Planning a medical trip to Korea

Before booking treatment in South Korea, check how long you can stay, where to find a hospital and what help is available with appointments and visa applications.

For patients arranging care from overseas, a useful starting point is understanding the difference between a medical institution’s clinical services and its designation to help with immigration procedures.

Government recognition as an outstanding medical tourism facilitator does not amount to a guarantee of treatment quality.

Following is how to navigate the preparations.

Receiving medical treatment in Korea does not always require a dedicated medical visa. Korea Tourism Organization guidance says treatment or care lasting no more than 90 days may be possible under a tourist or other visitor visa.

Before making travel arrangements, check with the Korean embassy or consulate handling your application whether your planned treatment is permitted under your intended entry status and how long you can stay. Do not assume that a medical appointment allows you to remain beyond your authorized period.

For those applying for a dedicated medical visa, there are two main categories.

The C-3-3 visa covers stays of 90 days or less for treatment and travel. The G-1-10 visa is for longer treatment or rehabilitation requiring at least 91 days, with stays of up to one year.

Accompanying family members or caregivers may also qualify, subject to the applicable requirements.

The permitted period of stay is different from the visa’s validity, which determines when it can be used to enter Korea. Check both when arranging treatment, accommodation and return flights.

If treatment will require you to stay beyond your existing permission, contact immigration authorities before that permission expires to check the procedures that apply to your circumstances.

Patients can contact hospitals directly or use an agency that connects overseas patients with Korean medical institutions. Depending on the provider, assistance may include appointments, visa paperwork and travel arrangements.

The Korea Medical Tourism Business Center, operated by the KTO, provides information on hospitals and agencies and offers multilingual consultation. Its Visit Korea webpage links to lists of member hospitals and agencies.

A separate list maintained by the Ministry of Justice identifies institutions designated as outstanding medical tourism facilitators.

The ministry expanded the designation to 112 institutions from Oct. 1, comprising 89 medical institutions and 23 agencies. Their designation runs through Sept. 30, 2027.

Using a designated institution can simplify some visa paperwork and help expedite processing. Patients should ask the institution which procedures it can handle and which documents they must prepare themselves.

The designation concerns assistance with medical tourism visa procedures. It should not be read as a government recommendation of a particular treatment, doctor or hospital’s clinical standards.

The list is available in Korean through the Justice Ministry’s notice on outstanding medical tourism facilitators. Check the latest notice when choosing a provider.

Contact your chosen hospital to discuss the planned treatment and obtain the documents needed for your visa application.

For patients applying directly through a Korean embassy or consulate, Medical Korea’s guidance lists the following documents:

Requirements may vary by nationality, application route and individual circumstances. Check the relevant embassy or consulate’s current instructions before submitting an application.

Applications can be made through Korean embassies or consulates. Depending on eligibility, patients may also be able to use a visa issuance confirmation or electronic visa procedure, with assistance from the inviting hospital or agency.

When using an intermediary, establish which services it will provide and which arrangements you need to make directly with the hospital.

The Korea Medical Tourism Business Center offers information on medical tourism, connections to hospitals and agencies and assistance with reservations, depending on the service.

Consultations are available in English, Chinese, Japanese and Russian, both online and in person.

The center is on the first floor of the east wing of HiKR Ground, at 40 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jung-gu, central Seoul. It operates from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and is closed on weekends and public holidays.

Its Visit Korea webpage provides contact details and links to member organizations.

For visa eligibility and application procedures, consult the Korea Visa Portal at www.visa.go.kr or the Korean embassy or consulate responsible for your application. Within Korea, immigration inquiries can also be directed to the Immigration Contact Center at 1345.