VAT Refund on Cosmetic Procedures in Korea (2026 Update)
Quick answer: Foreign patients can no longer reclaim VAT on cosmetic procedures in Korea: the special refund scheme ended on January 1, 2026. Cosmetic treatments now carry 10% VAT with no refund at the airport. Shopping tax refunds on goods still exist separately. Dernia Clinic Myeongdong quotes prices in KRW excluding VAT, so add 10% to budget your total.
- Cosmetic VAT refund: Ended on January 1, 2026
- VAT on cosmetic treatments: 10%, not refundable to foreign patients
- Shopping tax refunds: Still available for eligible goods; a separate scheme
- Budget rule: Add 10% to VAT-exclusive quotes
- Ask for: A VAT-inclusive total and an itemized receipt
- Check: Current rules before you travel, as tax policy can change
The short version
For several years, eligible foreign visitors could reclaim the VAT paid on certain cosmetic procedures at registered clinics in Korea. That special scheme ended on January 1, 2026. If you have aesthetic treatment in Korea now, the 10% VAT is part of the cost and cannot be refunded at the airport or through tax-refund kiosks. General shopping tax refunds on goods still exist, but they are a separate system and do not cover treatments.
What changed
| Before 2026 | From January 1, 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| VAT on cosmetic procedures | 10%, refundable to eligible foreign patients at registered clinics | 10%, no refund for foreign patients |
| How you claimed | Refund paperwork from the clinic, claimed on departure | Not applicable |
| Shopping tax refunds on goods | Available at participating stores | Still available, subject to store and purchase conditions |
Some blog posts, forums and older travel guides still describe the cosmetic VAT refund. If you read about it, check the date. If anyone promises a VAT refund on treatment in 2026, ask exactly what they mean.
What it means for your budget
Many Korean clinics, including Dernia, quote prices excluding VAT. To estimate your total, add 10%.
| Treatment | From price | 10% VAT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pico toning(1 session) | ₩69,000 | ₩6,900 | ₩75,900 |
| Rejuran Healer(2cc) | ₩259,000 | ₩25,900 | ₩284,900 |
| Ulthera Prime(100 lines) | ₩390,000 | ₩39,000 | ₩429,000 |
| Thermage FLX(300 shots) | ₩990,000 | ₩99,000 | ₩1,089,000 |
Prices are in Korean won (KRW), exclude 10% VAT, and are confirmed at your consultation. Full price lists are on our price guides.
Worked example: a three-treatment visit
Ulthera Prime (100 lines, ₩390,000), one area of Wrinkle Botox(₩39,000) and Rejuran Healer (2cc, ₩259,000) come to ₩688,000 before tax. Adding 10% VAT (₩68,800) gives ₩756,800. Before 2026, part of that tax could be reclaimed on departure; now it cannot, so older price comparisons that subtracted VAT are out of date.
How VAT applies to clinic treatments
In Korea, many medically necessary services are exempt from VAT, while cosmetic and aesthetic treatments carry 10% VAT. If your visit includes both, for example a medical skin check and a cosmetic laser, your receipt may show them differently. Ask the clinic to itemize your bill so you know exactly what you paid for.
Shopping tax refunds still exist
If you buy K-beauty products, clothing or other goods at participating tax-free stores, you may still be able to get a tax refund or an immediate tax-free price, subject to minimum purchase amounts and other conditions set by the store and the refund operator. Ask at the counter and keep your receipts. This is separate from treatment costs. Our guide to K-beauty shopping after treatment covers what is safe to use on freshly treated skin.
Comparing prices fairly in 2026
- Compare totals, not headlines. One clinic may quote with VAT and another without. Convert both to a VAT-inclusive total.
- Compare like with like. Check the device, product, brand and amount: shots, lines, cc or units. See shots, lines and cc explained.
- Ask what is included. Consultation, numbing and soothing care may or may not be part of the price.
- Be wary of very low prices. Check that products are genuine and the treatment is performed by a doctor. Our clinic checklist helps.
Is Korea still good value?
For many treatments, it can be. Prices in Seoul are competitive, many devices and products are made in Korea, and unit-based pricing makes costs easy to see. The end of the refund simply means you should budget for the full VAT-inclusive amount and compare totals honestly, rather than counting on a refund that no longer exists.
Paying and keeping records
Paying in Korean won usually avoids the extra conversion markup that can apply when a card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency; check with your bank about foreign transaction fees. Travel insurance generally does not cover elective cosmetic treatment, so keep your receipts and treatment details for your own records and for any doctor who continues your care at home.
Before-you-pay checklist
- Ask whether your quote includes VAT
- Request an itemized receipt
- Check which payment methods are accepted, and any card fees from your bank for foreign transactions
- Keep receipts and treatment details for your records
- Verify current tax rules close to your travel date, as policies can change
Tax policy is set by the Korean government and can change. Use this guide as a summary, and confirm current rules with Korea's National Tax Service or your clinic before you travel. For how billing works at Dernia, see payment and tax and what currency are prices in? Planning a trip? Read our information for international patients, or book a consultation for a written, itemized quote.
Not sure which treatment is right for you?
Tell us your concerns and your travel dates. A doctor examines your skin in person, explains your options in English, and confirms the plan and price before anything is done.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers from our medical team. Still unsure? Ask a doctor or browse all patient questions .
Can I still get a VAT refund on cosmetic procedures in Korea?
No. The special VAT refund for foreign patients' cosmetic procedures ended on January 1, 2026. Cosmetic treatments now carry 10% VAT, which is not refundable. See can I get a tax refund on skin treatments in Korea?
Can I still get a tax refund on shopping in Korea?
Yes. Tax refunds on eligible goods bought at participating stores still exist under a separate scheme, subject to purchase conditions. Ask at the store and keep your receipts.
Are prices at Dernia VAT-inclusive?
Prices are quoted in Korean won (KRW) and exclude 10% VAT. Your consultation quote shows the final amount, and you can ask for a VAT-inclusive total at any time.
Why do some websites still mention the VAT refund?
The scheme ran for several years before it ended, so older articles still describe it. Always check the publication date and confirm current rules before you budget.
Does VAT apply to every treatment?
Cosmetic and aesthetic treatments carry 10% VAT. Some medically necessary services may be exempt. Your itemized receipt shows how each item was charged.
Keep exploring
Related treatments, prices and guides
Payment and pricing
- Payment and tax — how billing works at Dernia
- Price guides — from-prices for every treatment
- Can I get a tax refund on skin treatments?
- What currency are prices in, and is VAT included?
Travel guides
- K-ETA and e-Arrival Card in 2026 — entry checklist
- Incheon Airport to Myeongdong — getting here
- Myeongdong area guide — around the clinic
Planning
- Shots, lines and cc explained — compare quotes fairly
- How to choose a skin clinic in Seoul
- Treatment packages — combined plans with a single from-price
Plan your visit to Dernia Clinic Myeongdong
English consultations, clear prices in Korean won and treatment plans built around your time in Seoul. Tell us your dates and we will suggest a schedule that fits.
Individual results vary. Suitability, dosage and final price are confirmed by a licensed doctor at your consultation. Prices are in Korean won (KRW) and exclude 10% VAT. Medical disclaimer