(SPOT.ph) Seoul in South Korea is one of the bucket list destinations for Filipinos. The huge metropolis offers the best of both worlds: modern-day wonders like Seoul Sky and cultural sites like the Bukchon Hanok Village. Finally, after two years of closure, South Korea is reopening its borders to fully vaccinated travelers starting on April 1. Quarantine upon arrival has also been waived.
Upon confirmation with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines, this new protocol is applicable only to non-leisure purposes, such as humanitarian, short-term business, short-term employment, and student visas.
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Here's the list of South Korea travel requirements (effective April 1):
- Valid passport
- Airline ticket
- QR Code acquired through Quarantine COVID-19 Defense website (or Q-CODE)
- RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours before departure for South Korea
- Proof of vaccination (VaxCertPH issued by the Department of Health)
- Health condition confirmation (to be filled out through Q-CODE)
- Non-tourist visa for Philippine passport holders
Upon arrival in South Korea, you'll still be required to take a test at the airport and wait until you get the result. The Q-CODE website is pretty straightforward with its checklists and self-help tools. All you have to do is follow the prompts to get you started.
For more information, visit the Q-CODE website.
ERRATUM (March 23, 4:50 p.m.): This article initially indicated that the reopening of borders on April 1 applies to leisure travel. It has since been corrected.