{"id":2182,"date":"2025-12-22T14:55:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T05:55:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/?p=2182"},"modified":"2025-12-22T14:55:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T05:55:15","slug":"korea-beauty-tax-refund-2026-policy-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/korea-beauty-tax-refund-2026-policy-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Korea Beauty Tax Refund\u00a02026 Policy Change: Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The highlight of any trip to South Korea is undoubtedly visiting the world-class clinics. For years, international visitors have benefited from the&nbsp;<strong>Korea Beauty Tax Refund<\/strong>&nbsp;system, which allows you to get a refund on Value Added Tax (VAT) for cosmetic procedures. However, the Korean government recently announced that&nbsp;<strong>this special tax refund for beauty-related medical services will end on December 31, 2025<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you worried that your favorite treatments will become 10% more expensive? Or are you confused about whether you can still get a refund during your upcoming trip?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don&#8217;t worry! In this guide, we\u2019ll break down exactly what is changing with the\u00a0<strong>Korea Beauty Tax Refund<\/strong>, the requirements to claim it before the deadline, and how you can continue to find the most reasonable prices using the\u00a0<strong>YeoTi<\/strong>\u00a0app\u2014even after the policy ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yeoshin.co.kr\/en?utm_source=Owned&amp;utm_medium=2501222_owned_WEB_en_EN&amp;utm_campaign=251222_none_SEO&amp;utm_content=article\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/en\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/3\/files\/2025\/12\/Gemini_Generated_Image_iw5vujiw5vujiw5v.png\" alt=\"Korea Beauty Tax Refund 2026\" class=\"wp-image-2183\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/12\/Gemini_Generated_Image_iw5vujiw5vujiw5v.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/12\/Gemini_Generated_Image_iw5vujiw5vujiw5v-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/12\/Gemini_Generated_Image_iw5vujiw5vujiw5v-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/12\/Gemini_Generated_Image_iw5vujiw5vujiw5v-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/12\/Gemini_Generated_Image_iw5vujiw5vujiw5v-400x400.png 400w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/12\/Gemini_Generated_Image_iw5vujiw5vujiw5v-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/12\/Gemini_Generated_Image_iw5vujiw5vujiw5v-832x832.png 832w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Korea Beauty Tax Refund 2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is the Korea Beauty Tax Refund?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<strong>Korea Beauty Tax Refund<\/strong>&nbsp;(VAT Refund) is a system where foreign tourists can receive a refund of the 10% tax included in the cost of plastic surgery or dermatological treatments at participating clinics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Why is it ending?<\/strong>: Introduced in 2016 to boost medical tourism, the government has decided that the goal has been achieved as the number of international patients continues to rise.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Deadline<\/strong>: The special tax refund applies only to\u00a0<strong>payments made on or before December 31, 2025<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Important Note<\/strong>: Even if you fly home in January 2026, you can still get a refund as long as the\u00a0<strong>payment was settled within 2025<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Requirements and Eligible Treatments (Until 2025)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To claim your refund before the policy expires, you must meet specific criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>[Requirements for the Tax Refund]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Eligibility<\/strong>: Non-resident foreigners (on short-term visas) staying for less than 6 months.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Minimum Spend<\/strong>: A payment of\u00a0<strong>15,000 KRW or more<\/strong>\u00a0at a single medical institution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Timeline<\/strong>: You must depart Korea within\u00a0<strong>3 months<\/strong>\u00a0of the procedure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Clinics<\/strong>: Only clinics registered with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and partnered with a tax refund service provider are eligible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>[Treatment Eligibility Comparison]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><td>Category<\/td><td>Eligible (Until Dec 2025)<\/td><td>2026 Status<\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Plastic Surgery<\/strong><\/td><td>Double eyelid, Rhinoplasty, Liposuction, etc.<\/td><td><strong>Ineligible<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Dermatology<\/strong><\/td><td>Ulthera, Shurink, Rejuran, etc.<\/td><td><strong>Ineligible<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Cosmetic Dentistry<\/strong><\/td><td>Teeth Whitening<\/td><td><strong>Ineligible<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>General Medical<\/strong><\/td><td>Fillings, Implants, Braces<\/td><td>Always Ineligible<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Shopping<\/strong><\/td><td>Cosmetics (Olive Young), Clothes, Electronics<\/td><td><strong>Remains Eligible<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pricing Info<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Will Korea&#8217;s beauty treatments become more expensive starting in 2026?&nbsp;<strong>Some clinics are already preparing &#8220;VAT-included&#8221; special event prices or discounts equivalent to the refund amount to support their international patients<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where the&nbsp;<strong>YeoTi<\/strong>&nbsp;app becomes your best travel companion!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even without the&nbsp;<strong>Korea Beauty Tax Refund<\/strong>, you can find incredibly reasonable &#8220;Event Prices&#8221; directly on&nbsp;<strong>YeoTi<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Benefits of YeoTi<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Transparent Pricing<\/strong>: All treatments are listed with\u00a0<strong>VAT included<\/strong>, so you won&#8217;t be surprised by extra charges at the counter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Easy Comparison<\/strong>: Compare real-time prices across popular areas like Gangnam, Hongdae, and Myeongdong at a glance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>One-Stop Booking<\/strong>: Manage everything from price checks to booking and payment within one app.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yeoshin.co.kr\/en?utm_source=Owned&amp;utm_medium=2501222_owned_WEB_en_EN&amp;utm_campaign=251222_none_SEO&amp;utm_content=article\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"\/en\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/3\/files\/2025\/12\/pp78vzxcwi0-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2184\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/12\/pp78vzxcwi0-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/12\/pp78vzxcwi0-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/12\/pp78vzxcwi0-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/12\/pp78vzxcwi0-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/12\/pp78vzxcwi0-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/12\/pp78vzxcwi0-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/12\/pp78vzxcwi0-832x555.jpg 832w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/12\/pp78vzxcwi0-1248x832.jpg 1248w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/12\/pp78vzxcwi0.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Side Effects and Precautions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are receiving a treatment in 2025, follow these steps to ensure you get your money back:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Get the Certificate<\/strong>: Present your passport at the clinic and request a\u00a0<strong>&#8220;Medical Service Sales Certificate&#8221;<\/strong>\u00a0upon payment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Refund Locations<\/strong>: Visit refund kiosks or counters at major airports (Incheon, Gimpo) or city centers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Accuracy<\/strong>: Without that specific certificate from the clinic, you cannot claim a refund at the airport. Always double-check before leaving the hospital.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In conclusion, to take advantage of the&nbsp;<strong>Korea Beauty Tax Refund<\/strong>&nbsp;for medical services, you must&nbsp;<strong>book and pay by December 31, 2025<\/strong>. However, the high quality of Korean skincare remains the same regardless of tax policy changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moving forward, instead of the hassle of collecting paper forms for small refunds, the smartest way to travel is to use&nbsp;<strong>YeoTi<\/strong>&nbsp;to find the best all-inclusive event prices from the start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yeoshin.co.kr\/en?utm_source=Owned&amp;utm_medium=2501222_owned_WEB_en_EN&amp;utm_campaign=251222_none_SEO&amp;utm_content=article\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Check YeoTi now for the latest beauty events and secure the best deals\u2014even after the tax refund policy ends!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>FAQ<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Q: I am getting surgery in January 2026. Will I get a refund?<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A: No, the special exemption for beauty medical services ends at the end of 2025, so payments made in 2026 are not eligible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Q: Does this mean I can&#8217;t get tax refunds at Olive Young anymore?<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A: No, the general tax refund for shopping (cosmetics, clothes, etc.) will continue unchanged.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Q: Can I get a refund if I pay in 2025 but leave in 2026?<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A: Yes, eligibility is based on the\u00a0<strong>payment date<\/strong>, so as long as you settle the bill within 2025, you are eligible for the refund upon departure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Want to explore trusted Korean clinics?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out&nbsp;<strong><a>YeoTi<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 the all-in-one Korean aesthetic app \ud83c\uddf0\ud83c\uddf7\ud83d\udcf1<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Over&nbsp;<strong>900,000 verified treatment reviews<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transparent local pricing for foreigners<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consultation and booking available in Japanese and English<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yeoshin.co.kr\/en?utm_source=Owned&amp;utm_medium=241025_owned_WEB_en_EN&amp;utm_campaign=241025_none_SEO&amp;utm_content=article\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"885\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/3\/files\/2025\/02\/IMG_9489-1024x885.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1322\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/02\/IMG_9489-1024x885.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/02\/IMG_9489-300x259.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/02\/IMG_9489-768x663.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/02\/IMG_9489-486x420.jpg 486w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/02\/IMG_9489-696x601.jpg 696w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/02\/IMG_9489-1068x923.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/02\/IMG_9489-534x462.jpg 534w, https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/files\/2025\/02\/IMG_9489.jpg 1425w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>REAL REVIEWS FROM CUSTOMERS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Curious about treatment reviews or pricing?&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yeoshin.co.kr\/en?utm_source=Owned&amp;utm_medium=241025_owned_WEB_en_EN&amp;utm_campaign=241025_none_SEO&amp;utm_content=article\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here to find out more.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>RECOMMENDED ARTICLES<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out a variety of informative articles from YeoTi right&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/\">here<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The highlight of any trip to South Korea is undoubtedly visiting the world-class clinics. For years, international visitors&hellip;","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2183,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[26,25,27],"tags":[72,74,76,156],"class_list":{"0":"post-2182","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wiki","8":"category-treatment-info","9":"category-tips","10":"tag-botox","11":"tag-filler","12":"tag-potenza","13":"tag-rejuran","14":"cs-entry"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2182"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2182\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2185,"href":"https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2182\/revisions\/2185"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.yeoshin.co.kr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}