South Korea K-ETA requirements, eligibility and documents
Understand who needs K-ETA, the exemptions, required passport and images, validity, permitted stay and entry conditions.
Start K-ETA applicationTemporary K-ETA exemption during 2026
A temporary exemption for specified countries and regions is extended from 1 January through 31 December 2026, Korea Standard Time. Eligibility is indicated after the passport information page is scanned. An exempt traveller may still choose to apply, and an existing valid K-ETA remains usable until expiry.
K-ETA system interruption on 8–9 October 2026
All K-ETA services are scheduled to be unavailable from 8 October 2026 at 18:00 until 9 October 2026 at 02:30, Korea Standard Time. The period may change. Temporarily saved applications without completed payment by the start of the interruption will not be retrievable afterward. Travellers affected should account for assessment taking up to 72 hours and apply in advance.
What is K-ETA?
K-ETA stands for Korea Electronic Travel Authorization. It is an electronic travel authorization for eligible foreign nationals entering the Republic of Korea without a visa for a short stay. K-ETA is not a visa, and approval does not guarantee admission. The final decision is made by an immigration officer at the port of entry.
Who needs a K-ETA?
K-ETA applies to eligible passport holders travelling without a visa for a permitted short-term purpose who are not covered by an exemption. A traveller who requires K-ETA must receive approval before boarding a flight or ship. Applying after boarding or after entering South Korea may result in refusal or entry restrictions.
Who is exempt from K-ETA?
Exempt categories include citizens of the Republic of Korea and dual nationals travelling with a valid Korean passport; qualifying active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces; flight crew and seafarers; ABTC or APEC card holders; transfer passengers who do not enter South Korea; registered foreign residents and valid visa holders; UN passport holders; diplomatic and official passport holders; travellers aged 17 or younger or 65 or older on the date of entry; and cruise travellers. A transit passenger needs K-ETA when entry becomes necessary, including to reclaim baggage or because an itinerary changes.
Eligible nationalities
Eligibility depends on the nationality printed in the travel passport, not residence, departure country or possession of another country’s visa. The current list contains nationalities and passport categories with different visa-free stay limits. Select the passport nationality in the application; the permitted stay is separate from K-ETA validity.
Eligible nationalities with a 30-day stay
Albania, Andorra, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Cyprus, Eswatini, Fiji, Guyana, Holy See, Honduras, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, New Caledonia, Oman, Palau, Paraguay, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu, and eligible British passport categories including British Dependent Territories Citizens, British Nationals Overseas, British Overseas Citizens, British Protected Persons and British Subjects.
Eligible nationalities with a 90-day stay
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Hong Kong, Macao, Colombia, Dominica, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Morocco, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, British Citizens, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Other visa-free stay limits
Belgium, Greece, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Suriname and Switzerland may receive up to three months; Canada up to six months; Lesotho up to 60 days. Kazakhstan permits up to 30 consecutive days and no more than 60 days in 180 days. Portugal permits up to 90 consecutive days and no more than 90 days in 180 days. Russia permits up to 60 consecutive days and no more than 90 days in 180 days.
Permitted travel purposes
K-ETA is intended for short-term visa-free travel such as tourism, visiting relatives, attending events or conferences and certain business purposes. Commercial activities are not permitted under this short-stay category. Activities outside the visa-free conditions may require an appropriate visa.
Validity and multiple entries
K-ETA issued from 3 July 2023 is generally valid for three years, or until passport expiry if that occurs earlier. Applications submitted before that date were issued with two-year validity. A valid K-ETA may be used for multiple trips, but each visit remains subject to the visa-free stay allowed for the traveller’s nationality.
Passport requirements
Use a valid passport from an eligible country or region. The passport used in the application should also be used for the reservation, boarding and entry. A person with more than one passport must travel with the passport connected to K-ETA. Current eligibility guidance does not state a separate minimum validity period beyond holding a valid passport.
Required documents
Prepare a valid passport, valid email address, recent facial photograph and an image of the passport biographical information page. Passport information and images are collected electronically.
Photo requirements
The face must be clearly visible. Religious head coverings are permitted when the face from forehead to chin remains visible. Current guidance identifies JPG format and a size below 20 MB for both the facial image and passport page image. The form remains permissive so an image can be adjusted or replaced later.
Application information required
The application may collect nationality, English passport name, sex, date of birth, passport number and expiry, multiple nationalities, prior names, birth details and residential address. It also collects contact, intended stay, purpose, itinerary, companions, acquaintances, occupation, economic activity, previous travel, health and criminal-history information where applicable. Names should follow the machine-readable zone of the passport.
Travel and accommodation information
Provide the main accommodation or host, address and contact number in South Korea, purpose of entry and expected arrival and departure dates. A planned departure flight can be provided when known. If several accommodations will be used, give the address where the traveller will mainly stay.
Employment and previous travel information
The application may collect occupation, whether the applicant is engaged in economic activity, monthly income, previous visits to South Korea and travel to other countries. Choose the occupation that best describes the current situation. A later occupation change does not itself require a new K-ETA.
Health and criminal history
K-ETA collects information about infectious diseases and criminal records in and outside South Korea. Each health and criminal-history question requires an active answer; no answer is preselected. A change to criminal-record or infectious-disease information after approval requires a new application.
Processing time and when to apply
Assessment normally takes 72 hours or less, but it can take longer because of application volume or individual circumstances. Applications are assessed in order and there is no expedited individual assessment. Apply with sufficient time before departure and obtain approval before boarding.
Children and minors
Visa-free travellers aged 17 or younger on the date of entry are exempt. A traveller who turns 18 on the arrival date needs approval when K-ETA otherwise applies. A child under 14 cannot act as the representative applicant in a non-member application, so representative details may be needed.
Updating travel information
Purpose of entry, intended address and contact in South Korea, arrival and departure information, planned departure flight and accompanying-person information can be updated after approval without a new application. Keep these details current because outdated information may lead to entry refusal or other disadvantages.
When a new K-ETA is required
Submit a new application if the passport is renewed, reissued, lost and replaced; passport or core personal information is incorrect; or relevant criminal-record or infectious-disease information changes. Core passport and personal information cannot be corrected after submission. A change of occupation alone does not require a new application.
Refusal or cancellation
Approval can be refused, cancelled or revoked for false information, important omissions, incorrect personal information, failure to meet assessment criteria or another valid reason. False or inaccurate information may also lead to penalties or entry restrictions under Korean law.
Entry information and arrival card
K-ETA is one condition for eligible visa-free travel and does not create an automatic right of entry. Use the same passport connected to the authorization. Travellers entering with a valid K-ETA are exempt from the standard arrival card, separate from any temporary declarations or special procedures in force at the time.
Residence Card and visa holders
When a traveller holds both K-ETA and a valid Korean Residence Card or Overseas Korean Resident Card, the card’s status and permitted stay normally take priority. When a traveller holds both K-ETA and a valid Korean visa, the visa status and permitted stay take priority.
Important restrictions
Do not treat K-ETA as permission for commercial activities or activities requiring a separate visa. False, incomplete or inaccurate information may result in refusal, cancellation, penalties or entry restrictions. Approval does not guarantee admission to South Korea.
Current special entry procedure
South Korea currently displays a notice about a special entry procedure connected to a disaster situation. Because temporary entry declarations and procedures can change, travellers should recheck the requirements shortly before departure.