Immigration update: South Korea | New quarantine requirement and exemptions for business travelers

The South Korean government has announced new measures to fight the surge of cases and the spread of the omicron variant. All international travelers entering South Korea are required to quarantine for 10 days, regardless of vaccination status, country of vaccination, area of departure and nationality.

Who will be affected?

All travelers entering South Korea after December 3, 2021.

Impact

The specifics for quarantine exemptions for business travelers are:

• Quarantine exemptions for business travelers that were issued prior to December 3 are still effective; exemptions for humanitarian purposes, e.g., family visit, are not valid. This measure is valid from December 3 onward.
• Applications for quarantine exemptions – even if fully vaccinated – are subject to stricter examination criteria. This measure is valid from December 3 onward.
• Fully vaccinated applicants must submit the same documents as non-vaccinated applicants, incl. a detailed activity plan. This measure is valid from December 3 to 16.
• From December 3 to 16, travelers returning to South Korea after having received their vaccination in the country are not eligible for automatic quarantine exemptions.
• For the entirety of December 2021, a blanket ban on travelers from Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique, Lesotho, Malawi, Botswana, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Nigeria is in place.

Citizens and foreigners on a long-term visa will be allowed to quarantine at home, whereas foreigners on a short-term visa will have to quarantined at government-designed facilities.

Implementation

December 3, 2021

Santa Fe Analysis

Santa Fe Relocation will monitor the situation closely and provide updated information once available.

Should you have any questions, please contact the following:

Thomas Morocz
General Manager
Santa Fe Relocation
South Korea
T: +82 2 797 3138
E: Thomas.Morocz@staging.santaferelo.com

Robert Day
Group Head of Immigration Operations
Santa Fe Relocation
London, UK
D: +44 7990 021125
E: Robert.Day@staging.santaferelo.com

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