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K-ETA for Korea: How to Apply on the Official Site (2026)

Checked against official sources on October 20, 2026

Travelers crossing a wide terminal hall at Incheon Airport, with seating among trees and counters under Incheon Airport signs

Summary

K-ETA is an online travel authorization for visa-free travelers to Korea. Apply only at k-eta.go.kr or the official K-ETA app before boarding. As of October 2026 it costs KRW 10,000 plus a card fee of about 3%, results usually arrive within 72 hours, and approval lasts 3 years. Citizens of 22 countries and regions are exempt until 31 December 2026, and travelers aged 17 or under or 65 or over do not need it.

At a glance

Fee
KRW 10,000 + about 3% card fee
Result
Usually within 72 hours
Valid for
3 years or until passport expires
Apply at
k-eta.go.kr or K-ETA app
Exempt until 2026
22 countries, to 31 Dec 2026
Exempt by age
17 or under, 65 or over

Step by step

How to apply for K‑ETA on the official site

Step 1 of 15 · Do you need K‑ETA?

1Exempt countries until 31 Dec 2026

22 countries and regions need no K‑ETA until 31 Dec 2026

Read all steps as text

  1. 1. Exempt countries until 31 Dec 2026

    22 countries and regions need no K‑ETA until 31 Dec 2026

  2. 2. Other visa-free passports must apply

    Other visa-free passports (e.g. Thailand) must apply first

  3. 3. Type the official address

    Type www.k-eta.go.kr yourself, or use the official app

    Korean you will see: .go.kr = Official Korean government domain

  4. 4. Spot look-alike agency sites

    Look-alike agency sites charge far more

  5. 5. Choose a language

    Pick a display language, but type your answers in English

  6. 6. Individual or group

    Choose an individual or a group application

  7. 7. Agree to the terms

    Tick the terms and continue

  8. 8. Enter passport details

    Type your name and passport data exactly as printed

  9. 9. Upload your photo

    Upload a front-facing colour JPG, no hat or sunglasses

  10. 10. Trip details

    Add purpose of visit and your first address in Korea

  11. 11. Answer the questions

    Answer the criminal-record and illness questions honestly

  12. 12. Pay the fee

    Pay KRW 10,000 plus a card fee of about 3%

    Korean you will see: 10,000원 = Fee: KRW 10,000 per person

  13. 13. Wait up to 72 hours

    Results usually arrive within 72 hours; no express service

  14. 14. Check your result

    Don't wait for the email: open Check Application Results

    Korean you will see: 신청 결과 조회 = Check Application Results

  15. 15. Valid for 3 years

    Valid 3 years, or until your passport expires if sooner

Details

K-ETA (전자여행허가jeonja yeohaeng heogaElectronic Travel Authorization) is an online pre-travel check for citizens of countries that can visit Korea without a visa. You get it before you board, it is tied to your passport, and it is not a visa. This guide follows the official application from start to finish and shows who can skip it in 2026.

As of 20 October 2026, citizens of 22 countries and regions are temporarily exempt until 31 December 2026. Nothing has been announced for 2027 yet. Follow the K-ETA 2027 tracker for updates.

Do you need K-ETA?

Rules depend on your passport, not your language. Use the entry checker for your nationality, or read the table below.

Your situation (October 2026) K-ETA
Passport from one of the 22 temporarily exempt countries or regions, arriving by 31 December 2026 Not required (you may still apply)
Passport from another visa-free country, for example Thailand, Malaysia, Russia or Kazakhstan Required before boarding
Aged 17 or under, or 65 or over, on the date you enter Korea Not required
You already hold a Korean visa or a Korean alien registration card Not required
Your nationality needs a visa, for example the Philippines or Indonesia Not available; apply for a visa
Transit without passing immigration Not required; required if you pass immigration, for example to collect bags

Also exempt: diplomatic, official and UN passports, aircraft and ship crew, US forces under SOFA, APEC Business Travel Card holders whose card shows KOR, and cruise passengers.

The 22 temporarily exempt countries and regions (1 January to 31 December 2026, Korea time):

  • Asia: Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore
  • Americas: United States (including Guam), Canada
  • Europe: United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Austria
  • Oceania: Australia, New Zealand

The K-ETA site does not publish this list as a page. It shows an exemption pop-up when you choose your nationality. The list above comes from a Korean consulate notice updated on 2 January 2026.

Why some exempt travelers apply anyway: an approved K-ETA means you do not have to submit an arrival card, and it stays valid for 3 years. That covers trips in 2027 if the exemption ends.

Before you start

Have these ready:

  • The passport you will travel with. K-ETA is linked to the passport number. A new passport needs a new K-ETA.
  • A face photo as a color JPG file, facing forward, without a hat or sunglasses.
  • An email address you can check while traveling.
  • A payment card. The site accepts Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Discover, UnionPay and Alipay+.
  • Trip details: purpose of visit, the address of your first accommodation in Korea, your phone number, and planned arrival and departure dates.

The site has 12 display languages, including English, Japanese, Thai, Russian and Traditional Chinese. You must type every answer in English.

Step by step

Step 1 — Open the official site or app

Type www.k-eta.go.kr into your browser yourself, or install the official K-ETA app. The official site states that applications are possible only there or in the app. Check that the address ends in .go.kr before you enter any passport data.

Step 2 — Choose an individual or group application

You can apply as a member or without an account. A group application lets one person apply for family members or travel companions in one go.

Step 3 — Enter passport details and upload your photo

Enter your name, passport number and dates exactly as printed in the passport. If you mistype your personal details, you have to apply again.

Step 4 — Enter your trip details and answer the questions

Add your purpose of visit, address in Korea, contact details and dates. The form also asks about criminal records and infectious diseases. Answer honestly. If this information changes after approval, you must apply again.

Step 5 — Pay the fee

The fee is KRW 10,000 per person. A card processing fee of about 3% is added. The official site says the fee is not refunded, even if the application is refused.

Step 6 — Check your result

Results usually arrive within 72 hours. There is no express service. Open 신청 결과 조회sincheong gyeolgwa johoeCheck application results on the site rather than waiting for the email. A site notice in 2026 reported delayed K-ETA emails to Gmail addresses. Save a screenshot of the approval.

If your accommodation or dates change after approval, use 여행정보 업데이트yeohaeng jeongbo eopdeiteuUpdate travel information.

Step 7 — Fly and go through immigration

You must have approval before you board. At 입국심사ipguk simsaImmigration the officer makes the final decision. The official site states that an approved K-ETA does not guarantee entry. Read what happens on arrival.

Cost and time

Item Detail (as of October 2026)
Fee KRW 10,000 per person, plus about 3% card processing fee
Refund if refused None
Processing time Usually 72 hours or less; no express option
Validity 3 years from approval, or until your passport expires if that comes first
Entries Multiple entries while valid
Arrival card Not required while your K-ETA is valid, unless you enter on a visa
Stay per visit Set by your nationality's visa-free period, not by K-ETA

Look-alike agency sites

Search results and ads often show sites that look official and charge several times the government fee for "express" or "agency" service. The K-ETA site warns about agency and phishing sites that take high fees. A 2022 notice also says the Korean government has not handed K-ETA applications to any agency.

Close the page if any of these appear:

  • The address does not end in .go.kr.
  • The total is far above KRW 10,000 plus the small card fee.
  • The site promises faster approval or guaranteed approval.

Common problems

  • You renewed your passport. Your old K-ETA does not move to the new passport. Apply again.
  • Your application was refused. The site does not give reasons. The official FAQ tells you to apply for a visa at a Korean embassy or consulate.
  • You apply again and again. If you apply three or more times within six months, you must wait six months before applying again. Sources differ on the start date: the K-ETA site counts from the first result, while the Korean Embassy in Thailand counts from the first application. Correcting a typing error in your personal details is an exception.
  • Your age is close to the cutoff. The age rule uses your age on the date of entry. If you turn 18 before you arrive, you need K-ETA.
  • You fly directly to Jeju. K-ETA rules apply on Jeju direct flights too. They have since September 2022.
  • You have no result before your flight. Without approval, an airline can refuse to board you. Apply early.

Questions and answers

Is K-ETA a visa?

No. It is an authorization for visa-free travelers. Your allowed stay comes from your nationality's visa-free period. For example, the K-ETA site lists 90 days for Thailand, 60 days at a time (up to 90 days in 180) for Russia, and 30 days at a time (up to 60 days in 180) for Kazakhstan.

My country is on the exemption list. Do I need to do anything?

You do not need K-ETA for arrivals up to 31 December 2026. You do need to submit an e-Arrival card or a paper arrival card, unless you choose to hold a K-ETA.

Does K-ETA replace the arrival card?

Yes, while it is valid. The exception: if you hold a K-ETA but enter Korea on a visa, you still submit an arrival card.

How early should I apply?

Results usually come within 72 hours, but problems take time to fix. Apply as soon as your trip is fixed. An older official notice suggested one to two months before travel.

Can I use the automatic e-gates with K-ETA?

Not because of K-ETA. Automated gates depend on your nationality and a separate registration. A Ministry of Justice release dated 1 October 2026 describes visa-free visitors aged 17 or over from 42 eligible countries registering at Incheon or Jeju airport. See arrival, immigration and customs.

Can I apply for my children or parents?

Yes, through a group application. Children aged 17 or under and adults aged 65 or over do not need K-ETA, but they do need an arrival card.

Official sources (13)

Last checked October 20, 2026Next check due November 19, 2026

Rules can change. Confirm on the official site before you travel.

Next stepKorea e-Arrival Card: Who Needs It and How to Submit (2026)

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