Entry rules
South Koreaentry requirements
U.S. citizens don’t need a K-ETA for South Korea until December 31, 2026, thanks to a temporary exemption; you can visit visa-free for 90 days and fill in an arrival card. Unless Korea extends the exemption, a K-ETA (KRW 10,000) will be needed from January 1, 2027.
Checked against official sources Oct 29, 2026 · Sources
Do you need a visa or travel authorization?
| Passport | What you need | Maximum stay |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. citizens | No visa needed About K-ETA K-ETA not required until December 31, 2026 (temporary exemption); fill in an arrival card instead. | 90 days |
| British citizens | No visa needed About K-ETA K-ETA not required until December 31, 2026 (temporary exemption); fill in an arrival card instead. | 90 days |
| Canadians | No visa needed About K-ETA K-ETA not required until December 31, 2026 (temporary exemption); fill in an arrival card instead. | 6 months |
| Australians | No visa needed About K-ETA K-ETA not required until December 31, 2026 (temporary exemption); fill in an arrival card instead. | 90 days |
| EU citizens | K-ETA required Official fee KRW 10,000. About K-ETA Citizens of 11 EU countries are temporarily exempt until December 31, 2026; the other 16 need a K-ETA now. Different for: AT (visa free), BE (visa free), DK (visa free), FI (visa free), FR (visa free), DE (visa free), IT (visa free), NL (visa free), PL (visa free), ES (visa free), SE (visa free), CY (eta), PT (eta), GR (eta), LU (eta). Use the trip check for your country. | Usually 90 days (varies by country) |
Passport rules
Your passport must be valid beyond the day you leave Korea (UK and Canadian government advice).
- British citizens: Your passport must be valid for your whole stay.
- Canadians: Your passport must be valid for your whole stay.
Airlines check this at check-in. If your passport is close to the limit, renew it first: see the 6-month passport rule explained.
Changing planes in South Korea
- All these passports: Nothing extra if you stay airside. No K-ETA needed if you stay in the transit area.
More: Do I need a transit visa?
Arrival card
Fill in the Korea arrival card (paper or e-Arrival Card), which is free, from 3 days before arrival (not needed with a K-ETA). Travelers with an approved K-ETA don’t need it.
Official site: www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr. Unofficial sites may charge for this free form.
Official links
Watch for look-alike sites. Use only the official addresses above. Sites that “process” your application charge extra for the same official form. How to spot a fake visa site.
Where official sources differ
- Child exemption: the K-ETA FAQ says 17 or younger on the entry date; the e-Arrival Card page says under 17. A 17-year-old should check with Korea’s immigration service.
Official sources
- Aviso de exención temporal de K-ETA (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Spain, MOFA, dated 2025-12-23) ·
▶ América (2): EE. UU. (incluido Guam), Canadá
· checked 2026-10-29 - K-ETA eligible countries and visa-free stay (Ministry of Justice) - lists 미국 (USA) 90 Days ·
아래에 나열된 국가 또는 지역의 여권을 소지하고 있을 경우, 대한민국 K-ETA 신청이 가능합니다.
· checked 2026-10-29 - South Korea travel advice: Entry requirements (GOV.UK) ·
However, British nationals travelling visa-free to South Korea are temporarily exempt from requiring a K-ETA until December 31, 2026.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Travel advice and advisories for South Korea (Government of Canada) ·
Tourist visa: not required for stays of up to 180 days*
· checked 2026-10-29 - K-ETA FAQ [Q57] (Korean) - transit ·
2) 환승객이 본인의 수하물을 찾기 위해 대한민국에 입국하려는 경우
· checked 2026-10-29 - e-Arrival Card guide (Ministry of Justice) - fee ·
e-Arrival Card for the Republic of Korea is free.
· checked 2026-10-29 - e-Arrival Card - Individuals subject to declaration / excluded (Ministry of Justice) ·
Those who have received Korean Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA)
· checked 2026-10-29 - K-ETA application guide (Ministry of Justice) - fee ·
The K-ETA fee is 10,000 KRW (approximately USD $7~8, Online Payment Fee is Charged Separately) and is non-refundable, even if the application is denied.
· checked 2026-10-29 - 대한민국 전자여행허가제(K-ETA) 한시 면제 기간 연장 알림 (K-ETA notice, posted 2025-12-23) ·
전자여행허가제(K-ETA) 한시 면제 조치의 기간을 1년 더 연장하여 2026. 12. 31.까지 시행하기로 하였습니다.
· checked 2026-10-29 - K-ETA home page (Korean) - official channels and phishing warning ·
K-ETA 신청대행 (또는 급행) 서비스를 제공한다는 명목으로 고액의 수수료를 편취하는 유사 대행/피싱사이트에 주의하시기 바랍니다.
· checked 2026-10-29
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