Korea Tax Refund Guide for Foreign Tourists (2026)

The short answer: show your passport at a participating “Tax Refund” store, keep the tax-refund voucher and keep eligible goods new and unused. If tax is deducted at checkout, you used an immediate refund. If you paid the full tax-inclusive price, follow the voucher’s provider instructions and complete any required export confirmation before receiving the general refund.

Traveler requesting a tax refund — AI-generated illustrative scene.

Checked July 21, 2026

The current Korea Tourism Organization guide sets the general minimum purchase at KRW 15,000. Eligible foreign visitors generally stay in Korea for no more than six months and export the purchased goods within three months. Immediate refund is available at participating stores when one transaction is at least KRW 15,000 but under KRW 1 million, with total immediate-refund purchases of KRW 5 million or less during the trip.

First: duty free and tax refund are not the same

System	What you pay	What to do later
Duty-free store	Eligible taxes are excluded at purchase	Follow duty-free pickup and customs rules; do not claim the same purchase again
Immediate tax refund	Tax is deducted at a participating store after passport verification	Keep the receipt and goods until departure
General tax refund	You pay the tax-inclusive price	Use the voucher’s provider channel and complete export confirmation when required

Who is usually eligible?

For ordinary goods, the current VisitKorea guide lists these core conditions:

you are a non-resident foreign visitor staying in Korea for up to six months;
or you are an eligible overseas Korean who has lived abroad for at least two years and is staying for three months or less;
the purchase is at least KRW 15,000;
the goods will leave Korea within three months of purchase;
the goods remain new, unopened and unused until export when customs verification applies.

Diplomats, US military personnel in Korea, people employed in Korea, long-term stayers and purchases made under a corporate name or by an agent are listed as ineligible in the KTO guide. Medical and accommodation refunds have separate provider and facility requirements; this article focuses on ordinary shopping goods.

Eligibility is not automatic just because you have a foreign passport. Stay status, purchase type, store participation and export conditions all matter. Ask the store before paying.

What goods qualify?

KTO lists taxable goods such as clothing, shoes, bags, accessories, cosmetics, perfume, home appliances and ginseng as examples. Items that are opened or used before export are not eligible. Services that customs cannot visually verify—such as cooked food or massage services—are excluded from the ordinary-goods process.

For K-beauty shopping, use the Olive Young Central Myeongdong guide to distinguish the correct store and ask for the refund at checkout. Keep skincare and cosmetics sealed if they are part of a refund claim that may be inspected.

At the store: the five things to do

Look for a participating Tax Refund or Tax Free sign before shopping.
Present your original passport or the store’s accepted passport-verification method before payment.
Say you want the tourist tax refund.
Check whether tax was deducted immediately or whether you received a general-refund voucher.
Keep the item, purchase receipt and refund document together.

A normal card receipt is not always the tax-refund document. If the voucher is missing or incomplete, resolve it with the store before leaving. Another branch may not be able to reconstruct the sale.

Immediate tax refund: the simplest path

At a participating store, passport eligibility is checked and the tax is deducted from the price you pay. The current limit is:

at least KRW 15,000 in one transaction;
less than KRW 1 million in one transaction;
KRW 5 million or less in total immediate-refund purchases during the trip.

Confirm the final charged amount and receipt. The word “tax refund” on a store sign does not guarantee that every register, item or transaction will support immediate deduction.

General tax refund: choose the provider path

If you paid the full tax-inclusive price and received a refund voucher, the available methods can include a downtown counter, provider kiosk, mobile service, airport counter or airport kiosk. Follow the company named on the voucher because downtown counters may serve only their own provider.

Downtown refund

KTO says downtown staffed counters or kiosks can process eligible purchases up to KRW 6 million per transaction. You normally need the passport, refund voucher and an international credit card. A downtown payment does not remove the requirement to complete the required customs export confirmation when leaving Korea.

Airport refund

Bring your passport, refund voucher and purchased goods. Use the airport kiosk and visit customs if the system selects the goods for inspection. After export confirmation, receive the approved refund through the relevant counter, kiosk or provider method.

If any refund goods are in checked baggage, read the Incheon Airport baggage sequence before check-in. Sending the bag away first can make a requested inspection impossible.

Mobile or mailbox refund

Some providers allow a mobile application or a mailbox at a departure point without a staffed counter. Complete the purchaser and payment details exactly as instructed on the voucher. Refund channel, processing time and supported card or wallet can vary by provider.

How much will you get back?

Do not calculate the refund as a guaranteed 10% of the shelf price. The final amount can differ because the retail price, taxable portion and refund-provider handling structure vary. Use the amount shown on the official voucher or provider screen before confirming.

For card refunds, keep the voucher until the credit arrives. A refund may appear under the provider’s name rather than the store’s name. If it is late, contact the provider printed on the document and then the card issuer.

Airport checklist

passport;
boarding pass or check-in confirmation;
tax-refund voucher and store receipt;
new, unopened purchased goods;
the international card or wallet selected for the refund;
extra time before departure.

Keep receipts sorted by refund provider. If the airport is crowded or a kiosk rejects one document, this makes it faster to identify the correct counter.

Common mistakes

Asking after leaving the store: request the tax-refund document at checkout.
Opening the goods: items may need to remain unused for customs verification.
Mixing up duty free and tax refund: the same purchase is not refunded twice.
Throwing away the provider voucher: the card receipt alone may be insufficient.
Checking the bag too early: keep refund goods available until the airport process is complete.
Assuming every refund is cash: the available card, wallet or currency options vary.
Expecting the full VAT: use the approved amount shown by the provider.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum purchase for a Korea tourist tax refund?

The current KTO guide lists KRW 15,000 for eligible ordinary goods. The store must participate and the other eligibility conditions still apply.

Can I use tax-refund cosmetics during the trip?

Goods that are opened or used before export are listed as ineligible. Keep claimed products sealed until the export process is complete.

Do I always need to visit customs?

Use the airport kiosk or provider instruction first. If the system selects the goods for inspection, present the passport, goods and refund proof to customs.

Can the refund go to a foreign card?

Many provider and airport flows support international cards, but the available method and timing depend on the provider and card. Keep the voucher until the credit is confirmed.

Can I get a refund on restaurant meals?

Cooked food is listed as a service that is not visually verifiable for the ordinary-goods refund process. Special medical and accommodation schemes have separate requirements.

Official sources

Update history: first verified edition prepared July 21, 2026. Store participation, provider methods and airport locations can change; follow the current voucher, airport signage and customs instructions.