South Korea Visa Guide 2026: K-ETA, the e-Arrival Card and Who Needs What

K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) was introduced as a pre-screening system similar to the US ESTA, but South Korea's Ministry of Justice has repeatedly extended a temporary exemption from the requirement, most recently through December 31, 2026, for citizens of 67 countries — including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and most of the European Union. Travelers 17 and under or 65 and over are exempt from K-ETA regardless of nationality. If your passport isn't on the current exempt list, you'll still need to apply for K-ETA online before traveling, a process separate from a full visa.

Because this exemption has been extended multiple times on a rolling basis rather than made permanent, check the current status close to your travel dates rather than assuming last year's rule still applies a year later.

This is the detail that trips people up: South Korea introduced a mandatory digital e-Arrival Card alongside the K-ETA exemption extension, and it applies to every visitor, K-ETA-exempt or not. It's a free online form covering passport, flight and contact details, completed within three days before landing. Skipping it, or assuming a K-ETA exemption covers it, can cause delays at the immigration counter at Incheon or Gimpo.

Complete it through South Korea's official immigration portal rather than a third-party site charging a fee for something that's free to do directly, and keep a screenshot or printout as backup in case of a connectivity issue on arrival.

Most nationalities covered by the K-ETA exemption, including the US, Canada, UK, most of the EU, Australia and New Zealand, can stay visa-free for up to 90 days, which covers the vast majority of tourist trips without any further paperwork. If you're planning a longer stay, a working trip, or you're traveling on a nationality not covered by the current exemption or visa-free list, you'll need to apply for the appropriate visa through a Korean embassy or consulate in advance — this can't be arranged on arrival.

Passports should be valid well beyond the planned stay, and immigration officers can ask for proof of onward travel, so keep a return or connecting flight itinerary accessible.