Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA)

Nationals of countries/regions eligible for visa-free entry are required to get K-ETA approval to board the flight or ship bound for the Republic of Korea. Please keep in mind that the assessment can take more than 72 hours depending on the situation (ex, an increased number of K-ETA applications, applicants’ circumstances, etc.), therefore, please apply for K-ETA with sufficient time.

The validity period of a K-ETA is 3 years in general (or 2 years if application was submitted before July 3, 2023) from the date of approval. K-ETA approval does not guarantee entry to the Republic of Korea. The final determination of a traveler’s entry will be made by the immigration official during entry immigration inspection.

K-ETA approval will be refused or cancelled in any case of submitting false or inaccurate information on the K-ETA application, and that person may be subject to penalties or entry restriction according to relevant Korean laws. The same will be applicable for those who are applying on behalf of the applicant.

The K-ETA fee is 10,000KRW and is non-refundable even if the application is denied.※ K-ETA Center is not responsible for any third party (agency, etc.) fees for the transaction.

Even if your K-ETA has not expired, you are required to apply for a new K-ETA if there are any changes to your information, such as name, sex, date of birth, nationality, passport information (passport number, passport expiration date), infectious disease or criminal record.

If there are any changes to your purpose of entry address in Korea or contact information after your K-ETA approval, you are required to update such information through the K-ETA website (K-ETA application results – Edit Information) before entering Korea. Failure to do so may result in unfavorable measures such as entry denial.

In celebration of ‘Visit Korea Year (2023-2024)’, K-ETA will be temporarily exempted to 22 countries/regions from April 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024 (KST). To learn more about the exemption, please visit here.

Those with K-ETA approval can go through entry immigration more conveniently, as they will be exempted from submitting the arrival card upon entry. K-ETA application by proxy is available, and one person can apply for up to a total of 50 people and make the payment at once.

If you hold both K-ETA and a valid Residence Card (or Overseas Korean Resident Card) when you enter South Korea, you are firstly granted the status of stay and period of stay according to your Residence Card (or Overseas Korean Resident Card). Based on the Article 37-1 of the Immigration Control Act, you can enter the country via K-ETA only if you had returned your Residence Card (or Overseas Korean Resident Card) to the immigration control official when you exited South Korea in the past or if you return your card at the moment of entry. Please note that if you hold a valid visa, you are firstly granted the status of stay and period of stay according to your visa (regardless of your possessing K-ETA). To learn more about K-ETA , please visit here.