What changes on 1 January 2027?
Since April 2023, visa-free visitors from 22 countries and regions have been able to enter Korea without a K-ETA, the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization. The exemption has been extended one year at a time, most recently on 23 December 2025.
Unless the Ministry of Justice announces a new extension, travellers from these 22 places will need an approved K-ETA before boarding a flight or ship to Korea from 1 January 2027, as other visa-free travellers already do. We update this page on the day an extension or change is announced.
The 22 countries and regions exempt until 31 December 2026
- Asia Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macao
- Americas United States (including Guam), Canada
- Europe United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Austria
- Oceania Australia, New Zealand
Visa-free travellers from other countries, including Russia, are not covered by this exemption. When you apply on the K-ETA website, a notice tells you if your passport is exempt.
Which one do I need?
| Your situation | K-ETA | e-Arrival Card |
|---|---|---|
| Passport from the 22 places, arriving by 31 December 2026 | Not required. You may still apply and pay the fee. | Required, unless you hold a valid K-ETA. |
| Passport from the 22 places, arriving from 1 January 2027 | Required before boarding, unless a new extension is announced. | Not required with a valid K-ETA. |
| Other visa-free passport | Required before boarding. | Not required with a valid K-ETA. |
| Visa-free traveller aged 17 or under, or 65 or over | Not needed: these ages are excluded from K-ETA applications. | Required, unless another exemption applies. |
| Travelling with a Korean visa | Not needed. | Required for short-term visa holders and for long-term visa holders who have not yet registered. |
| Registered foreign resident, permanent resident or domestic residence report holder | Not needed. | Not required. |
Aircrew, seafarers, transit passengers who do not enter Korea and holders of diplomatic or official passports follow separate rules. Check the official websites for your case.
Should I apply for a K-ETA before 2027?
You can apply now even if your passport is on the exemption list. The fee is ₩10,000, and an approved K-ETA is valid for three years, or until your passport expires if that comes sooner. A K-ETA issued during the exemption stays valid after 31 December 2026 until its own expiry date, and its holder does not submit an arrival card.
Apply on the official K-ETA website or app at least 72 hours before boarding. A K-ETA is not a visa and does not guarantee entry; the immigration officer makes the final decision.
How does the e-Arrival Card work?
Submit it on the official e-Arrival Card website from three days before you arrive until your immigration inspection. It is valid for 72 hours after submission; if you enter Korea later, submit a new one. You receive a confirmation email and do not need to print anything.
Have your passport, flight or ship number, accommodation address in Korea and email address ready.
Can I still use a paper arrival card?
The Ministry of Justice accepted paper arrival cards alongside the e-Arrival Card through 2025. As of 12 November 2026, we found no official Ministry of Justice notice abolishing the paper card. Plan to submit the e-Arrival Card online.