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K-ETA Exemption in 2027: Will It Be Extended? (Status Tracker)

Checked against official sources on October 20, 2026

Runways and control towers at Incheon International Airport on a clear day

Photo: Sgroey, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Incheon airport parking and firefighting practice aircraft.jpg

Summary

As of 20 October 2026, Korea has not announced whether the temporary K-ETA exemption for 22 countries and regions, including the US, UK, Japan, Taiwan and Australia, will continue after 31 December 2026. Until an announcement, plan as if you need a K-ETA for arrivals from 1 January 2027. A K-ETA costs KRW 10,000 plus a card fee and stays valid for 3 years.

At a glance

Exemption ends
31 December 2026
2027 decision
Not announced (20 Oct 2026)
Exempt group
22 countries and regions
K-ETA fee
KRW 10,000 plus card fee
Processing
Usually 72 hours or less
Valid for
3 years

Details

Since April 2023, citizens of 22 countries and regions have been able to enter Korea without a K-ETA. The current exemption runs until 31 December 2026. This page tracks whether it will be extended and what you should do if your trip falls in 2027.

Status as of 20 October 2026

Question Answer
Current exemption period 1 January to 31 December 2026, Korea time (KST)
Announcement about 2027 None yet. No notice on the K-ETA site and no Ministry of Justice press release as of 20 October 2026
When past extensions came In December, before the old end date: the 2025 extension was announced on 11 December 2024 and the 2026 extension was posted on 23 December 2025
Official places to watch K-ETA notices, Ministry of Justice press releases, the Korean embassy in your country

We review this page at least every 30 days. When an announcement appears, this table changes first.

Who the exemption covers

The temporary exemption applies to citizens of these 22 countries and regions:

  • 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 post this list as a page. It comes from Korean embassy and consulate notices, for example the Korean Embassy in Spain's notice of 23 December 2025.

Two other groups are exempt under separate rules that do not expire on 31 December 2026:

  • travelers aged 17 or under, or 65 or over, on the date of entry (a permanent rule since 3 July 2023)
  • holders of diplomatic, official or UN passports, Korean visa holders and registered foreign residents

Other visa-free nationalities, such as Thailand, Malaysia, Russia and Kazakhstan, already need K-ETA. Nothing on this page changes that. Check your passport in the entry checker.

Timeline

Date What happened
1 April 2023 Temporary exemption starts for 22 countries and regions, tied to the Visit Korea Year 2023–2024 campaign
3 July 2023 K-ETA validity extended from 2 to 3 years; under-17 and 65+ travelers excluded permanently
11 December 2024 Exemption extended to 31 December 2025
23 December 2025 K-ETA notice extends the exemption to 31 December 2026
20 October 2026 No announcement about 2027

What changes if it is not extended

If no extension is announced, citizens of the 22 countries and regions will be treated like other visa-free travelers:

  • You will need an approved K-ETA before boarding a flight or ship to Korea.
  • Without approval, the airline may refuse to board you.
  • Once you hold a valid K-ETA, you no longer need to submit an arrival card.

The visa-free stay allowed for your nationality stays the same either way. K-ETA does not set how long you can stay.

Before you start

Check three things:

  1. Your passport's nationality. The list above uses the passport you travel on.
  2. Your arrival date in Korea time. The exemption period is set in KST. A flight that leaves on 31 December can land on 1 January.
  3. Your passport's expiry date. A K-ETA ends when the passport expires, and a new passport needs a new K-ETA.

Step by step: trips that cross 31 December 2026

Step 1 — Find your arrival date

If you arrive in Korea on or before 31 December 2026 (KST), the current exemption covers that entry. Your departure date from Korea does not matter.

Step 2 — If you arrive on or after 1 January 2027, decide now

You have two options:

  • Wait for the announcement. Past extensions were announced in December (11 December 2024 and 23 December 2025), which leaves little time if the answer is no.
  • Apply now. A K-ETA approved today stays valid for 3 years, or until your passport expires. It covers you whatever is decided, and it also replaces the arrival card.

The official notice does not explain how a flight that leaves on 31 December and lands on 1 January is treated. If you land on or after 1 January 2027 and no extension has been announced, get a K-ETA.

Step 3 — Apply only on the official site

Use www.k-eta.go.kr or the official K-ETA app. Agency sites charge more for the same approval. Our K-ETA guide walks through the form.

Step 4 — Check again before you fly

Look at this page and the K-ETA notice board in the week before departure. Rules can change at short notice.

Cost and time

Item Detail (as of October 2026)
K-ETA fee KRW 10,000 per person, plus about 3% card processing fee
Processing Usually 72 hours or less
Validity 3 years, or until the passport expires
Arrival card Not needed while your K-ETA is valid, unless you enter on a visa

Common problems

  • Reading old articles. Many pages still say the exemption ends in 2024 or 2025. Check the date on any source you read.
  • Assuming exempt means no paperwork. Exempt travelers without a K-ETA still submit an arrival card.
  • Waiting until mid or late December. If the answer is no, you may have only days to apply, and processing usually takes up to 72 hours.
  • Using an agency site in a hurry. Official approval is the same everywhere. Only the price differs.

Questions and answers

Has Korea announced the K-ETA exemption for 2027?

Not as of 20 October 2026. We found no notice on the K-ETA site and no Ministry of Justice press release about 2027.

Will the exemption be extended?

Nobody outside the government knows. It has been extended twice, both times in December. Plan for both outcomes.

I already have a K-ETA. Does any of this matter to me?

No. Your K-ETA stays valid until its expiry date, whatever is decided about the exemption.

My child is 15 and my parent is 70. Do they need K-ETA in 2027?

No. The age rule is separate from the temporary exemption. They still submit an arrival card.

Will the list of 22 countries change?

Embassy notices have listed the same 22 since April 2023. An extension could keep the list, shorten it or add countries. Check the announcement when it comes.

Update log

  • 20 October 2026: Page created. No announcement about 2027 found on the K-ETA site, the Ministry of Justice press release board or Korean embassy notices.

Official sources (10)

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

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

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

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