K-ETA

K-ETA, visa or e-Arrival Card: which one do you need?

Three documents, three different purposes. Here is what each one is, who needs it, and how to tell which applies to your trip to Korea.

Updated 3 October 2026 · 6 min read

K-ETA: Pre-travel authorization for visa-free visitors
Visa: For visa-required nationals, work, study and long stays
e-Arrival Card: Arrival form for travellers without a K-ETA

The K-ETA in one minute

The Korea Electronic Travel Authorization is an online pre-travel check introduced in September 2021 for nationals of visa-free countries. You apply before your trip, and once approved it is valid for three years (or until your passport expires) for multiple short visits. It allows tourism, family visits, events and business meetings — never paid work.

When you need a visa instead

A K-ETA cannot replace a visa. You need a visa from a Korean embassy or consulate when:

your nationality is not visa-exempt for Korea;
you will work, study or stay longer than the visa-free period allows;
your K-ETA application has been refused.

Our overview of Korean visa types explains which category fits which purpose.

What the e-Arrival Card is

The e-Arrival Card is the online version of Korea’s arrival card, launched in February 2025. It is free and can be submitted from three days before arrival up to the immigration check; a submission stays valid for 72 hours. The paper arrival card is still accepted at the airport.

Who fills it in: visa holders and travellers who are exempt from the K-ETA — including nationals of the 22 temporarily exempt countries and travellers aged 17 or under or 65 or over who have no K-ETA.

Who does not: holders of an approved K-ETA, holders of a Korean residence card and Korean citizens.

Side-by-side comparison

	K-ETA	Visa	e-Arrival Card
For whom	Visa-free nationals	Visa-required nationals, and anyone working, studying or staying long-term	Travellers without a K-ETA or residence card
When	Before you board	Before you travel	From 3 days before arrival
Lasts	Up to 3 years, multiple trips	Depends on the category	One arrival
Paid work	Never	Only with a work category	—
Arrival card	Not needed	Needed	It is the arrival card

Need a K-ETA?

Apply in about ten minutes with our guided form — every application is checked by our team before submission.

Start my K-ETA application

If your country is exempt in 2026

Nationals of the 22 temporarily exempt countries and territories — including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, France and Germany — can choose between two options until 31 December 2026: travel without a K-ETA and fill in the arrival card, or get a K-ETA anyway.

The second option has two advantages. You skip the arrival card on every trip, and your K-ETA remains valid for its full three years — well beyond the end of the exemption. The U.S. Department of State already advises that a K-ETA will be required from 1 January 2027; as of October 2026 Korea had not announced a further extension. Applying now covers your trips in 2027 and beyond.

Quick decision guide

Visa-free passport, short visit, not on the exempt list → you need a K-ETA.
Exempt country, aged 17 or under, or 65 or over → arrival card, or a K-ETA if you prefer.
Visa-required passport → visa, plus arrival card.
Work, study or a long stay → the matching visa category.