China → Korea, Republic of
Mainland China ordinary passport holders generally need a Korean visa for short tourist/business visits; separate Jeju, transit and group-tour waivers may apply.
Bare passport is not listed among Korea's K-ETA visa-waiver countries/regions; unless a published waiver applies, obtain the appropriate short-stay visa before travel.
Based on passport-specific data. · as of 2026-06-18
Official source ↗Documents that change the outcome
- Visa-free· apec_abtc · 90 days
Must hold a valid APEC Business Travel Card with KOR shown on the reverse/pre-clearance, for business travel only. Korea's official ABTC list includes China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan and other listed economies; Korea grants Short-Term Business (C-3-4) status and 90 days. U.S. and U.K. passports are not in Korea's official ABTC visa-waiver economy list; the U.S. is an ABTC transitional member and ABTC does not provide a visa waiver.
source ↗ - Visa-free· jp_visa · 15 days
Only for Chinese group tourists holding a Japanese group visa, departing China and transiting Korea to Japan, or departing Japan and transiting Korea to China or a third country. Group must be 3 or more, organized by the designated Chinese group-tour agencies on both the Korean and Chinese sides, agree to transit-guide handling, and enter through one of the listed non-Jeju airports.
source ↗ - Visa-free· schengen_visa · 30 days
For nationals who otherwise need a Korean visa and hold an entry visa or permanent residence for one of the 32 listed European countries, when transiting Korea to that European country or departing that European country and transiting Korea to the country of nationality or a third country; Schengen states are within Korea's listed 32 European countries. Must hold an onward ticket departing within 30 days, have no relevant violation/refusal history, and stay no more than 3 days in a transit/intermediate country. Visa validity must be confirmable by a visa sticker in the passport.
source ↗ - Visa-free· uk_visa · 30 days
For nationals who otherwise need a Korean visa and hold a U.K. entry visa or permanent residence, when transiting Korea to the U.K. or departing the U.K. and transiting Korea to the country of nationality or a third country. Must hold an onward ticket departing within 30 days, have no relevant violation/refusal history, and stay no more than 3 days in a transit/intermediate country. A U.K. eVisa may be accepted if it can be verified through the U.K. immigration website.
source ↗ - Visa-free· us_green_card · 30 days
For nationals who otherwise need a Korean visa and hold U.S. permanent residence or a re-entry permit, when transiting Korea to the U.S. or departing the U.S. and transiting Korea to the country of nationality or a third country. Must hold an onward ticket departing within 30 days, have no relevant violation/refusal history, and stay no more than 3 days in a transit/intermediate country.
source ↗ - Visa-free· us_visa · 30 days
For nationals who otherwise need a Korean visa and hold a verifiable valid U.S. entry visa, when transiting Korea to the U.S. or departing the U.S. and transiting Korea to the country of nationality or a third country. Must hold an onward ticket departing within 30 days, have no relevant violation/refusal history, and stay no more than 3 days in a transit/intermediate country. U.S. visa validity must be confirmable by a visa sticker in the passport; Guam and Saipan are included under the U.S.
source ↗
Documents & how to apply
- Visa application form — Use the form published by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in China.
- Passport-style photo — Submit with the visa application form.
- Passport — Submit the original passport; passport validity requirements follow the embassy checklist.
- Identity document — Chinese applicants submit identity documentation as required by the consular-district checklist.
- Proof of financial ability — The embassy checklist lists proof of financial ability.
- Documents proving purpose of visit — For short-term visit categories, submit documents corresponding to the visit purpose; business visits generally require business-purpose supporting documents.
📍 Apply through the visa procedure and designated agencies published by the Embassy/consulate of the Republic of Korea for the relevant consular district in China.
Korean missions in China generally process applications by the applicant’s consular district, and document rules can vary by district; check the latest attachment for your district before applying.
Requirements vary by consulate — verify with the official source. official ↗
Common questions
Yes, but not for an unconditional Korea-only trip. Korea's waiver is for third-country transit passengers: the traveler must transit Korea to the U.S., or depart the U.S. and transit Korea to China or a third country, and meet conditions such as an onward ticket within 30 days, no relevant violation/refusal history, and no more than 3 days in an intermediate transit country.
Yes under the third-country transit-passenger rule for up to 30 days: the traveler must transit Korea to the U.S., or depart the U.S. and transit Korea to China or a third country, and satisfy Korea's ticket, travel-history and intermediate-country conditions.
Yes under Korea's 32-European-country transit rule for up to 30 days: the traveler must transit Korea to that European country, or depart that European country and transit Korea to China or a third country. The U.K. is included in Korea's listed 32 European countries.
A regular individual Japanese visa was not sourced as a general Korea visa waiver here. Korea's official rule covers Chinese group tourists holding a Japanese group visa: China-Korea-Japan or Japan-Korea-China/third-country routing may qualify for 15 days as Tourist/Transit (B-2), subject to conditions.
Yes for business travel if the APEC Business Travel Card is valid and includes Korea pre-clearance/KOR. Korea states ABTC holders are granted Short-Term Business (C-3-4) status and 90 days on entry.
Verify with official sources
Visa policy changes without notice and this page is reference information that may contain errors. Before travel, verify via the official sources below or contact the destination country's embassy / consulate / immigration authority directly; final admission is at the destination government's discretion.