How to Apply for Inpatient Treatment in Korea (2026 Guide)

Applying for inpatient treatment in Korea follows a set sequence: inquiry, record submission, remote review (pre-arrival review), hospital booking and contract, visa application, and entry—and you can receive a written opinion within 5 business days of your records being complete.

Key Summary

• The application process for inpatient treatment follows these steps: inquiry → remote review (pre-arrival review) → hospital booking/contract → visa → entry and treatment → recovery and return home → follow-up care.
• For the remote review (pre-arrival review), once you upload imaging (DICOM), biopsy results, and diagnostic records, you will receive a written opinion within 5 business days from the date all records are complete. The fee is KRW 1,000,000 (about US$730), which is deducted from your treatment cost if you proceed with a treatment contract.
• Short-term treatment of 90 days or less is applied for under the medical tourism visa C-3-3, while long-term treatment exceeding 90 days and accompanying family members are applied for under G-1-10.
• Korea's national health insurance does not apply to overseas patients, so treatment costs are generally paid out of pocket; hospitals typically collect a deposit before treatment and settle the final amount at discharge.
• Even after returning home, a multilingual handover document allows your local medical team to continue your care, and starting in May 2027, non-face-to-face (telemedicine) consultations for foreign patients will be officially permitted under Korean law.

What Is the Step-by-Step Process for Inpatient Applications?

1. The application process moves through fixed stages from submitting records to entering the country, with interpreters and a coordinator supporting you at every step.
2. Step 1, Inquiry: Contact the consultation desk and you will receive a reply within 24 hours; if you wish, a 30-minute video consultation can be arranged. Both the inquiry and consultation booking are free of charge.
3. Step 2, Remote review (pre-arrival review): Upload your imaging (DICOM), biopsy results, and diagnostic records, and medical staff at a Korean tertiary hospital will provide a written opinion in your language within 5 business days from the date all records are complete. The review is conducted by both medical oncology and surgical staff specializing in the relevant cancer type, who cross-check the same records to produce a single written opinion. The written opinion includes staging and treatability, recommended treatment approach, a comparison of three hospitals matching your condition, and a package estimate.
4. Step 3, Booking and contract: During a video consultation to review the written opinion, you finalize the hospital and treatment plan with your coordinator; once the hospital booking confirmation is issued, you pay the deposit amount listed on the estimate.
5. Step 4, Visa application: Based on the hospital's invitation letter and booking confirmation, you apply for a medical-purpose visa. We prepare the documents on your behalf, and the review period varies depending on the country and the relevant diplomatic mission.
6. Steps 5–6, Entry and treatment: Within about three days of arrival, necessary tests are completed and the treatment schedule and final estimate are confirmed; throughout the treatment period, a medical interpreter accompanies you to consultations, tests, and consent-form explanations.

What Documents and Records Are Required?

• The remote review (pre-arrival review) requires imaging (DICOM, up to 500MB per file), pathology/biopsy reports, diagnostic records, medication history, and genetic/biomarker test results. These can be submitted in any language, as we translate them into Korean before passing them to the medical team.
• For the visa application, the key supporting documents are an invitation letter issued by a registered institution authorized to host foreign patients, the hospital booking confirmation, the medical team's written opinion, your stay itinerary and accommodation details, and proof of financial capacity to cover costs.
• Institutions that host foreign patients must be registered with the Ministry of Health and Welfare under relevant law, and documents issued by such registered institutions serve as the basis for visa screening.
• For documents requiring your signature, such as consent forms for surgery, procedures, anesthesia, or blood transfusion, an interpreter will explain each sentence before you sign; if any part is unclear, you may postpone signing until you fully understand it.
• To file a claim with your home-country insurer, you will typically need an English-language medical bill receipt, an itemized statement, a diagnostic certificate, and admission/discharge confirmation. Since requirements vary by insurer, it is best to confirm the exact format needed before you travel.

How and When Should You Apply for a Visa?

• The visa application proceeds once the hospital booking is confirmed, and it is divided into two types depending on the length of stay.
• Treatment completed within 90 days is applied for under the medical tourism category C-3-3, covering cases such as examinations, surgery, short-course radiation therapy, or the first cycle of drug therapy.
• Treatment exceeding 90 days, along with accompanying family members, is applied for under G-1-10, which applies to longer stays such as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or cases requiring an extended post-treatment management period.
• If there is a possibility that treatment may extend longer than planned, it is safer to consider a long-term visa from the outset, or to prepare in advance for a change of visa status or an extension of stay after entry.
• Visa issuance and the review period are matters decided by the relevant diplomatic mission, and the hosting institution has no authority over this decision. It is recommended that you book your flight only after the visa has been issued.

FAQ — How Long Does It Take From Initial Inquiry to Entry Into Korea?

The timeline consists of 5 business days for the remote review (pre-arrival review), a few days for booking and contract, plus the visa review period. Because visa review periods vary significantly by country and diplomatic mission, the total time differs greatly from person to person. In urgent cases, we can adjust the order of steps where possible.

FAQ — How Are Costs Finalized?

The only amount fixed in advance is the remote review (pre-arrival review) fee of KRW 1,000,000 (about US$730), which is deducted from your treatment cost if you proceed with a contract. All other costs—treatment fees, hospital deposit, and concierge fees—are itemized individually in the estimate issued by the hospital. Because Korea's national health insurance does not apply to overseas patients, treatment costs are generally paid out of pocket.

Sources and Notes

• This article was written based on notes covering the treatment journey, remote review (pre-arrival review), medical visas, insurance and documentation, and frequently asked questions (sources: Ministry of Health and Welfare, Medical Korea, HiKorea, National Cancer Center Korea).
• This content is intended for general medical information purposes only. Diagnosis, treatment methods, and outcomes may vary depending on individual conditions. Accurate diagnosis and treatment decisions should always be made in consultation with a qualified medical professional.