KoreaClear Ā· Travel answer
Can I enter Korea during transit using a Japanese or Schengen visa or residence permit?
Short answer
The official airport summary of this transit route lists the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and 32 European countries; it does not list Japan. Do not rely on a Japanese visa alone for entry into Korea. A European document still needs checking against the current country, document and itinerary conditions.
What to do
- For VietnamāIncheonāJapan, first ask the airlines whether the five-hour connection stays fully airside.
- If Korean immigration clearance is required, establish your Korean visa or independently applicable exemption before travel.
- For a European document, provide the issuing country, visa or residence-document type, expiry and complete flight itinerary to the Korean mission for checking.
Check before relying on this
- āSchengenā is not enough information to approve every document.
- Visa-free airport transit and visa-free admission into Korea are separate questions.
More details and examples ExpandCollapse
Airside or entry
A Japanese tourist or work visa does not by itself confirm Korean entry permission. A short connection can remain airside only when airline and baggage arrangements allow it.
European documents
Do not treat āSchengen cardā as a complete description. Check the exact issuing country and document against the current official transit notice, including onward travel and permitted stay. The airport summary is not the full eligibility list.
Sources and provider examples
External sources may use another language.
- Korean Embassy in Canada ā Tourist in Transit B-2 (2025-12-30) ā
- Korea Immigration Contact Center ā
- B-2 transit tourism programme July2026 mission guidance ā
- Belgium mission visa-free transfer passenger notice ā
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA ā tourist-in-transit conditions ā
- Guangzhou mission B2 qualifying countries ā
Sources last checked: . Rules, hours and services can change.