Who needs a K-ETA for South Korea?

Travellers who must have a K-ETA

Since September 2021, nationals of countries that can visit the Republic of Korea without a visa must obtain an approved Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) before boarding a flight or ship to Korea. This applies to short visits such as tourism, visiting family or friends, attending events and business meetings.

The K-ETA is not a visa. It is a pre-travel check: once approved, it is valid for three years (or until your passport expires, if sooner) and can be used for multiple trips. If you get a new passport, you need a new K-ETA.

We recommend applying at least 72 hours before departure. Most decisions are issued within that time, but some applications take longer.

The 22 countries and territories exempt until 31 December 2026

To support tourism, Korea has temporarily exempted travellers from the following countries and territories from the K-ETA requirement. The exemption has already been extended more than once and is currently scheduled to end on 31 December 2026 (Korea Standard Time).

Should exempt travellers apply anyway? K-ETA or e-Arrival Card

Travellers who enter Korea without a valid K-ETA must complete Korea’s arrival card — online as the e-Arrival Card, from three days before arrival, or on paper at the airport. Holders of an approved K-ETA are exempt from it, on every trip while their K-ETA is valid. Our guide K-ETA, visa or e-Arrival Card compares the three.

So even if your country is on the exempt list, a K-ETA can make sense if you travel to Korea often, or if you plan trips in 2027 and beyond.

Who needs a visa instead

If your nationality is not visa-exempt for Korea, the K-ETA does not apply to you. You need a visa issued by a Korean embassy or consulate before you travel. The same applies to longer stays and to paid work, which a K-ETA does not cover.

Travellers who already hold a valid Korean visa or a Korean residence card do not need a K-ETA. Other travellers are exempt too: children aged 17 or under and adults aged 65 or over, transit passengers who do not pass through immigration, cruise passengers, on-duty crew, and holders of diplomatic, official or United Nations passports. See who is exempt from the K-ETA for every case, or ask our team.

What you need to apply

• A valid passport from a visa-free country
• An email address you check regularly
• The address where you will stay in Korea, and a phone number for it
• A recent passport-style photo and a scan or photo of your passport’s photo page

Our guided application form explains every question and shows where to find each answer in your passport.

How long can you stay with a K-ETA?

A K-ETA lets you visit Korea for short stays. The length of each stay depends on your nationality: most visa-free travellers can stay up to 90 days per visit, a few nationalities are allowed shorter stays, and Canadian citizens can stay up to six months. Each entry is decided by the immigration officer at the border.