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Visa & K-ETA

Do you need a visa or K-ETA to enter Korea? Here's how entry works for most short-term visitors.

Entry & DocumentsUpdated September 2026

Passport country not listed? Check your requirements with the official immigration service.

Visa, K-ETA and arrival declaration are different

Choose the country that issued your passport first. K-ETA applies only to eligible visa-free nationalities, not everyone reading this language. Indonesian and Vietnamese ordinary passports are not K-ETA eligible.

Select your passport country for its guide, then check your travel purpose, arrival date, age and valid documents on the official sites. Site language is not your nationality.

Check the e-Arrival Card requirement โ†—K-ETA โ†—Korea Visa Portal โ†—

ยท K-ETA โ†—

K-ETA rules โ€” eligible visa-free passports only

The temporary K-ETA waiver applies only to designated countries and regions through 2026-12-31. Visa-free entry does not automatically mean K-ETA exemption. Check the official notice again for later travel dates.

The e-Arrival Card is conditional. Valid K-ETA holders entering under K-ETA and valid Korean residence-card holders are exempt. A traveler entering with a visa may need the declaration even when also holding K-ETA. Other exceptions exist: use the official navigator for your documents and journey. This is an immigration declaration, separate from customs.

K-ETA-eligible travelers aged 17 and under or 65 and over are exempt from mandatory K-ETA. This does not itself exempt them from the e-Arrival Card.

Apply early enough to receive approval before boarding. K-ETA assessment can take more than 72 hours; no approval time or entry is guaranteed.

Confirm your exact case on the official sites. Immigration makes the final entry decision.

Select your passport country for its guide, then check your travel purpose, arrival date, age and valid documents on the official sites. Site language is not your nationality.

Find your country

Every nationality has its own path. Pick yours for a tailored guide โ€” a full A-to-Z visa walkthrough if you need a visa, or a quick entry checklist if you're visa-free.

๐Ÿ›‚ You need a visa โ€” full A-to-Z walkthrough

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณIndiaYes โ€” Indian passport holders need a visa.โ†’๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณVietnamYes โ€” Vietnamese passport holders need a visa.โ†’๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณChinaYes โ€” Chinese passport holders need a visa for mainland Korea.โ†’๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญPhilippinesFilipino passport holders need a C-3-9 tourist visa for mainland Korea.โ†’๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉIndonesiaIndividual Indonesian tourists need a visa โ€” but groups may not.โ†’๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ณMongoliaYes โ€” Mongolian passport holders need a visa.โ†’๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฉBangladeshYes โ€” Bangladeshi passport holders need a visa.โ†’๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ตNepalYes โ€” Nepali passport holders need a visa.โ†’๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฟUzbekistanYes โ€” Uzbekistani passport holders need a visa.โ†’๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ฐSri LankaYes โ€” Sri Lankan passport holders need a visa.โ†’๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐPakistanYes โ€” Pakistani passport holders need a visa.โ†’

โœ… Visa-free โ€” quick entry guide

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธUnited StatesNo tourist visa needed โ€” the United States passports are visa-free.โ†’๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ตJapanNo tourist visa needed โ€” Japan passports are visa-free.โ†’๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡งUnited KingdomNo tourist visa needed โ€” the United Kingdom passports are visa-free.โ†’๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆCanadaNo tourist visa needed โ€” Canada passports are visa-free.โ†’๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บAustraliaNo tourist visa needed โ€” Australia passports are visa-free.โ†’๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ผTaiwanNo tourist visa needed โ€” Taiwan passports are visa-free.โ†’๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ฐHong Kong SAR ChinaNo tourist visa needed โ€” Hong Kong (HKSAR) passports are visa-free.โ†’๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฌSingaporeNo tourist visa needed โ€” Singapore passports are visa-free.โ†’๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡พMalaysiaVisa-free tourism โ€” check whether K-ETA applies to you.โ†’๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญThailandVisa-free tourism โ€” check whether K-ETA applies to you.โ†’๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟKazakhstanVisa-free tourism โ€” check whether K-ETA applies to you.โ†’

Passport country not listed? Check your requirements with the official immigration service.

โœ“ Verified facts

The e-Arrival Card is conditional. Valid K-ETA holders entering under K-ETA and valid Korean residence-card holders are exempt. A traveler entering with a visa may need the declaration even when also holding K-ETA. Other exceptions exist: use the official navigator for your documents and journey. This is an immigration declaration, separate from customs.
โš  Prices/rules change โ€” confirm at sourceSource: Korea Immigration Service โ€” e-Arrival Card

โ“˜ If required, submit free at e-arrivalcard.go.kr from 3 days before arrival, based on Korean Standard Time. It expires 72 hours after submission or once immigration is completed. Keeping the emailed issuance number is helpful; carrying a printed confirmation is not required.

K-ETA rules โ€” eligible visa-free passports only
The temporary K-ETA waiver applies only to designated countries and regions through 2026-12-31. Visa-free entry does not automatically mean K-ETA exemption. Check the official notice again for later travel dates.
โš  Prices/rules change โ€” confirm at sourceSource: Korea Immigration Service โ€” K-ETA

โ“˜ Confirm your exact case on the official sites. Immigration makes the final entry decision.

K-ETA-eligible travelers aged 17 and under or 65 and over are exempt from mandatory K-ETA. This does not itself exempt them from the e-Arrival Card.
โš  Prices/rules change โ€” confirm at sourceSource: Korea Immigration Service โ€” K-ETA

โ“˜ Confirm your exact case on the official sites. Immigration makes the final entry decision.

K-ETA costs KRW 10,000 plus the online payment fee and is non-refundable. Current approvals are valid for 3 years or until passport expiry, whichever comes first; this is not the allowed length of each stay.
โš  Prices/rules change โ€” confirm at sourceSource: Korea Immigration Service โ€” K-ETA

โ“˜ Confirm your exact case on the official sites. Immigration makes the final entry decision.

Apply early enough to receive approval before boarding. K-ETA assessment can take more than 72 hours; no approval time or entry is guaranteed.
โš  Prices/rules change โ€” confirm at sourceSource: Korea Immigration Service โ€” K-ETA

โ“˜ Confirm your exact case on the official sites. Immigration makes the final entry decision.

C-3-2

Eligible C-3-2 group visas for China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, India and Cambodia have the USD 15 visa issuance fee waived through 2026-12-31. This is not visa-free entry or a waiver of individual visa fees, agency fees or service charges.

ยท C-3-2 โ†—

Frequently asked questions

Temporary exemption

The temporary K-ETA waiver applies only to designated countries and regions through 2026-12-31. Visa-free entry does not automatically mean K-ETA exemption. Check the official notice again for later travel dates.

Check the e-Arrival Card requirement

The e-Arrival Card is conditional. Valid K-ETA holders entering under K-ETA and valid Korean residence-card holders are exempt. A traveler entering with a visa may need the declaration even when also holding K-ETA. Other exceptions exist: use the official navigator for your documents and journey. This is an immigration declaration, separate from customs.

Application and timing

Apply early enough to receive approval before boarding. K-ETA assessment can take more than 72 hours; no approval time or entry is guaranteed.

Age exemptions

K-ETA-eligible travelers aged 17 and under or 65 and over are exempt from mandatory K-ETA. This does not itself exempt them from the e-Arrival Card.

Fee and validity

K-ETA costs KRW 10,000 plus the online payment fee and is non-refundable. Current approvals are valid for 3 years or until passport expiry, whichever comes first; this is not the allowed length of each stay.

Official sources

โœ…K-ETATemporary exemption๐Ÿ“e-Arrival CardCheck the e-Arrival Card requirement๐Ÿ›๏ธKorea Visa PortalConfirm your exact case on the official sites. Immigration makes the final entry decision.
๐Ÿ’ฌ Write a review โ†’

Visa sorted? Now plan the rest of your trip

Arrival, getting around, where to stay, and what to do โ€” the rest of your Korea trip, all here.

Airport โ†’ CityIncheon ยท AREX expressGetting AroundT-money ยท subway ยท KTX ยท taxiSIM / eSIM / Wi-FiStay connected on arrivalMoney & PaymentExchange ยท cards ยท cashWhere to stayBest areas & neighborhoodsReady-made itineraries3โ€“7 day routes you can copyK-pop & ConcertsVenues, tickets & idol hotspots

Travel facts are checked against official sources with a verification date. Prices, schedules and visa rules change โ€” always confirm at the linked official source before you travel.