Tax refund eligibility: maximum stay in Korea for a foreign national
Eligibility runs on non-residence and length of stay, not on whether you hold a residence card — which is the misconception in both directions. Holding one does not automatically disqualify you, and a foreign passport does not automatically qualify you either. Since passport details are what the merchant checks, a long-stayer should establish their actual position rather than keep claiming by habit.
- Applies to
- Foreign nationals shopping in Korea, deciding whether they qualify as a non-resident tourist
- Review cadence
- Checked once a year
What we have recorded
- 2026-09-28under 6 months
The stated basis for foreign nationals is a stay in Korea of under six months, within the non-resident tourist definition. Korean nationals resident abroad for two years or more can qualify on a temporary return where the conditions are met. The residence card itself is not the test.
Incheon Airport Customs — tax refund eligibility guidance
One reading so far. This becomes a history the first time the figure moves while we are watching — which is the part that cannot be reconstructed later.