Visa on Arrival 30 days
#174 Central African Republic Visa Required -
#175 Djibouti Visa on Arrival 30 days
#176 Liberia Visa Required -
#177 Congo Visa Required -
#178 Sri Lanka Visa on Arrival 30 days
#179 Burundi Visa on Arrival 30 days
#180 Myanmar eVisa 90 days
#181 Nigeria eVisa 90 days
#182 Nepal Visa on Arrival 30 days
#183 Lebanon Visa on Arrival 30 days
#184 Ethiopia Visa on Arrival 30 days
#185 Eritrea Visa Required -
#186 DR Congo eVisa 90 days
#187 North Korea Visa Required -
#188 South Sudan eVisa 90 days
#189 Libya eVisa 90 days
#190 Iran Visa on Arrival 30 days
#191 Sudan Visa Required -
#192 Bangladesh Visa on Arrival 30 days
#193 Palestine Visa Free 90 days
#194 Pakistan eTA Required 90 days
#195 Yemen Visa Required -
#196 Iraq Visa on Arrival 30 days
#197 Somalia eVisa 90 days
#198 Afghanistan Visa Required -
#199 Syria eVisa 90 days

What a South Korea Passport Means in 2026

The South Korea passport ranks #19 globally in 2026 with a mobility score of 168.8. Its holders can travel to 116 destinations without a prior visa, while 183 countries offer easy-access arrangements. That covers roughly 92.4% of the world — 15 countries still require a standard visa for South Korea citizens. This page lists every destination with its current visa type, duration, and requirements, updated continuously.

Top Visa-Free Destinations for South Korea Passport Holders

#1 Spain #2 United Arab Emirates #3 Denmark #4 Finland #5 France #6 Sweden #7 Italy #8 Germany

Regional Access Breakdown for South Korea Passport

46
Europe
of 46 total
31
Asia
of 34 total
13
Middle East
of 14 total
44
Africa
of 53 total
34
Americas
of 35 total
13
Oceania
of 14 total

Passports Similar to South Korea (Rank #19)

These passports have comparable visa-free access to South Korea. Useful for understanding where your passport stands globally.

Ireland
#18 • 121 destinations
Poland
#20 • 121 destinations
Greece
#17 • 123 destinations
Hungary
#21 • 120 destinations
Switzerland
#16 • 122 destinations
Japan
#22 • 117 destinations
Norway
#15 • 123 destinations
Slovakia
#23 • 119 destinations

South Korea Passport Power: Full Breakdown

The South Korea passport ranks #19 globally in the 2026 mobility index, granting its holders access to 183 of 198 countries (92.4% of the world) without a prior full visa. Here's the complete breakdown by entry type:

  • Visa-free entry: 116 countries
  • Visa on arrival: 41 countries
  • e-Visa: 17 countries
  • Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): 9 countries
  • Full visa required: 15 countries

Where Can South Korea Passport Holders Travel Visa-Free — by Region

The South Korea passport unlocks different levels of access across the six world regions. Here's how it performs globally:

  • Europe: 46 countries visa-free or easy access
  • Asia: 31 countries visa-free or easy access
  • Middle East: 13 countries visa-free or easy access
  • Africa: 44 countries visa-free or easy access
  • Americas: 34 countries visa-free or easy access
  • Oceania: 13 countries visa-free or easy access

Top 20 Visa-Free Destinations for South Korea Passport

The most popular visa-free or easy-access destinations for South Korea citizens in 2026, ranked by destination passport strength. Click any country to see detailed entry requirements.

Spain • 90 days stay United Arab Emirates • 90 days stay Denmark • 90 days stay Finland • 90 days stay France • 90 days stay Sweden • 90 days stay Italy • 90 days stay Germany • 90 days stay Belgium • 90 days stay Netherlands • 90 days stay Luxembourg • 90 days stay Austria • 90 days stay Portugal • 90 days stay Singapore • 90 days stay Norway • 90 days stay Switzerland • 90 days stay Greece • 90 days stay Ireland • 90 days stay Poland • 90 days stay Hungary • 90 days stay

Fast e-Visa Destinations for South Korea Citizens

South Korea passport holders can apply online for an e-Visa to the following popular destinations. Processing usually takes 1–7 business days.

New Zealand • ETA Australia • ETA United Kingdom • ETA Canada • ETA United States • ETA Papua New Guinea • ETA Kenya • ETA Cuba • E-VISA Uganda • E-VISA Benin • E-VISA

Longest Visa-Free Stays for South Korea Passport Holders

These destinations grant South Korea citizens the longest permitted visa-free or easy-access stay durations — ideal for extended trips, digital nomads, and long-term travel.

How South Korea Compares to Regional Neighbors

Compare South Korea with other passports from the same region — see who offers the strongest access and what sets South Korea apart.

Singapore
#14 • 130 destinations
Japan
#22 • 117 destinations
Malaysia
#32 • 117 destinations
Hong Kong
#46 • 114 destinations
Brunei
#54 • 103 destinations
Macao
#68 • 93 destinations
Taiwan
#79 • 75 destinations
Georgia
#83 • 80 destinations

Countries Requiring a Full Visa for South Korea Citizens

South Korea passport holders must obtain a traditional visa from an embassy or consulate before travelling to the following 15 countries. Always check current requirements with the official embassy.

Nauru Suriname Algeria Niger Mali Turkmenistan Chad Central African Republic Liberia Congo Eritrea North Korea Sudan Yemen Afghanistan

Processing times typically range from 5–30 business days; expedited services may be available at an additional fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

What visa requirements does South Korea passport holders need to know?

South Korea passport holders enjoy access to 116 visa-free destinations and 183 countries with easy access policies. This includes visa-free travel, visa-on-arrival options, and electronic travel authorizations (eTA) that can be obtained quickly online.

The South Korea passport is currently ranked #19 globally, providing excellent travel freedom for its citizens.

How can South Korea citizens check visa requirements before traveling?

Before traveling, South Korea citizens should:

  • Check the visa requirements table above for your specific destination
  • Verify current requirements with the destination country's embassy or consulate
  • Ensure your passport has at least 6 months validity remaining
  • Check if you need any health certificates or vaccinations
  • Consider travel insurance requirements for your destination

What's the difference between visa-free, visa-on-arrival, and eVisa for South Korea travelers?

Visa-free: South Korea passport holders can enter without any visa for the specified duration.

Visa-on-arrival: You can obtain a visa upon arriving at the destination country's border or airport.

eVisa: An electronic visa that must be applied for and approved online before traveling.

eTA: Electronic Travel Authorization - a simple online approval required before boarding your flight.

Visa required: A traditional visa must be obtained from an embassy or consulate before traveling.

Can visa requirements change for South Korea passport holders?

Visa requirements can change frequently. It is recommended to check with the nearest embassy or consulate of South Korea for the most up-to-date information before traveling.

How strong is the South Korea passport compared to other passports?

The South Korea passport ranks #19 globally with a mobility score of 168.8. This ranking is based on:

  • 116 visa-free destinations
  • 41 visa-on-arrival countries
  • 17 eVisa destinations
  • 9 eTA destinations

You can see how South Korea compares to other countries in our interactive chart above.

How often does South Korea visa policy for its citizens change?

Visa policies are reviewed regularly. Major changes typically happen after bilateral agreements, elections, or security reviews. We update the South Korea data at least quarterly from official sources.

In which region does the South Korea passport grant the strongest access?

Based on current data, the South Korea passport grants its strongest regional access in Europe with 46 accessible destinations. Review the regional breakdown above for full details.

Can South Korea passport holders also benefit from a second passport?

Many travellers combine a South Korea passport with a second citizenship (e.g. EU, Caribbean, or investment-based). A second passport can unlock additional visa-free destinations and reduce travel restrictions. Always verify dual-citizenship rules with South Korea authorities.

Does visa-free access mean I can work in those countries as a South Korea citizen?

No. Visa-free entry is strictly for tourism, short business meetings, or transit. A separate work permit or long-stay visa is required to take up employment, study, or reside in any destination.

Are there digital nomad visas available for South Korea passport holders?

Yes — over 50 countries now offer specific digital nomad visas, many accepting South Korea citizens. Popular options include Portugal, Estonia, Spain, UAE, Thailand, and Mexico. Requirements usually include proof of remote income and valid health insurance.