Before you fly to Korea, you may need to sort out one or two pieces of online paperwork: a K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) or a visa, and the e-Arrival Card. The rules depend on your nationality and have changed several times in recent years, which makes old blog posts unreliable. This guide explains how things stand in 2026 and how to check your own case.
Step 1: do you need a visa?
Citizens of many countries can visit Korea for tourism without a visa, for stays of up to 30 to 90 days depending on nationality. Others need a visa before they travel. Check your nationality on the Korean government's visa portal or with the Korean embassy in your country well before you book. If you need a visa, the K-ETA doesn't apply to you.
Step 2: K-ETA, required or exempt?
The K-ETA is an online travel authorisation for visa-free visitors, similar to the US ESTA. You apply online with your passport details and a photo, and the result is linked to your passport.
- Temporary exemption: citizens of a list of countries and territories, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, most of the EU, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, don't need a K-ETA for trips until 31 December 2026. Check the K-ETA website for the current list.
- Everyone else visa-free: apply for a K-ETA before you travel. Apply at least 72 hours before your flight, as some applications take time to approve.
- Cost and validity: the fee is 10,000 won, and an approved K-ETA is usually valid for up to three years, or until your passport expires, for multiple trips.
Even if you are exempt, you can choose to get a K-ETA. One advantage is that K-ETA holders don't need to fill in an arrival card on each trip.
Step 3: the e-Arrival Card
Korea has moved the old paper arrival card online. Unless you have a K-ETA, fill in the free e-Arrival Card at e-arrivalcard.go.kr in the three days before you arrive. It asks for your passport details, flight, address in Korea (your first hotel is fine) and the purpose of your trip. You will usually get a confirmation you can show on arrival. Paper cards have still been available at some airports during the change-over, but filling it in online beforehand saves time.
Step 4: on arrival
- Immigration: join the line for foreign passports. Your fingerprints and photo are taken. Have your hotel address handy in case you are asked.
- Baggage and customs: collect your bags. Travellers with nothing to declare can walk through without a customs form; if you carry goods over the duty-free allowance, large amounts of cash, or restricted items such as fresh food or plants, declare them.
- Into the city: see our Incheon Airport to Seoul guide and the arrival checklist for your first hours.
Common mistakes
- Using an unofficial website and paying several times the real fee.
- Leaving the K-ETA to the last minute. You may not be able to board without an approved K-ETA if you need one.
- A passport that is about to expire. Many airlines expect your passport to be valid for your whole stay; check your airline's rules.
- A different passport. The K-ETA is linked to the passport you applied with. If you renew your passport, apply again.
FAQ
Do I need a K-ETA to visit Korea in 2026?
It depends on your nationality. Citizens of the countries on Korea's temporary exemption list don't need one until 31 December 2026. Other visa-free visitors do. Check k-eta.go.kr.
When should I fill in the e-Arrival Card?
Within the three days before you arrive in Korea, on e-arrivalcard.go.kr. It is free.
Do I need an arrival card if I have a K-ETA?
No. K-ETA holders are exempt from the arrival card.
