Limited quotas for no-isolation visas to S Korea

The South Korean consulate will be handling 50 visa applications per day for Hongkongers - who can now travel to the country without quarantining - but applicants must register online in advance.

That comes as South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck Soo announced that the country will lift its quarantine requirement for foreign arrivals from today, regardless of their vaccination status.

Visitors will still need to provide a negative PCR test result within 72 hours of arrival.

Unlike in prepandemic times, Hongkongers now have to obtain a short-term C-3 general visa to enter Seoul for tourism, transit, visiting relatives or similar reasons and can stay for up to 90 days. Applicants currently have to wait at least seven working days for their visas.

Issuance of short-term visas resumed on June 1, with the consulate offering a quota of up to 30 people a day.

About 100 people queued outside the consulate in Admiralty overnight that day, but many were turned away as they did not make advance bookings.

A spokesman for the consulate said it has received over 650 applications since last Wednesday and that number is expected to rise, which is why the consulate raised the quota to 50 per day.

The consulate issued a notice on its website and Facebook page reminding people to make an online reservation before queuing at the consulate.

"From June 6, for the convenience of visa applicants, the online reservation system (https://consul.mofa.go.kr/en/main.do) for visa applications will be opened and quotas increased," the notice said.

It also reminded applicants to print out their reservation confirmation and bring it with them.

"Requests to make a reservation through e-mail or on the phone will not be accepted and walk-in applications will not be accepted."

Reservations for July open on June 24.

Meanwhile, all tourists visiting Japan from Friday are required to wear masks, purchase private medical insurance and be chaperoned throughout their trip, the Japanese government said yesterday, as it prepared to welcome package-tour groups.

They will be able to travel the country quarantine-free and do not need to take a Covid test upon arrival either.

According to the tourism guidelines issued by Japan Tourism Agency, tour guides must frequently remind guests to follow anti-epidemic measures, including the mask requirement.

sophie.hui@singtaonewscorp.com