US citizens do not need a K-ETA for South Korea in 2026. The US is one of 22 countries and regions temporarily exempt until 31 December 2026, along with the UK, Canada, Australia, Japan and Singapore. Exempt travellers fill in an arrival card instead.
Street food in Seoul, beaches in Busan or a hike on Jeju: South Korea lets visitors from more than 100 countries and regions in without a visa. Most of them need a K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) before they board. Malaysians still need one. Indian, Filipino and Nigerian citizens generally need a visa for an individual trip to the mainland. This guide explains which group you are in, the official fee, the free e-Arrival card, and how to avoid look-alike websites. We checked every official page in the Sources list on 6 October 2026. Voyfaro does not apply for or issue K-ETAs or visas.
K-ETA for South Korea: quick answer
- What it is: an online travel authorisation for people who can enter Korea without a visa. The Korean Ministry of Justice runs it. The official site says a K-ETA is not a visa and does not guarantee entry: an immigration officer decides at the border.
- Temporary exemption: nationals of 22 countries and regions do not need a K-ETA until 31 December 2026 (Korea time). They are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Macao, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, the UK and the US (including Guam).
- Who still needs one: nationals of the other visa-free countries on the K-ETA list, such as Malaysia, Thailand, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel, Türkiye, Mexico, Brazil, Ireland, Portugal and South Africa.
- Who needs a visa instead: passports that are not on the K-ETA list, such as Indian, Filipino, Nigerian, Indonesian, Pakistani and mainland Chinese, generally need a visa for an individual trip to the mainland. Jeju-only visits and organised group tours have separate rules (see below). Check with the Korean embassy for where you live.
- Official fee: KRW 10,000 per person (about USD 7 to 8), plus an online card charge of about 3%. It is not refunded, even if you are refused.
- Where to apply: only on www.k-eta.go.kr or the official K-ETA mobile app. The Korean government has not appointed any agency.
- Validity: 3 years, or until your passport expires if that is sooner. You can use it for many trips.
- Decision time: usually within 72 hours, sometimes longer. There is no express service.
- Arrival card: if you enter with a K-ETA, you skip the arrival card. If you are exempt from K-ETA or hold a visa, you fill in an arrival card: on paper, or free online at www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr from 2 days before your arrival date (Korea time), or on the day itself.
Who this applies to
What you need depends on the passport you travel on, not where you live. A Filipino citizen living in Dubai needs a Korean visa. A Malaysian living in London needs a K-ETA. A US citizen living in Singapore is exempt until the end of 2026. Read more in passport vs residence visa rules.
K-ETA covers short stays for tourism, family visits, events, meetings and business, with no paid work. For study, work or a long stay, you need a visa.
Which group is your passport in?
| Your passport | What you need for a short visit (checked 6 October 2026) | Visa-free stay per visit, per the K-ETA site |
|---|---|---|
| United States (including Guam) | No K-ETA until 31 Dec 2026. Fill in an arrival card | 90 days |
| United Kingdom | No K-ETA until 31 Dec 2026. Fill in an arrival card | 90 days |
| Canada | No K-ETA until 31 Dec 2026. Fill in an arrival card | 6 months |
| Singapore | No K-ETA until 31 Dec 2026. Fill in an arrival card | 90 days |
| Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and the 11 EU countries plus Norway listed above | No K-ETA until 31 Dec 2026. Fill in an arrival card | Varies by country: check the K-ETA site |
| Malaysia | K-ETA needed (KRW 10,000) | 3 months |
| Thailand, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Israel, Türkiye | K-ETA needed | 90 days |
| Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman | K-ETA needed | 30 days |
| Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Ireland, Portugal, Czech Republic | K-ETA needed | 90 days or 3 months, depending on the passport |
| India, Philippines, Indonesia, mainland China | Not on the K-ETA list. Generally need a visa for an individual trip to the mainland. Jeju-only visits and group tours have separate rules (see below) | Set by your visa |
| Nigeria, Pakistan | Not on the K-ETA list. Apply for a visa | Set by your visa |
The stay limit is separate from K-ETA validity. A 3-year K-ETA does not let you stay longer than the visa-free period for your passport on each visit.
Swiss and Liechtenstein passports: the Korean Embassy in Switzerland’s notice of 30 December 2025 says both are also exempt until 31 December 2026. The other embassy lists we checked show only the 22 above. To check, start an application on k-eta.go.kr: the site shows a “K-ETA exempt” pop-up when you scan your passport if the exemption applies. If the K-ETA site does not show the exempt pop-up for your passport, apply for a K-ETA, or check with the Korean embassy where you live, before you fly. Do not rely on the embassy notice alone.
The temporary K-ETA exemption, explained
Korea first exempted these 22 countries and regions from K-ETA on 1 April 2023, to support tourism, until 31 December 2024. The Ministry of Justice has since extended it twice. The latest K-ETA notice, dated 23 December 2025, extends it from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026 (KST) for the countries and regions already covered.
What this means in practice:
- You can still apply if you want to. Exempt travellers may apply and pay the fee to get the benefits of a K-ETA, mainly not having to fill in an arrival card.
- An existing K-ETA still works until it expires, and the fee you paid is not refunded.
- After 31 December 2026: the official pages we checked do not say what happens next. If you will arrive in Korea on or after 1 January 2027, check the K-ETA site’s notices before you travel. If no new extension has been announced, apply for a K-ETA in good time.
Other groups that never need a K-ETA
The K-ETA site lists these groups as exempt, whatever their nationality:
- Children aged 17 or under, and people aged 65 or over, on the day they enter Korea
- Transit passengers who stay in the airport. You do need a K-ETA if you enter Korea, for example to collect your bags or because your plans change
- People who hold a Korean visa, and registered foreign residents
- Holders of diplomatic, official or UN passports, and APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) holders
- Air and ship crew, cruise passengers, and active-duty US military personnel under the Korea-US Status of Forces Agreement
- Dual nationals who enter on a valid Korean passport
Children and older travellers on a K-ETA-eligible passport can still apply if they want to skip the arrival card. In that case, the fee applies.
Official fee, validity and processing time
| Item | What the K-ETA site says |
|---|---|
| Fee | KRW 10,000 per person (about USD 7 to 8) |
| Card charge | About 3% extra for online payment |
| Refunds | None, whatever the result |
| Payment | Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Discover, UnionPay or Alipay+ |
| Validity | 3 years from approval, or until your passport expires if that is sooner |
| Use | Many trips while it is valid |
| Processing | Usually within 72 hours; can take longer. No express service |
| When to apply | Before you board your flight or ship to Korea |
The K-ETA site warns that applying after you board, or once you are already in Korea, can lead to refusal or entry restrictions. A K-ETA notice on processing times suggests applying well ahead, ideally 1 to 2 months before your trip.
Planned outage: the K-ETA site says its service will be down from 18:00 on 8 October 2026 to 02:30 on 9 October 2026 (Korea time), and that the times may change depending on the work. Applications saved but not paid by 18:00 on 8 October cannot be viewed afterwards.
When you need a new K-ETA
- New passport. If you renew your passport, lose it or change your name, apply again with the new passport.
- Two passports. Apply with the passport you will use to buy your ticket and enter Korea. The numbers must match.
- Changes to your criminal record or infectious disease information. You must apply again.
- Changed dates, address or flight? You do not need a new K-ETA, but update your travel information on the K-ETA site. If you do not, you could be refused entry.
How to apply for a K-ETA
- Check you need one. Look up your passport on the K-ETA site’s list of eligible countries. If you are on the temporary exemption list, under 18 or 65 or over, you do not need to apply.
- Go to the official site yourself. Type www.k-eta.go.kr, or download the official K-ETA app. Do not click adverts.
- Prepare: a valid passport, an email address, a face photo and a credit or debit card that works for online payments abroad. A photo with a religious head covering is fine if your whole face shows.
- Enter your passport details and travel plans. You cannot correct an application after you submit it, and if your K-ETA does not match your passport, you cannot board. Check every letter before you pay.
- Pay the KRW 10,000 fee. If you see a “3DS” error, contact your card issuer.
- Wait for the result by email. The K-ETA site says emails to Gmail addresses, and to some US-based providers such as Outlook and Hotmail, can be delayed, and suggests using another address.
Do not keep reapplying after a refusal. If you submit 3 applications within 6 months, new applications can be blocked for 6 months from when the first of them was decided. Applications that only corrected simple typos in personal details do not count. If you need to travel during that time, the K-ETA site says to apply for a visa at the Korean embassy or consulate where you live.
The e-Arrival card: what it is and who fills it in
The Republic of Korea e-Arrival card is the online version of Korea’s paper arrival card. The official site is www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr, run by the Ministry of Justice. It is a separate system from K-ETA.
| e-Arrival card | |
|---|---|
| Who fills it in | Foreign visitors who do not hold a valid K-ETA. That includes travellers on the temporary exemption, children and over-65s who did not apply for a K-ETA, and visa holders |
| Who is excused | K-ETA holders (unless they enter on a visa), Korean citizens, registered residents, some group tourists and airline crew |
| Cost | Free |
| When | On your arrival date or the 2 days before it (Korea time), up to immigration |
| How | Online on a PC or phone browser. There is no app. Up to 9 people at once on a phone, up to 1,000 on a PC |
| Proof | An issue number by email. You do not need to show it at immigration, but keeping it to hand helps |
| Validity | Lost 72 hours after you submit, or once you pass immigration. Submit a new one for every trip |
You need your passport, an email address, your arrival date, flight number, departure date and where you will stay. Since 6 May 2026, the site also asks for a verification code when you submit.
Paper or online? Both work. The official site says travellers can choose either, and the e-Arrival card has the same effect as the paper card. If you have not submitted it before landing, you can still fill in the e-Arrival card or a paper card before immigration.
Example: a US family of four arriving in Seoul on 20 December 2026 does not need K-ETAs. They can submit e-Arrival cards for everyone from 18 December, Korea time.
Who needs a visa, and where to check
The K-ETA site lists the visa-free countries and regions whose citizens can apply for a K-ETA. If your passport is not on that list, you generally need a Korean visa for an individual trip to the mainland, and you apply through the Korean embassy or consulate for where you live. For tourism, the Korean embassies in the Philippines and Nigeria list the C-3-9 short-term visit (tour) visa. Some examples, from the embassy pages we checked:
- Filipino citizens: the Korean Embassy in Manila accepts C-3-9 tourist visa applications from Filipinos through the Korean Visa Application Center, including by post.
- Indian citizens: the Korean Embassy in New Delhi takes visa applications through VFS Global Korean Visa Application Centres. It lists documents such as an employment or business certificate, income tax returns for 2 years and 6 months of bank statements. Which embassy or consulate handles your application depends on your state.
- Nigerian citizens: the Korean Embassy in Abuja says it does not take applications directly. You apply at the Korea Visa Center (VFS) in Abuja, or at the embassy’s Lagos office if you live in certain southern states. A single-entry visa for under 90 days costs 60,000 naira, and processing usually takes 10 to 15 business days.
Visa rules and fees differ by embassy, so use the page of the Korean mission for where you live. The e-Arrival card site also points to the Korea Visa Portal (www.visa.go.kr) and HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr) for entry rules.
Jeju Island: since 1 September 2022, K-ETA rules also apply to flights to Jeju from abroad for passports on the K-ETA list. Jeju also has its own visa-free entry for many nationalities that otherwise need a visa, including mainland Chinese, Indian, Filipino and Indonesian citizens. Korea.net, the Korean government’s official website, says Jeju allows visa-free stays of 30 days for individual and group tourists. A Korean embassy notice from May 2022 lists 23 nationalities that are not eligible, including Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Egypt. It also says nationals of 64 designated countries need permission from the Jeju Immigration Office to travel on to other parts of Korea. Rules can change, so confirm with the Korean embassy where you live before you book.
Group tours: organised group tours from some countries may use group visas instead of individual visas. The e-Arrival card site lists group tourists from China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia holding electronic group visas, and group tourists from India and Cambodia holding group visas. The Ministry of Justice says the group visa fee for these 6 countries is waived until 31 December 2026. A temporary visa-free scheme for Chinese group tours ran from 29 September 2025 to 30 June 2026. We found no official notice extending it, so do not rely on it. Ask your tour organiser and the Korean embassy which route applies to you.
Official site vs look-alike sites
The K-ETA home page says applications are possible “only” on www.k-eta.go.kr or the K-ETA app. It warns about look-alike agency and phishing sites that charge high fees for “agency” or “express” services. The government has not appointed any official K-ETA agency.
How to stay safe:
- Check the address. The official sites are www.k-eta.go.kr and www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr.
- Check the price. The K-ETA costs KRW 10,000 plus a small card charge. The e-Arrival card is free. The e-Arrival card site warns about similar sites that ask for personal information or fees.
- Ignore “express” offers. The K-ETA site says no express service exists.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying a look-alike site for a K-ETA or an “arrival card fee”
- Assuming the exemption covers every Western passport. It does not cover Ireland, Portugal, Greece or Mexico, for example
- Assuming a residence permit changes what you need. Your passport decides
- Applying with one passport and travelling on another
- Leaving it until the day you fly. Allow at least 72 hours, more if you can
- Reapplying again and again after a refusal, which can block you for 6 months
- Trying to submit the e-Arrival card too early. It opens 2 days before your arrival date (Korea time)
- Booking non-refundable travel for 2027 without checking whether the exemption has been extended
Planning your Korea trip
- Flights: compare routes to Seoul Incheon, Gimpo, Busan Gimhae and Jeju. Compare flights.
- Hotels: your arrival card asks where you will stay, so keep your booking address handy. Compare hotels.
- Mobile data: an eSIM helps with maps, transport apps and your confirmation emails when you land. See eSIM options or read eSIM vs roaming vs local SIM.
- Travel insurance: the official K-ETA and e-Arrival pages do not ask for it, but a policy can cover medical costs, delays and lost baggage, depending on its terms. Compare travel insurance.
- Other trips: see our UK ETA guide, ESTA guide and Japan eVISA for UAE and Saudi residents.
How Voyfaro can help
- K-ETA, arrival card and visas: we point you to the official Korean pages and explain them in plain English. We do not apply for, issue or guarantee K-ETAs, visas or arrival cards. See our visa guidance.
- Bookings: we help you compare flights, hotels, eSIMs and travel insurance from partners we reach through the Travelpayouts affiliate network.
- You stay in control: you book and pay directly with the partner. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
- Questions? Contact us with your route, dates, passports and who is travelling. Asking is free.
FAQ
Do US citizens need a K-ETA for South Korea in 2026?
No. US citizens, including those from Guam, are temporarily exempt until 31 December 2026 (Korea time). You can visit for up to 90 days without a visa, but you must fill in an arrival card, on paper or free at www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr. You can still apply for a K-ETA (KRW 10,000) if you want to skip the arrival card.
Do UK citizens need a K-ETA?
Not until 31 December 2026. British citizens are on the temporary exemption list and can stay up to 90 days per visit. Other British passport types, such as British Overseas Territories citizen passports, are listed separately on the K-ETA site with a 30-day stay, so check yours there.
Do Malaysians need a K-ETA?
Yes. Malaysia is not on the temporary exemption list, so Malaysians aged 18 to 64 need a K-ETA before boarding. The K-ETA site lists a visa-free stay of up to 3 months for Malaysian passports.
Do Indian, Filipino or Nigerian citizens need a K-ETA?
No, because these passports are not on the K-ETA list. For an individual trip to the mainland, they generally need a Korean visa, such as the C-3-9 short-term visit (tour) visa for a holiday. Apply through the Korean embassy or consulate for where you live. Jeju-only visits and organised group tours have separate rules: Indian and Filipino citizens may be able to visit Jeju visa-free, but Nigeria is on Jeju’s excluded list. Confirm with the Korean embassy before you book.
How much does a K-ETA cost?
KRW 10,000 per person, which the official site puts at about USD 7 to 8, plus an online card charge of about 3%. The fee is not refunded, even if your application is refused.
Is the e-Arrival card the same as K-ETA?
No. K-ETA is a travel authorisation you get before boarding. The e-Arrival card is the free online version of the paper arrival card. If you enter with a valid K-ETA, you do not need an arrival card.
Do children need a K-ETA?
No. Children aged 17 or under on the day they enter Korea do not need one. A child without a K-ETA still needs an arrival card. If they turn 18 by their entry date, they need a K-ETA, unless their nationality is temporarily exempt.
Do I need a K-ETA to transit through Incheon?
Not if you stay in the transit area. You need one if you pass through immigration, for example to collect your bags, and your passport is on the K-ETA list and not exempt.
What happens after 31 December 2026?
The official pages we checked do not say. The exemption has been extended each year since 2023, but that is not a promise. If you will arrive on or after 1 January 2027, check the notices on www.k-eta.go.kr before you travel.
Can Voyfaro apply for my K-ETA or e-Arrival card?
No. Only the Korean authorities issue K-ETAs and visas, and you apply yourself on the official sites. We can help you compare flights, hotels, eSIMs and insurance for your trip.
Sources
Official pages we checked on 6 October 2026:
- Ministry of Justice, K-ETA official website (applications only on www.k-eta.go.kr or the K-ETA app; warning about look-alike agency and phishing sites; KRW 10,000 fee, about USD 7 to 8; processing usually within 72 hours)
- K-ETA, Eligible countries and who must apply (list of K-ETA countries and regions with visa-free stays per passport; short stays for tourism, family, events, meetings and business with no paid work; what to prepare; exempt groups)
- K-ETA, Application guide (apply before boarding; fee plus about 3% online charge, non-refundable; 72 hours, no express service; 3-year validity; not a visa and no guarantee of entry; arrival card exemption; when to reapply; updating travel information; visas and residence cards take priority)
- K-ETA, Fee information (KRW 10,000 per person, extra online payment charge, no refunds, accepted cards)
- K-ETA, Notice on Extension of K-ETA Temporary Exemption (in Korean; the English version is in the K-ETA Notice list. 23 December 2025: exemption extended from 1 January to 31 December 2026 (KST); “K-ETA exempt” pop-up; optional application with fee; existing K-ETAs stay valid)
- K-ETA, Frequently asked questions (Q58 exempt groups, including transit rules and cruise passengers; Q54 religious head coverings; Q53 job changes; Q52 payment errors; Q51 new passports; Q50 two passports; Q47 children)
- K-ETA notices (in Korean; if a link shows an error page, open the K-ETA Notice list or the K-ETA home page): List of individuals not required to apply, Beware of non-official websites and agencies (no official agency appointed), Information about K-ETA from 9 January 2023 (no corrections after submission; details must match your passport to board), Validity extension and age exemption (17 or under and 65 or over exempt; 3-year validity from 3 July 2023), K-ETA for Jeju Island (from 1 September 2022), Restriction on repeat applications (3 applications within 6 months; 6-month block from the decision on the first; simple personal-detail errors not counted), Processing time (apply 1 to 2 months ahead where possible), Email delivery delays and System suspension, 8 to 9 October 2026 (times may change)
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA, Notice on Extension of K-ETA Temporary Exemption (~12/31/2026) (the US is included in the 2026 extension)
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Netherlands, Notice on the extension of the temporary waiver period for K-ETA (January 2025 notice listing the 22 exempt countries and regions, including the US with Guam; the list was carried over unchanged into 2026) and K-ETA Temporary Exemption (5 January 2026: exemption extended to 31 December 2026 (KST) for the countries and regions currently exempt)
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the UK, Notice on Temporary Exemption of K-ETA for 22 countries/regions (exemption first applied from 1 April 2023; the list of 22)
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada, Extension of Temporary Exemption from K-ETA (until December 31, 2026) (Canada included)
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Singapore, Information about K-ETA (Singapore passport holders exempt until 31 December 2026)
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Swiss Confederation, Notice on Temporary Exemption of K-ETA to Switzerland and Liechtenstein (30 December 2025: says Switzerland and Liechtenstein are also exempt until 31 December 2026)
- Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea e-Arrival card (official site; free)
- e-Arrival card, e-Arrival Card Guide (same validity as the paper card; free; issue number by email; 9 people on mobile, 1,000 on PC; 72-hour validity; separate from K-ETA; related official sites)
- e-Arrival card, Individuals Subject to Declaration Guide (visa holders and K-ETA-exempt travellers must declare; K-ETA holders excused unless entering on a visa; group tourists from China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia with electronic group visas, and from India and Cambodia with group visas, excused)
- e-Arrival card, FAQs (who must submit; example: arriving on 31 January, you can submit on 29, 30 or 31 January, up to immigration; free; no app; paper card still accepted)
- e-Arrival card notices: About e-Arrival card (paper or electronic; who is exempt), e-Arrival card is free of charge (warning about similar sites) and User authentication procedure (verification code from 6 May 2026)
- Ministry of Justice, Group visa fee waiver for 6 countries extended to the end of 2026 (in Korean; 1 July 2026: group visa fee waived for China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, India and Cambodia until 31 December 2026)
- Korea.net (official website of the Republic of Korea), Visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists to start on Sept. 29 (Chinese group tour scheme from 29 September 2025 to 30 June 2026; Jeju keeps 30-day visa-free entry for individual and group tourists)
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada, Announcement on Jeju Visa-free Entry (From June 1st, 2022 ~) (26 May 2022: Jeju visa-free entry for all nationalities except 23 listed, including Nigeria and Pakistan; nationals of 64 designated countries need permission to travel beyond Jeju)
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines, Tourist Visa (C-3-9) applications via mail (C-3-9 tourist visa applications from Filipinos through the Korean Visa Application Center)
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in India, Visa (VFS Global Korean Visa Application Centres; documents; jurisdiction by state)
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nigeria, Visa Issuance Guide (applications at the Korea Visa Center in Abuja or the Lagos office; 60,000 naira single-entry fee for under 90 days; 10 to 15 business days; C-3-9 documents)