Guideline to Quarantine Exemption Procedure for Entrance to Korea with “Important Business Purposes”
<Korean Consulate General in LA, 08.18.2020>
Inquiries to Consul Sungsoo Son (213-330-6983/ssson19@mofa.go.kr)
1. Backgrounds
Amid the enhanced COVID-19 quarantine exemption procedure for inbound travelers to Korea as of April 14, inquiries about the quarantine exemption procedure for 'important business purposes' have continued. Accordingly, please find the detailed procedure down below.
For other quarantine exemptions such as ‘Humanitarian Purpose’, please refer to the notice of COVID-19 Bulletin on the LA Consulate General's website
2. Detailed Procedure for Issuing Quarantine Exemption Certificate with 'important business purposes'
2-1. Evaluation of ‘Important Business Purposes’
Quarantine Exemption Certificate will be issued only if the central government office in Korea, after receiving an official cooperation letter, comprehensively evaluates urgency and importance of entry purpose (contract, investment, etc.) and determines that it is an
“Important Business Purpose”.
2-2. Issuance Procedure (※Depending on the situation, it usually takes 1-2 weeks)
A. An Intending entrant to Korea (both Koreans and Foreigners) requests Korean domestic companies (partners) to cooperate in quarantine exemption.
B. The Korean domestic enterprise shall request the official cooperation document to the relevant central government departments such as the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), etc. (Contract the department with high business relevance or the international cooperation department on the phone line.)
< Relevant ministries by sector >
MOTIE (for major manufacturing and mid-sized enterprises), The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (for culture and sports), The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (for agriculture, livestock and food), The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (for construction and transportation), The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, The Financial Services Commissions, The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (for
small and medium enterprises), The Ministry of Science and ICT (for IT), The Ministry of Education (for educational-industrial cooperation)
C. If the request is evaluated as for the “important business purpose”, the relevant department sends an official request to the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(The applicant will be notified of the result.)
D. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sends an official note to the Consulate General in LA.
E. After the Applicant (Intending Entrant to Korea) confirms the arrival of the official note with the Consulate General by phone (213-385-9300) or email (consul-la@mofa.go.kr), and complete filling out FOUR other documents including quarantine exemption certificate form, he or she visits the Consulate to receive a quarantine exemption certificate (Exception to advance appointment allowed in case of emergency.) or sends the documents through email (consul-la@mofa.go.kr).
3. Major Contents of Quarantine Exemption Application (written by Korean domestic enterprises)
- (Information of the Domestic Enterprise): sales and export figures, exporting country, etc.
- (Information of the entrant to Korea): major business areas of the company, sales, Internet site, information on domestic entry guarantor, the period of visit, residential address in Korea, etc.
- (Details of Important Business): contract amount/volume, technical consultation/investment details, the relationship between local companies and domestic enterprises (import figures, etc.)
- Attached relevant supporting documents
4. Documents submitted to the Consulate General by the Applicant
- Fill out THREE exemption certificate forms and “Quarantine Exemption Agreement”
(Files can be downloaded on the notice of the COVID-19 bulletin on the LA Consulate General’s website.
- A copy of the passport - A copy of the flight ticket
5. Other instructions
Even if the applicant receives a quarantine exemption certificate, he or she must undergo COVID-19 diagnostic testing at the airport screening center. If the test result is negative, the applicant then shall install a self-diagnosis app and be actively monitored (receiving a call once a day).
Reference Contacts of Relevant Ministries and Departments for Issuance of Quarantine Exemption Certificate
Ministry Department Contacts
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Entergy (MOTIE)
Semiconductor and Display Division
044-203-4272 044-203-4278 Ministry of Culture, Sports and
Tourism (MCST)
Emergency and Security
Management Bureau 044-203-2290 Ministry of Agriculture, Food
and Rural Affairs (MAFRA)
COVID-19 Emergency
Response Team (Food) 044-201-2116
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
(MOLIT)
Overseas Construction
Supporting Division 044-201-3527 Ministry of Oceans and
Fisheries (MOF)
COVID-19 Emergency Response Team
044-200-6107 044-200-6108 Financial Services Commissions
(FSC) Emergency Finance Division 02-2100-1653
Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS)
International Cooperation Division
042-481-8903 042-481-1626 Ministry of Science and ICT
(MSIT) ICT Industry Policy Division 044-202-6221 044-202-6214 Ministry of Education (MOE) Education Policy for Employment
Affairs Division 044-203-6313
-The End-
