K-ETA for South Korea: Who Needs It, the KRW 10,000 Fee and the 2026 Exemption
How the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization works: who must apply, the 22 countries exempt until 31 December 2026, the fee, three-year validity, 72-hour assessment, and the e-Arrival Card link.
What This Means for You
If your passport is Thai, Malaysian, Brazilian, Mexican, South African, Saudi, Russian, Irish or Portuguese, buy the K-ETA at k-eta.go.kr a week before you fly, once every three years. If you are British, American, Canadian, Australian or from one of the other 18 exempt countries, you do not need it until at least 2027, but paying KRW 10,000 once spares you the arrival card on every trip.
Overview
The Korea Electronic Travel Authorization is the pre-boarding check for visa-free visitors, introduced on 1 September 2021 and run by the Korea Immigration Service at k-eta.go.kr. It is not a visa: it confirms that a visa-free national may board a flight or ship to Korea, and the stay allowed is still the one fixed for the nationality.
Who must apply: Any national of a country on the K-ETA eligibility table who is aged 18 to 64 and whose country is not on the temporary exemption list. In practice that means Thai, Malaysian, Brazilian, Mexican, Argentine, Chilean, Peruvian, Colombian, Turkish, South African, Saudi, Emirati, Qatari, Russian, Moroccan, Israeli, Irish, Portuguese, Romanian and many other travellers.
Who is exempt: - Nationals of 22 countries and regions until 31 December 2026 (Ministry of Justice, 29 December 2025): the United Kingdom, United States including Guam, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Denmark and Austria - Travellers under 18 and those aged 65 and over, since 3 July 2023 - Diplomatic and official passport holders, UN laissez-passer holders, APEC Business Travel Card holders, US Forces Korea personnel, crew, transfer passengers who do not clear immigration, and anyone holding a visa
Fee, validity and timing: KRW 10,000, about US$7 to US$8, plus a 3% card processing fee, non-refundable. Valid for three years from approval, or until the passport expires, for multiple entries; a new passport needs a new K-ETA. Assessment normally takes up to 72 hours, and the immigration service warns it can take longer, so apply at least a week ahead.
What it changes at the border: K-ETA holders are exempt from the arrival card, paper or electronic, on every trip during the three years. That is the reason the embassy notices point out that exempt nationals may still apply voluntarily.
Copycat sites: Only k-eta.go.kr issues the authorisation. Third-party sites charge many times the fee for the same form and sometimes submit wrong details; the Korean embassies publish warnings naming them.
After 31 December 2026: The exemption has been extended three times, each announced in the last week of December. If it lapses, nationals of the 22 countries revert to needing a K-ETA for every trip from 1 January 2027.
Eligibility Requirements
- Nationality on the K-ETA eligibility table (visa-free for Korea)
- Aged 18 to 64; younger and older travellers are exempt
- Not on the 22-country temporary exemption list, or applying voluntarily
- Purpose within the visa-free allowance: tourism, visiting, business meetings, events
- Passport valid for the trip; the K-ETA dies with the passport
Required Documents
Passport
RequiredBio page details entered exactly; the authorisation is linked to the passport number
A renewed passport needs a fresh application and fee
Digital photograph
RequiredRecent face photo uploaded to the form
Accommodation in Korea
RequiredAddress of the hotel or host for the first stay
Card for payment
RequiredDebit or credit card to pay the KRW 10,000 fee plus the 3% processing charge
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Application Steps
Confirm you need one
Select your nationality on k-eta.go.kr; the site shows a pop-up if you are temporarily exempt. Under-18s and over-64s do not need one.
Complete the application
Passport details, photo, purpose, first-night accommodation and contact details. Group applications for up to 30 people are accepted.
Pay KRW 10,000
By card, plus the 3% processing fee. The fee is not refunded if the application is refused.
Wait for the decision
Up to 72 hours as a rule. Check status on the site; airlines see the approval electronically but keep the email.
Travel without an arrival card
K-ETA holders skip the e-Arrival Card for the three-year validity. Each stay is still limited to your nationality's allowance.
Visa Fees
| Type | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| K-ETA | KRW 10,000 | Plus 3% card processing fee; non-refundable; valid three years for multiple entries |
Common Reasons for Refusal
Understanding these can help you strengthen your application
- 1Passport details mistyped, which voids the authorisation at boarding
- 2Previous overstay, deportation or entry ban
- 3Purpose inconsistent with visa-free entry, such as work
- 4Applying through a copycat site that submitted incorrect data
If your application is refused: You will receive a letter explaining the reason. In most cases, you can reapply immediately with a stronger application addressing the concerns raised.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is K-ETA a visa?
Which countries need K-ETA in 2026?
How long is K-ETA valid?
Do children need a K-ETA?
Should I get a K-ETA if my country is exempt?
Processing Time
Important
Requirements may change. Always verify current requirements with the official embassy or consulate website before applying.
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Official Sources
This information is based on the following official sources. Always verify with these sources before submitting applications.
The Korea Immigration Service portal for K-ETA: eligibility table with the visa-free stay for each nationality, fee, validity and the temporary exemption list.
Fee (KRW 10,000), three-year validity, 72-hour assessment and who is exempt.
The Ministry of Justice decision to keep the K-ETA waiver for the currently exempt countries through 2026.
The 22 countries and regions temporarily exempt from K-ETA, and how K-ETA works.
K-ETA fee and validity, the Visa Grant Notice that replaced visa stickers in 2020, transit and APEC card rules.
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