Korea Entry · Visa · K-ETA
Korea entry, explained — in your language.
K-ETA status, visa-free country list, every common visa type, and a tracked log of Korea's policy changes. Independent guide for foreigners coming to Korea.
What you'll find here
K-ETA, end to end
Who needs it, how to apply, what documents to upload, fee and validity, and what to do if your application is rejected.
Country-by-country status
Look up your passport and instantly see whether you need K-ETA, a visa-waiver, or a full visa to enter Korea.
Every visa type
Tourist (C-3), student (D-2), English teacher (E-2), marriage (F-6), job-seeker (D-10), digital nomad (F-1-D), and more — in plain language.
Policy changes, tracked
Korea's entry rules change often. Every official change is logged here with date and a link to the source.
Latest policy updates
Open full timeline →Mandatory e-Arrival Card takes effect
All foreign visitors entering Korea must now submit the e-Arrival Card online (e-arrivalcard.go.kr) before or on arrival; this replaces the paper disembarkation card. Important: travelers with an approved K-ETA are exempt from the e-Arrival Card requirement — only one of the two is needed.
K-ETA exemption for 22 countries extended through end of 2026
Korea's Ministry of Justice announced a second extension of the temporary K-ETA exemption for citizens of 22 designated countries — Japan, USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Austria, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao — for tourism and transit through 31 December 2026.
e-Arrival Card pilot service launched
Korea launched the e-Arrival Card service at e-arrivalcard.go.kr as a voluntary pilot. The service lets travelers submit their entry declaration online instead of filling in the paper card at the airport. The pilot phase ran until end of 2025 before becoming mandatory on 2026-01-01.
Common questions
See all questions →- What's the difference between K-ETA and a visa?
- K-ETA is a pre-boarding screening for travelers from visa-waiver countries — it's permission to board a plane, not permission to enter Korea. A visa is issued by an embassy/consulate after a more detailed application, allows specific activities (study, work, marriage, etc.), and often allows longer stays. If your country is on the visa-waiver list, you do K-ETA. If not, you apply for a visa.
- How long is K-ETA valid?
- 3 years from approval, OR until your passport expires — whichever comes first. Each entry allows you to stay up to 90 days (or whatever your country's visa-waiver limit is, whichever is shorter). You can enter Korea multiple times during the 3 years on the same K-ETA.
- Do I need K-ETA if I'm only transiting through Incheon?
- If you stay in the international transit area without passing immigration, no — K-ETA is not required. If you leave the transit area (e.g., to use the transit tour, stay overnight in a transit hotel outside the secure zone, or change airports), yes — you need K-ETA. When in doubt, get one. It's USD 7 and valid 3 years.
- What happens if my K-ETA is rejected?
- You cannot board a Korea-bound flight under visa-waiver. You can (a) re-apply after fixing the issue — most rejections are from photo problems or data mismatch with the passport, or (b) apply for a regular C-3 short-term visit visa at the nearest Korean embassy/consulate. The visa requires more documents but K-ETA rejection does not block visa approval.