About the visa restriction on COVID-19

• As part of the fight against COVID-19, the visa exemption agreement and the visa-free entry rule were temporarily stopped.
• Since COVID - 19 is ongoing, visa application procedures are carried out on a restricted basis. The visa evaluation process is at least 14 days.
• Visa application for tourism purposes is not accepted. (Visiting friends, family and relatives, independent travel, etc.)
• During the Covid-19 pandemic, visa applications for visiting purposes will not be accepted, which are determined to increase the workload of the health institutions of the Republic of Korea.
• As of February 24, 2021, anyone entering the Republic of Korea by air and sea from abroad must submit a negative PCR test result obtained within the last 72 hours before boarding the plane.

Visa Application Guide

1. Select the appropriate visa type from the following visa categories.
2. E-mail your appointment request to the Consular Affairs Department. email address: turkey@mofa.go.kr
3. Complete the required documentation. (All documents must be original.)
4. Come to the Korean Embassy for a visa interview on the date of appointment.
5. Don't forget to check the key points below.

You can apply for a visa from the Korean Embassy in Ankara and the Korean Consulate General in Istanbul.

There may be differences between the visa procedures of the consulate general in Istanbul and the visa procedures of our embassy. For detailed information, please contact our representative office.

** For more information about visa types, please visit https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/tr-tr/index.do

The South Korean government raised the disease threat alert level to its highest on February 23, 2020. Here are the necessary precautions for early treatment and to prevent the virus from spreading.

After entering Korea

• If you develop a fever and respiratory problems (coughing, sore throat, breathing difficulties, etc.) within 14 days after arriving in Korea, please call the KCDC Call Center at +82-2-1339.  
• Wear a mask if you experience any respiratory symptoms (outdoors and at a medical clinic or hospital) and wash your hands thoroughly with running water for more than 30 seconds.  
• When you visit a medical clinic or a hospital, tell the doctor about any recent overseas travel history (layovers included).

Entry regulations:

Anyone entering Korea, regardless of nationality, must self-quarantine for 14 days.

Anyone entering Korea are being tested for COVID-19.

Passengers must have a printed negative COVID-19 test result issued at most 72 hours before departure from the first embarkation point. Tests accepted are: LAMP, PCR, SDA and TMA tests. The test result must be in English, Korean or accompanied by a certified English or Korean translation. The test result must have the name of the passenger which must match the name in the passport, the date of birth and the name of the issuing laboratory.

There is a Special Entry Procedure. There are 4 steps in the Special Entry Procedure that applies when entering South Korea:

On the plane: 

• Special Entry Procedure Instructions are given.
• Fill out the health declaration and travel record form.

Quararantine:

• Submit the health declaration form.
• Check temperature and for symptoms.

Special Entry: 

• Check travel record form (address in Korea, phone number, travel history, etc.) 
• Download Self-diagnosis mobile app and check for valid phone number.

Monitoring:

• Users must submit their health status everyday for 14 days.
• If symptoms are discovered, users will receive information on the +82-1339 hotline and testing centers. If a user fails to update status on the app, authorities may contact the user.

Who pays for the expenses while on quarantine?

The Korean government provides test and medical treatment fees. However, the Korean government will not provide financial asistance for living expenses. Municipal authorities will provide packages of necessities such as rice, for 14 days during self-quarantine.

You can see the prices of some general things in dollars.Thus, you can have information about the product prices of Korea in general, and you can make your preparations before you come.  

• Big Mac Index: $4.2  
  
• The supermarket price of Bottle of Water (0.5 Litre): $1.1  
• The supermarket price of Coca/Pepsi (0.33 Litre Bottle): $1.42  
• The price of Cappuccino in expat area of the city in Seoul: $4.20