Seoul to Vancouver (ICN–YVR) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

South Korean passport holders need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to Canada. Apply at canada.ca/eta for CAD 7 (about $5). Processing is usually within minutes, sometimes up to 72 hours. The eTA is valid for 5 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and allows stays of up to 6 months per entry. If entering Canada by land from the US, no eTA is needed.

Passport must be valid for the duration of your stay (Canada has no strict 6-month validity rule, but matching your intended departure date is the minimum). At the border, a CBSA officer determines your length of stay, up to 6 months. Have your return ticket, accommodation details, and proof of funds ready. For stays beyond 6 months, apply for a visitor record extension at least 30 days before your current status expires, online through IRCC.

Direct flights from Seoul Incheon to Vancouver run about 10 hours on Korean Air, Air Canada, and WestJet. Seoul to Toronto runs about 13 hours on Korean Air and Air Canada. Canada uses the Canadian dollar (CAD), trading at roughly 1,400 KRW per CAD 1. Contactless payment works everywhere. No mandatory vaccinations. Canada has large Korean communities in Vancouver (especially along North Road in Burnaby) and Toronto (Koreatown on Bloor Street and North York). Transit from Vancouver Airport to downtown takes 26 minutes on the Canada Line SkyTrain for CAD 4.50.

AREX (Airport Railroad Express) runs two services from Seoul Station: the Direct Train (43 min, ₩11,000, reserved seats) and the All-Stop train (66 min, ₩4,550, unreserved). Both trains serve T1 first, then T2; confirm which terminal your airline uses before boarding.Limousine buses depart from major Seoul neighborhoods and hotels (₩16,000–18,000, 60–90 min depending on traffic). KAL and LIMOUSINE services are reliable. Taxis from central Seoul cost ₩65,000–80,000 and take 60–90 minutes. Deluxe (black) taxis are pricier but English-speaking drivers are more common.

The Canada Line runs from the airport to Waterfront/downtown in 26 minutes for CAD $4.45 on Compass card. Trains depart every 6–8 minutes from the International Terminal station (basement level). Taxis queue outside arrivals; metered fares to downtown are CAD $35–45. Uber and Lyft have a designated pick-up zone.Rental car desks are in the terminal. The VALET shuttle also connects to other transit points on Sea Island. YVR is particularly well-organised for transfers; pre-clearance facility clears U.S.-bound passengers through U.S. customs before departure.

Temperate oceanic climate. One of the mildest in Canada. Winters (November–March) are wet and overcast at 2–8°C. Snow is infrequent at sea level, but when it does fall, the city struggles and the airport can see delays. Fog in winter and early spring is a more consistent disruption risk. Summers (June–August) are warm and dry at 20–27°C with very little rain.

Wildfire smoke from BC and Alberta can reduce visibility at the airport during August and September. Pack rain gear for autumn through spring. Summers are dry and clear.