South Korea Visa-Free Entry: Who Qualifies, for How Long, and When K-ETA Applies

South Korea admits nationals of more than 110 countries and regions without a visa under a mix of bilateral waiver agreements and unilateral designations. The Korea Immigration Service publishes the combined list, with the stay allowed for each nationality, as the K-ETA eligibility table, and that table is the reference used here.

Stay allowed, by nationality (K-ETA eligibility table, checked 8 September 2026): - 90 days: United Kingdom (British citizens), United States, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Ireland, Romania, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Iceland, Malta, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Thailand, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Uruguay, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panama, Türkiye, Israel, Morocco, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and others - Three months: New Zealand, Mexico, Malaysia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Greece, Suriname - Six months: Canada - 60 days in a row, 90 in any 180: Russia - 90 days in a row, 90 in any 180: Portugal - 30 days: South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Brunei, Tunisia, Cyprus, Monaco, Andorra, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, most Pacific island states, and British passports other than British citizen (BN(O), overseas citizen, dependent territories) - 30 days in a row, 60 in any 180: Kazakhstan

K-ETA: Since 1 September 2021 every visa-free national must hold a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization before boarding, unless exempt. Two exemptions matter. Travellers under 18 or aged 65 and over never need one. And nationals of 22 countries and regions are temporarily excused until 31 December 2026 under the Ministry of Justice extension announced on 29 December 2025: the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Denmark and Austria. Every other visa-free nationality, including Ireland, Portugal, Romania, Thailand, Malaysia, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Russia, applies at k-eta.go.kr for KRW 10,000.

e-Arrival Card: Since 1 January 2026 the electronic arrival card is the standard for foreign nationals arriving without a K-ETA. It is free, filed at e-arrivalcard.go.kr within three days before arrival, and produces a confirmation shown at immigration. K-ETA holders are exempt, which is the reason some exempt travellers still buy one. The UK and Canadian governments state that a paper card remains available on arrival.

Purpose: Tourism, visiting family and friends, business meetings, conferences and short courses. Paid work, study over 90 days and journalism need a visa.

Not on the list: India, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Nepal, Kenya, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Iran, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, and, when checked on 8 September 2026, Ukraine. See the tourist visa page and the Jeju and transit page.