Korean Embassy Dubai and Korea Visa Appointment 2026

Quick answer: South Korea has an Embassy in Abu Dhabi and a Consulate General in Dubai (Jumeirah 2). Dubai is where most UAE residents book a Korea visa appointment: the consulate’s own notice says tourist visa appointments are made online on the Korean government’s G4K portal and that walk-ins are not allowed. Abu Dhabi and Al Ain residents are generally directed to the embassy. K-ETA is not a visa for everyone. It applies to nationalities that are visa free, and many UAE residents still need a visa. Visa Doctor helps with document preparation and booking steps, but we are not the embassy or consulate and cannot promise a visa.

Korean embassy Dubai: the embassy is in Abu Dhabi, the consulate is in Dubai

People search for the “Korean embassy in Dubai”, and some online guides even claim Korea has no consulate in the city. The Korean government’s own overseas mission website shows both offices: the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Abu Dhabi and a Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Dubai. Use the official sites, not third party summaries.

Consulate General of the Republic of Korea, Dubai

The consulate is in a villa in Jumeirah 2. The official directions say to take Al Wasl Road from Al Deyafa Street towards Jumeirah 2, pass the Eppco petrol station on the right, turn right into the side street and continue to the end, where the consulate villa is on the left. Other directories give different villa and street numbers for the same area, so use the map and directions on the consulate’s Location and Contact page for the exact pin before you travel. Visa work is done by appointment only.

Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Abu Dhabi

The embassy is in Abu Dhabi, and its address, telephone and opening hours are on the Location and Contact page of the embassy’s official site (overseas.mofa.go.kr/ae-en). We could not confirm the current street address and hours from a stable official page when we checked, so we do not reproduce them here. A news guide published by Khaleej Times says Abu Dhabi and Al Ain residents apply through the embassy, but confirm this on the embassy’s visa page.

How the Korea visa appointment works in Dubai

The consulate’s visa procedure page states that applications are by appointment and that walk-ins are not allowed. Its notice on booking a tourist visa appointment explains the system in these steps:

• Go to the G4K portal (g4k.go.kr) and switch the language to English.
• Choose the reservation to a diplomatic mission, and log in with your email and mobile verification.
• Select the Consulate General in Dubai, choose Visa as the consular service, and pick an available date and time.
• Confirm your details, including name, date of birth, nationality and purpose.

The notice says slots are released on set dates each month, that each applicant needs their own slot (with a limited exception for one minor on a parent’s slot), that fully booked dates show in red, and that incomplete reservations are cancelled automatically. The release schedule in that notice dates from May 2024, so read the current version on the consulate’s visa announcements page. For visa types other than tourist, the consulate’s procedure page describes a request by email with your visa type and travel purpose, so check that page for the current address.

What the consulate says about documents, timing and payment

The procedure page says documents must be in English or Korean only, that a UAE company letter should be dated within one month and a bank statement within two weeks, and that other documents should generally be dated within three months. It also says payment is exact cash only, with no cards. It states a processing period counted in calendar days from submission, but processing times vary by case and season, so we do not treat any number as a promise. Applicants are told to collect their passports on the designated collection date.

The page says the consulate serves UAE nationals and non-UAE nationals who hold a valid UAE residence visa, subject to the stated requirements. Visitors with no UAE residence should apply at a Korean mission in their own country.

K-ETA, visa free entry and the new e-Arrival card

K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) is a travel authorization for nationals whose countries are part of Korea’s visa waiver programme. It is not a substitute for a visa for nationalities that need one. If your passport is not visa free, you need a visa, even if you live in the UAE. Many nationalities that commonly live in the UAE fall into that group, so check the official Korea Tourism and immigration pages for your passport.

Korea has also temporarily exempted a list of 24 countries and regions from K-ETA until 31 December 2026, according to the Korea Tourism Organization’s visa page. Separately, a law firm alert reports an online e-Arrival card requirement for travellers not covered by K-ETA from 1 January 2026, to be completed within three days before arrival. Rules like these are updated often, so verify them before you fly. Our guide to the South Korea visa from Dubai keeps a plain English summary for UAE residents.

Documents to prepare

Each visa type has its own checklist on the consulate’s website. For a tourist visa from the UAE, applicants commonly prepare:

• A valid passport with enough validity and blank pages, plus a copy of the data page.
• The completed and signed visa application form and a passport style photo.
• Your UAE residence visa and Emirates ID, with copies.
• Recent UAE bank statements and a salary certificate or employer letter, within the date limits the consulate states.
• A no objection letter or employer letter where the consulate requires it for your category.
• Flight and accommodation plans and a clear itinerary for the trip.

If anything on that list is not in English or Korean, arrange translation first.

What to bring on the day

• Your G4K appointment confirmation, printed or on your phone.
• Your original passport and the full document set in the order of the consulate’s checklist.
• Exact cash for the fee if the consulate still asks for cash only.
• Your Emirates ID.

Allow time for security and for a queue. Arriving without the exact fee is a common reason an otherwise complete application cannot be taken.

Common mistakes

• Looking for the embassy in Dubai. The embassy is in Abu Dhabi, and Dubai has the consulate.
• Walking in without a G4K booking. The consulate says walk-ins are not allowed.
• Booking for the wrong visa category or the wrong mission for your emirate.
• Bringing documents that are out of date. The consulate sets short validity windows for company letters and bank statements.
• Assuming K-ETA replaces a visa for your passport.
• Paying a website for a free G4K slot.

How Visa Doctor helps

Visa Doctor is a licensed Dubai visa documentation and appointment agency (licence 4417571.01). We are not the Embassy of Korea, the Consulate General, a visa centre or a government body, and we cannot issue a Korean visa. We check whether you need a visa or K-ETA, prepare and cross-check your document set, and help with booking steps so your G4K appointment is used properly. See our pages on visa document preparation, visa appointment booking and visa services in Dubai.

Last checked: October 2026, against the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Dubai website, its visa issuance procedure page, the Embassy of Korea in the UAE website and the Korea Tourism Organization visa page. Procedures and fees change, so confirm on those pages.

This guide is part of our embassies, consulates and visa centres in Dubai and Abu Dhabi hub, which lists every country guide in one place.

Frequently asked questions