🧭 K-ETA Explained: Who Needs It and How to Apply

What K-ETA is

The Korea Electronic Travel Authorization screens visitors from countries that normally do not need a visa. You submit your passport details, a photo, travel information and answers to a short questionnaire online or through the official app. Approval is linked to your passport electronically, so there is nothing to print, although keeping a copy of the approval is sensible.

Once approved, a K-ETA is generally valid for multiple entries over a period of about three years, or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. The permitted length of each stay depends on your nationality and is set by the visa-free agreement, not by K-ETA.

Temporary exemption for many nationalities

To boost tourism, South Korea has temporarily exempted travelers from a large list of countries and territories from K-ETA, through December 31, 2026. At the time of this review the list covered about 67 places, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Australia, most of Europe and many countries in Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific. Check the current list on k-eta.go.kr before you travel.

An exemption removes the K-ETA requirement only, and visitors who skip K-ETA must complete the free online e-Arrival card instead. You still need a valid passport, a return or onward ticket, and to satisfy immigration officers on arrival. Because exemption lists and end dates can be extended or changed, confirm on the official K-ETA website (k-eta.go.kr) shortly before you travel. Our visa checker on this site shows the status we have on file for each country.

The e-Arrival card (required if you have no K-ETA)

Since January 1, 2026, foreign visitors who do not hold an approved K-ETA must complete an online e-Arrival card. It is free, is submitted at the official site (e-arrivalcard.go.kr) up to three days before arrival, and can still be filled in on your phone until immigration inspection. Save the QR code it gives you.

Holding a K-ETA lets you skip the e-Arrival card, so some travelers from exempt countries still choose to apply for K-ETA (fee about 10,000 KRW). Beware of look-alike websites: the official card never asks for payment.

How to apply if you are not exempt

Apply through the official website or the official K-ETA mobile app. Be careful: many look-alike sites charge extra service fees. The official fee is a modest amount, currently around 10,000 KRW, paid online by card.

Apply at least 72 hours before departure. Assessment typically takes 72 hours or less but can take longer, and there is no express service, so do not leave it to the last minute. The fee is non-refundable even if the application is denied. Prepare a clear passport data-page scan and a recent color photo with a plain background, following the instructions in the application.

Enter your name exactly as it appears in the machine-readable line of your passport. Small typos are the most common cause of rejections and of trouble at check-in.

Common mistakes

Assuming you can skip both K-ETA and the e-Arrival card is a frequent mistake for visitors from exempt countries: the exemption covers K-ETA only. Assuming a transit stop does not require K-ETA is another common error. Whether you need it for a layover depends on whether you leave the airport and on your nationality, so check the current transit rules.

Another common issue is applying through an unofficial site and paying two or three times the actual fee. Always start from k-eta.go.kr or the app in the official store.

Finally, remember that K-ETA does not replace a visa if you plan to study, work or stay beyond the permitted visa-free period.

Prices, schedules and entry rules change. The figures below are approximate and reflect information available when this guide was last reviewed; always confirm with the official source before you travel.