Foreign residents are getting more interested in whether they could be waived from quarantine when they reenter Korea once they are vaccinated in Korea and then visited their mother country.

Quarantine exemption for the foreign residents vaccinated in the country

The people who completed vaccination are the people who passed 14 days after the 2ndvaccination that requires 2 shots or after the 1st vaccination that requires 1 shot. In order to be recognized as a complete vaccination, it applies only to those who are vaccinated in the same country and enter Korea after two weeks have passed.

This is according to the new standard applied from August 30. Thus, you are waived from quarantine if you reenter Korea on September 16 after you completed the whole vaccination by September 1 and then visited your mother country. However, if you reenter before September 15, you should go through quarantine.

How to prove you completed the whole vaccination?

There are 3 ways to prove:▲online ▲mobile ▲ID sticker

Online: Log in the KDCA homepage (https://nip.kdca.go.kr/irgd/civil.do?MnLv1=1), self-authentication, and print the certificate.

Mobile: Use KDCA apps, ‘COOV’

ID sticker: Visit the nearest Community Service Center and receive the ID sticker and paper certificate.

Requirement for the PCR test?

Even though you completed the whole vaccination, you are required to take the PCR test total 3 times when you reenter after departure. The number of the test increased from the past 2 to 3 now as a measure to prevent the spread of subclinical infection.

Therefore foreigners who want to enter Korea need to take the 1stPCR test before entry and submit the test certificate upon entry, the 2ndtest at the public health center in your resident area, and the 3rdtest within 6 or 7 days after entry.

You need to stay in your residence and should not delete the self-quarantine app until the negative test result is confirmed. Although you submitted the negative PCR test result upon entry, if your 2ndand 3rdtest results turn out positive, you become a confirmed case immediately.

If medical observations are found negative through all 3 times and 14 days passed after entry, you are discharged from medical observation after 12 pm next day.

JunWook Kwon, the director of the National Institute of Health, mentioned on August 27, “The standard change for quarantine exemption has been made to 2 weeks after entry and complete vaccination is for entrants’ convenience and to increase administrative efficiency. To screen out breakthrough infections early among vaccinated entrants from overseas, we are adding the within 1day PCR test after entry and will reinforce the prevention of spread by subclinical infection in local communities.”

Darren Kim