canivisit.com
Beta — verify with official sources⌘K
Home/from/kr/to/fr
🇰🇷SOUTH KOREA
🇫🇷FRANCE (SCHENGEN)KR-FR

Do South Korea passport holders need a visa to visit France (Schengen)?

Schengen visa-free 90/180 days. ETIAS required from Q4 2026. EES already live. South Korean ordinary passport holders enter France visa-free for up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period under the Schengen short-stay rule. France is a Schengen Area member, so the 90-day allowance is shared across all Schengen countries. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) became operational on 10 April 2026 — first-time entries now require biometric registration (fingerprints + facial photo) replacing passport stamps. ETIAS (the EU's electronic travel authorization) launches in Q4 2026 and will be required for short visits, costing EUR 7 and valid 3 years. A Korea-France Working Holiday agreement exists for 18-30 year-olds.
VISA-FREETOURISMMULTIPLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-27
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
South Korea (PR)Living in South Korea as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-27
Visa type
Visa-free entry (Schengen)
Maximum stay
90 days within any 180-day period
per entry
Entries
Multiple
from issue date
Visa fee
Free (ETIAS EUR 7 from Q4 2026)
consular fee only
Processing time
On arrival; ETIAS minutes online
standard track
Validity
Schengen 90/180 rule; ETIAS 3 years
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Check passport validity
Must be valid 3 months beyond planned departure, issued within the last 10 years. Biometric passport required for EES and ETIAS.
· 3-month rule· issued within 10y
/02
Apply for ETIAS (from Q4 2026)
Online ETIAS authorization required for Korean citizens once launched. EUR 7, valid 3 years, minutes to days to process.
· ETIAS Q4 2026
/03
Register biometrics on first EES entry
Since 10 April 2026, first-time entries into the Schengen Area capture fingerprints and a facial photo at the border. Subsequent entries reuse the data.
· EES live
/04
Arrive in France
Enter at any Schengen external border (e.g. CDG, ORY, NCE). No stamp in passport — entry recorded electronically via EES.
· no stamps
/05
Track your 90/180 days
Schengen days are shared across all Schengen countries. Use the EU's official Schengen calculator to avoid overstays.
· shared total
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

8 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 8 complete
Korean biometric passport
Valid 3 months beyond departure, issued within 10 years
ETIAS authorization (from Q4 2026)
Apply at least 96 hours before travel
Return or onward ticket
Required at boarding
Accommodation booking
Hotel reservation or host's attestation d'accueil
Funds evidence
Approximately EUR 65 per day for tourists
Travel insurance
Minimum EUR 30,000 medical coverage strongly recommended
International Driving Permit
Recommended alongside Korean licence for car rental
Schengen calculator
Track 90/180 usage across all Schengen countries
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Schengen visa-free entryFreeUp to 90 days within any 180-day period
ETIAS (from Q4 2026)EUR 7Valid 3 years or until passport expiry; free under 18 or over 70
Schengen visa (long-stay)EUR 99Type D national visa needed for stays beyond 90 days in France
Working Holiday VisaEUR 99Korea-France bilateral; ages 18-30 for up to 1 year work + travel
Overstay penaltiesFines + entry banSchengen-wide enforcement
Total estimateFree — EUR 7incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Schengen entry
Minutes
Standard border control with EES biometric registration on first entry.
ETIAS (from Q4 2026)
Minutes to 96 hours
Apply online at least 96 hours before travel for tourism, business, or transit.
EES first-time enrolment
Minutes
Fingerprints + facial photo on first Schengen entry after 10 April 2026.
Long-stay visa (VLS-TS)
Weeks
Type D national visa required for stays beyond 90 days, work, or study in France.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
Exceeding 90/180 days
Schengen days are counted across all Schengen countries combined.
Medium
/02
Passport over 10 years old
Schengen rule: passport must have been issued within the last 10 years.
Low
/03
Missing ETIAS (from Q4 2026)
Travel without an approved ETIAS once mandatory will result in denied boarding at the airline check-in.
Low
/04
Insufficient travel evidence
No return ticket, vague itinerary, or unclear accommodation can lead to questioning.
Low
/05
Insufficient funds
France expects approximately EUR 65 per day for tourists without prepaid accommodation.
Low
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.
/02
Customs
Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.
/03
Connectivity
Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-05-27
Korea to France route verified
Confirmed Schengen 90/180 visa-free, EES live, ETIAS upcoming Q4 2026.
2026-04-10 · major
EES became operational
The EU Entry/Exit System replaced passport stamping with biometric registration across all Schengen external borders.
2025-10-12 · major
ETIAS Q4 2026 timeline confirmed
European Commission confirmed ETIAS launches in the last quarter of 2026 after a 6-month transition period.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do Korean citizens need a visa for France?—
No — Korean ordinary passport holders enter France (and the rest of the Schengen Area) visa-free for up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period.
Do I need ETIAS in 2026?+
What is EES and do I need to do anything?+
How is the 90/180 day rule calculated?+
Can I apply for a Working Holiday Visa in France?+
Can I work in France visa-free?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the South Korea passport

🇰🇷⇄
Compare the South Korea passport
Stack it up against another passport→
🇰🇷◐
South Korea visa-free map
See where this passport goes visa-free→
🇰🇷▤
South Korea passport power
Global rank and destination breakdown→
See something wrong on this page?
Policies change. If something looks off, tell us — we review every report within 48 hours.