Do I need a K-ETA to visit South Korea in 2026?

Not if your passport is from one of the 22 exempt countries and regions — including the UK, US, Canada, Australia and most of the EU. The exemption runs until 31 December 2026. You must still file a free e-Arrival Card before immigration. Nationals of other visa-free countries still need an approved K-ETA before boarding.

How much does the K-ETA cost?

10,000 KRW (about US$7–8) plus a ~3% card processing fee, on the official site k-eta.go.kr only. The fee is non-refundable, even if refused. Third-party sites charging more are copycats.

How long is a K-ETA valid?

Three years from approval, or until your passport expires if sooner, for unlimited entries. A new passport means a new K-ETA.

Do children or over-65s need a K-ETA?

No. Since 3 July 2023, visa-free travellers aged 17 or younger, or 65 or older on the date of entry, are exempt.

What happens after 31 December 2026?

Korea has not announced whether the exemption continues into 2027. Previous extensions were announced in late December. Check the notice board on k-eta.go.kr before any trip arriving on or after 1 January 2027.

Entry rules

K-ETA in 2026: who needs it, who doesn't

Verified 13 November 2026 against Ministry of Justice notices · Rules change — recheck k-eta.go.kr before you fly

The 30-second answer: if your passport is from the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore or most of the EU, you do not need a K-ETA in 2026 — the exemption runs to 31 December 2026. You do have to file the free e-Arrival Card (up to 3 days before landing). Everyone else from a visa-free country still needs an approved K-ETA before boarding.

Under 18 or 65+? You're exempt either way. Cost when required: 10,000 KRW (~US$7–8) + ~3% card fee, valid 3 years.

The 2026 rules at a glance

Situation	What you need
UK, US, Canada, Australia, NZ, Japan, most of EU (22 exempt countries)	No K-ETA until 31 Dec 2026. File the free e-Arrival Card instead. K-ETA optional if you want to skip the card on every trip for 3 years.
Other visa-free nationalities (e.g. Thailand, Malaysia, Brazil, Mexico, Türkiye, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Ireland, Portugal)	K-ETA required before boarding. Apply at k-eta.go.kr at least 72 hours ahead — a week is safer.
Aged 17 or under, or 65+ on arrival date	Exempt from K-ETA (since July 2023). Arrival card still applies unless covered by the country exemption.
Transiting Incheon without passing immigration	Neither K-ETA nor arrival card needed.
Work, study or paid activity	K-ETA never covers this — you need the proper visa from a Korean embassy.

The e-Arrival Card (the part exempt travellers forget)

Since February 2025 Korea runs a digital arrival card, and from 2026 it is the default for everyone entering without a K-ETA. It is free — any site charging for it is a scam.

Go to www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr (the only official site — check the go.kr domain).
Submit from 3 days before arrival (Korea time) until you reach immigration; an unused card lapses after 72 hours.
Have ready: passport, email, arrival date, flight number and your first address in Korea (your hotel's).
One form covers one entry; file a new one each trip. Up to 9 people can be filed together on mobile.

Paper arrival cards are still accepted at the border if you didn't file online.

If you do need a K-ETA: apply right, pay once

Only one official site: k-eta.go.kr (English available). Embassy notices warn about look-alike sites charging many times the fee for the same form.
Fee: 10,000 KRW plus ~3% card processing. Non-refundable, whatever the outcome.
Processing: typically under 72 hours, longer in surges; there is no expedited service.
Validity: 3 years from approval (or until your passport expires), unlimited entries. New passport = new K-ETA.
You'll need: passport bio page, a recent face photo, your first night's address in Korea, and a debit/credit card.

Copycat warning: only k-eta.go.kr issues the authorisation and only e-arrivalcard.go.kr takes the arrival card. Both are government (go.kr) domains; the arrival card is always free. If a site charges US$30–90 for "K-ETA assistance", close it.

Common questions

Is the K-ETA a visa?

No. It's a pre-boarding check for people who don't need a visa. It doesn't extend your stay (90 days for UK/US passport holders) and doesn't allow work.

I'm from an exempt country — is a voluntary K-ETA worth it?

Only if you visit often: K-ETA holders skip the arrival card on every entry for 3 years. The fee is not refunded if the exemption gets extended again.

Will I need a K-ETA in 2027?

Not decided yet. Every extension so far was announced in late December. If your trip arrives on or after 1 January 2027, check the k-eta.go.kr notice board before booking.

I renewed my passport — is my K-ETA still valid?

No. The authorisation is tied to the passport number; a new passport means a new application and fee.

Do US service members need one?

Active-duty USFK personnel under SOFA are exempt (DOD ID instead). Dependants generally need one unless they hold a valid A-3 visa or SOFA stamp — check k-eta.go.kr for your case.

Before you fly

Sorted the paperwork? Sort the rest.

Data on landing, medical cover and the tours worth pre-booking — our hand-picked options:

Korea eSIM from Airalo Travel insurance Seoul tours on Klook

This page is general travel information, not legal or immigration advice; entry rules are set by the Korean Ministry of Justice and can change without notice. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you buy through them we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure.