After completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination (doses 1 and 2), you can receive a booster shot (3rd dose) once a set amount of time has passed. Foreigners with an alien registration number, as well as refugees, can get vaccinated free of charge, just like Korean nationals, so there is no need to worry.
Current notice: This page covers the 3rd booster dose. For the latest vaccination schedules and eligibility — including the 2024-2025 seasonal COVID-19 programme — please check the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) COVID-19 Vaccination website or call the helpline at 1339.
Who Can Get the Booster
- Age: 18 and older
- Foreigners with an alien registration number (including those exempt from registration): eligible for free vaccination on the same terms as Korean nationals
- Long-term foreign residents without an alien registration number: visit your local community health centre (보건소, bogeon-so) to receive a temporary ID number, then apply for vaccination (bring your passport or other ID)
How Long You Need to Wait
| Group | Earliest you can get the booster |
|---|---|
| General population (18+) | 3 months (from day 91) after completing primary vaccination |
| Immunocompromised individuals | 2 months (from day 61) after completing primary vaccination |
| Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine recipients | 2 months (from day 61) after completing primary vaccination |
Once the waiting period has passed, you can book at any time.
If You Received Doses 1 and 2 Abroad
If you were vaccinated in another country, your vaccination history may not appear in the Korean online system. In that case, visit your local community health centre in person to register your overseas vaccination record and apply for the booster. Bring your overseas vaccination certificate along with your passport and alien registration card.
How to Book
1. Online booking (COVID-19 Vaccination Pre-registration System)
Go to the COVID-19 Vaccination Pre-registration System, log in with your alien registration number and date of birth, then choose a date and vaccination site.
2. Same-day leftover vaccine (via KakaoTalk or Naver)
This option lets you get vaccinated the same day using doses left over from cancellations. Open the KakaoTalk or Naver app, search for “잔여 백신” (leftover vaccine), find a nearby vaccination site with available doses, and apply.
3. Walk in or call your community health centre
If online booking feels difficult, you can visit your local community health centre in person or call them to make a reservation.
Help and Enquiries
- KDCA helpline: 1339 (24 hours, Korean)
- Immigration Contact Center (1345): 1345 (multilingual support available)
- Local government COVID-19 vaccination helpline numbers: listed by region on the KDCA COVID-19 Vaccination website
Numbers, schedules, and eligibility criteria can change over time. Before booking, please confirm the latest information by calling 1345 or contacting your local community health centre.