South Korea Passport Application Guide
A South Korean passport is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, in principle, applied for in person. This guide covers the documents, the agent exceptions and the fees. Verified against passport.go.kr and gov.kr, October 2026.
The 15-second answer
Apply in person with your ID, 1 passport photo taken within the last 6 months and the application form. A domestic electronic multiple-entry passport costs 52,000 won for the 10-year book, and the service page states a total of 8 days.
The in-person principle
The Passport Act (Article 9, 여권법 제9조) sets the applicant's in-person application as the rule. Someone else may apply only under the listed agent categories. The ID document presented must carry a photo and security features (a resident card, driver's licence or passport; a welfare card only where it includes a photo and resident number, otherwise an exception).
Agent exceptions
- Protocol cases (의전 필요자) — a designated agent aged 18+.
- Illness, disability or accident — a legal representative, spouse, or a relative within the second degree and their spouse aged 18+, with a power of attorney and a diagnosis or opinion; a disability registration certificate or national-merit certificate alone is not a basis.
- Minors under 18 — a legal representative or a relative within the second degree aged 18+.
Documents
- Passport application form (여권발급신청서).
- ID document.
- 1 passport photo taken within the last 6 months (6개월 이내 촬영).
- Family relations certificate (waived if verifiable through the administrative information sharing service).
- Nationality confirmation documents in suspicious cases.
See the South Korea passport photo page for the spec, and test your photo with the free passport photo checker. Edited or AI-processed photos are not accepted.
Passport types
Korea distinguishes the single-entry passport (단수여권, one round trip) from the multiple-entry passport (복수여권, unlimited trips within its validity).
Fees (domestic electronic passport)
- Multiple, 10 years (18+): 40,000 + 12,000 = 52,000 won (58 pages); 49,000 won for 26 pages.
- Multiple, 5 years (under 18, aged 8+): 35,000 + 9,000 = 44,000 won (58 pages); 41,000 won for 26 pages.
- Single, 1 year: 17,000 won.
- Emergency (non-electronic), 1 year: 50,000 won.
Fees consist of the issue fee plus the international exchange contribution.
Processing time
The government service page states a total of 8 days for an ordinary passport (both 18+ and under-18). A travel certificate or emergency passport is 1 day.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues a South Korean passport?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through passport.go.kr; the application is lodged at a city/county/district office (or via authorised channels abroad).
Can someone else apply on my behalf?
No, in principle. The Passport Act (Article 9) requires the applicant to apply in person; only the listed agent categories are exceptions.
What documents do I need for a first Korean passport?
An application form, an ID document, 1 passport photo taken within the last 6 months, and a family relations certificate (waived if verifiable through the administrative information sharing service).
What photo does Korea require?
One passport photo taken within the last 6 months, meeting the specification. Edited or AI-processed photos are not accepted.
How much does a Korean passport cost?
Domestic electronic multiple-entry: 52,000 won for a 10-year 58-page passport (18+), 44,000 won for a 5-year 58-page passport; a single-entry e-passport is 17,000 won.
How long does a Korean passport take?
The government service page states a total of 8 days for an ordinary passport; a travel certificate or emergency passport is 1 day.
South Korea photo requirements → Photo size chart →
Browse all passport guides or the photo size chart.
Source note: the in-person principle under the Passport Act Article 9, the ID document rule, the agent categories, the common documents (application form, ID, 1 photo within 6 months, family relations certificate) and the single/multiple passport distinction are from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs passport guide passport.go.kr/home/kor/contents.do?menuPos=1; the fees are from passport.go.kr/home/kor/contents.do?menuPos=41; and the 8-day ordinary-passport processing time is from the government service page gov.kr (여권 발급), checked October 2026.