South Korea
Italy
Italy visa for South Korean citizens
Entry requirement
South Korean citizens can visit Italy without a visa for up to 90 days.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at ambseoul.esteri.it
For longer stays: study, work and residence
Italy: visa decisions in South Korea
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 406 | 393 | 13 | 3.2% | 6.1% |
| 2024 | 578 | 560 | 18 | 3.1% | 3.9% |
| 2025 | 785 | 709 | 76 | 9.7% | 8.3% |
In 2025, Italy’s embassy and consulates in South Korea (Seoul) received 785 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 709. 9.7% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 3.1%: the rate rose by 6.6 points, a sharp increase. Applications rose by 36% compared with 2024 (578).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 11.5% of the applications lodged in South Korea that year, from 3.6% at the consulates of Spain to 12.1% at those of France. Italy’s consulates worldwide refused 10.8%. Italy was the 2nd most applied-for Schengen state in South Korea.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in South Korea, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
Italian citizens travelling to South Korea
ItalySouth Korea Visa-free, 90 days South Korea visa for citizens of Italy
Travel advice for Italy
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
For a trip from South Korea to Italy, the published travel advice reads as follows: the US State Department rates Italy at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 9 September 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Italy (updated 3 November 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Italy (updated 23 October 2026). Each ministry writes for its own citizens.
Good to know
How long South Korean citizens can stay in Italy
South Korean citizens may stay in Italy for up to 90 days. Days in Italy count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period across all member states.
Italy and the Schengen area
Visa-free stays of South Korean citizens in Italy count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, shared with every other member state.
Italy’s neighbours for South Korean citizens
Switzerland, the Holy See, Slovenia, San Marino, France and Austria admit South Korean citizens visa-free.
Italian citizens travelling to South Korea
Italian citizens can visit South Korea without a visa for up to 90 days. The rule is the same in both directions between South Korea and Italy.
Frequently asked questions
Do South Korean citizens need a visa for Italy?
South Korean citizens can visit Italy without a visa for up to 90 days.
How long can South Korean citizens stay in Italy?
South Korean citizens can stay in Italy for up to 90 days, within the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180.
Do Italian citizens need a visa for South Korea?
Italian citizens can visit South Korea without a visa for up to 90 days.
Can South Korean citizens enter Italy visa-free?
Yes, South Korean citizens can enter Italy without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.