China Group-Tour Visa Waiver Extended Through December 31

Chinese travelers planning a group trip to Korea with three or more people can set aside some visa concerns for the rest of this year. On June 24, Korea's Ministry of Justice announced that the visa-free entry program for Chinese group tourists will remain in place through December 31, 2026.

Under the program, Chinese tourist groups of three or more can enter Korea without a visa and stay for up to 15 days; on Jeju Island, both individual and group travelers can stay visa-free for up to 30 days. The ministry said the extension mirrors China's own decision to keep visa-free entry open to Korean citizens through the end of the year, under a principle of reciprocity.

Pre-departure procedures remain unchanged, however: travel agencies must submit passenger lists 24 hours before flights and 36 hours before sea crossings, since unauthorized overstays could jeopardize both the responsible agency's standing and the program itself.

The visa-free program itself first launched on September 29, 2025, and has been extended in six-month increments ever since. The condition of "three or more in a group" can be met even by families or friends traveling together through a travel agency — it doesn't have to be a large package tour.

Independent travelers not part of a group, however, are not eligible for this waiver and must still apply for a visa individually, as before. When registering for a group tour, it's worth confirming in advance that the travel agency handling it is one officially designated by a Korean diplomatic mission.

For travelers, the practical upside is being able to book a group tour and travel on a passport alone — no visa paperwork or fees — which leaves room to act on a shorter-notice decision to visit Korea. Korea Tourism Times Editorial Desk