Entry requirements — check K-ETA before you fly
Verified 21 September 2026
Unlike everything else on this page, this is the one thing you finish before departure, not after you arrive.
What K-ETA is — an online pre-travel authorization that citizens of visa-waiver countries must get before flying to Korea. It is a separate process from a visa.
- Currently waived through 31 December 2026 — citizens of 22 countries, including the US, Canada, Japan, Australia and Germany, can enter with just a passport, no K-ETA needed. Check whether your country is on the list at the official K-ETA site by selecting your nationality
- Even if you are exempt, applying anyway skips the paper arrival card at immigration — worth doing if you have the time
- If your country is not exempt, apply on the official site at least a few days before departure — approval can take time
Watch out for lookalike sites. Searching "K-ETA" often surfaces paid agency ads before the official site, and those agencies charge several times the real fee. Before you apply, check the address is exactly k-eta.go.kr.
The waiver has been extended more than once, but it remains a temporary measure. Check the current status again right before you fly.