South Korea Travel Entry: Visa and K-ETA Exemption Explained

Overview: Entering South Korea Without a Visa or K-ETA

South Korea has become a popular travel destination for people from all over the world. When planning a trip to South Korea, foreign nationals must ensure they follow entry requirements. There are several entry categories for foreign nationals:

• Travelers who need a visa: Nationals of countries without a visa-free agreement / visa-waiver, will require a visa to enter South Korea. Additionally, anyone traveling to the country for long-term stays or for specific purposes, such as work or study, requires a visa.
• Visa-exempt travelers who require a K-ETA: Passport-holders from visa-waiver or visa-free countries need to apply for a K-ETA for short-term stays for approved purposes (e.g., tourism).
• Travelers who are exempted from both visas and K-ETAs: Visitors from certain countries (listed below) are temporarily exempt from both a visa and the K-ETA. K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) exemptions currently apply to visitors from certain countries (currently a temporary exemption until December 31, 2025).

What Is the K-ETA?

The Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA), also known as the South Korea ETA, is an online pre-travel authorization system that allows eligible foreign nationals from visa-waiver or visa-free countries to enter South Korea without applying for a visa, and for specific purposes, including:

• Tourism
• Visiting family and friends
• Attending specific events or meetings
• Specific business purposes (other than paid work)

The K-ETA is designed for foreign nationals who have a passport from a visa-waiver or visa-free country and do not already have a valid Korean visa or residence permit. The K-ETA system is intended for short-term visits to South Korea.

The K-ETA was introduced on September 1^st, 2021, and K-ETA applications are assessed by the Ministry of Justice of South Korea. K-ETAs are valid for three years from the date of approval, or until the holder’s passport expires, whichever comes first.

Who Needs a K-ETA to Enter South Korea?

Passport holders from certain countries can apply for a K-ETA, instead of a traditional visa. Some of the countries on the K-ETA eligible countries list are below.

• Argentina: 90 days
• Barbados: 90 days
• Brazil: 90 days
• Bulgaria: 90 days
• Chile: 90 days
• China (including Hong Kong and Macao): 90 days
• Croatia: 90 days
• Cyprus: 30 days
• Czechia:90 days
• Greece: 3 months
• Hungary: 90 days
• Iceland: 90 days
• Ireland: 90 days
• Jamaica: 90 days
• Malaysia: 3 months
• Mexico: 3 months
• Morocco: 90 days
• Oman: 30 days
• Portugal: 90 days
• Qatar: 90 days
• Russia: 60 consecutive days or 90 days in 180 days
• Saudi Arabia: 30 days
• Slovakia: 90 days
• Slovenia: 90 days
• South Africa: 30 days
• Turkey: 90 days
• United Arab Emirates: 90 days

Who Is Exempt from the K-ETA?

Certain individuals currently have a K-ETA exemption and will not need to apply for a K-ETA or a visa before traveling to South Korea.

Certain Nationalities (Temporarily Exempt)

25 countries/regions have been granted a temporary exemption from the K-ETA system. The K-ETA exemption commenced on April 1^st, 2023, and was originally planned to conclude on December 31st, 2024. However, the K-ETA exemption was carried out for an additional year, until December 31^st, 2025.

Travelers from any of the K-ETA-exempt countries listed below will not need to apply for a K-ETA before traveling to South Korea, as long as they are visiting for a short-term stay for an approved purpose:

• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Canada
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Guam
• Hong Kong
• Italy
• Japan
• Liechtenstein
• Macao
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Poland
• Singapore
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• United Kingdom
• United States

Certain Travel Categories 

There are also other individuals with K-ETA exemption, including:

• Diplomats
• Currently serving members of the U.S. Armed Forces
• Aircraft and ship crew staff
• Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card (ABTC) holders
• Passengers transiting through South Korea without going through border control
• Registered visa holders
• UN (United Nations) passport holders
• Travelers who are 17 years old and below or 65 years and above

K-ETA vs Visa: What’s the Difference?

The main differences between the K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) and a South Korea visa are:

Feature	K-ETA	Visa
Purpose	For short-term visits (tourism, family visits, business meetings, cultural/academic events)	For longer stays and activities not covered by K-ETA
Who is it for?	Nationals of visa-waiver or visa-free countries	Countries without visa-free/waiver agreements, anyone staying long-term, or for purposes that require a visa rather than a K-ETA.
Application Process	Online K-ETA application	Submitted to a Korean embassy or consulate
Validity	3 years	Varies by visa type
Number of Entries	multiple-entry	multiple-entry Varies by visa type

Do You Need a Visa for South Korea?

Not all travelers can enter South Korea with a K-ETA or visa exemption. The South Korea visa policy states that visitors must apply for a visa if:

• Their passport-issuing country is not included in South Korea’s visa-waiver or visa-free agreements.
• They plan to stay in South Korea long-term.
• The purpose of the visit is not covered by the ETA.

If you are a holder of a non-Korean passport that is not on the list of visa-free countries, you will likely need to apply for a visa before traveling to South Korea. For example, nationals of Pakistan, India, and Egypt.

Entry Rules for K-ETA-Exempt Travelers

Travelers who are exempt from the South Korea ETA (either permanently or temporarily) are still required to comply with entry rules when traveling to South Korea, including:

1. Valid passport
   Applicants require a valid passport from an eligible country with at least six months of validity.
2. Arrival card
   Travelers must complete an entry declaration form, either within 72 hours of travel or upon arrival.

Visitors must also comply with the terms of the K-ETA and South Korea’s visa-exemption policy.

Frequently Asked Questions