Quick summary
US and Canadian passport holders can enter South Korea visa-free for tourism or business stays up to 90 days without applying for the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) through December 31, 2026. The exemption, formalized by South Korea’s Ministry of Justice on January 9, 2026, saves travelers the KRW 10,000 (~$7.50 USD) application fee and eliminates the typical 72-hour processing wait. The policy covers 22 countries total, including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and most of Western Europe.
The K-ETA requirement returns on January 1, 2027. All exempt travelers must still submit an e-Arrival card online within 72 hours before landing—a new digital requirement that replaced paper forms on January 1, 2026.
South Korea extended its temporary suspension of the K-ETA requirement for US and Canadian nationals through the end of 2026, giving travelers from both countries another year of streamlined entry for short-term visits. The exemption applies to tourism and business trips lasting 90 days or less—no pre-authorization, no fee, no 72-hour wait.
The extension supports South Korea’s “Visit Korea Year” campaign, which aims to attract 30 million tourists in 2026. The Ministry of Justice published the official notice on December 23, 2025, confirming the policy runs from January 1 through December 31, 2026 (Korea Standard Time).
Travelers from 22 countries benefit from the exemption, including the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and most Western European nations. The full list includes the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, and Austria.
The exemption ends at midnight on December 31, 2026. Starting January 1, 2027, all visa-waiver nationals will need to apply for K-ETA before traveling to South Korea.
What the exemption covers—and what it doesn’t
The K-ETA exemption eliminates the need to apply for electronic travel authorization before departure, but it does not eliminate all digital requirements. As of January 1, 2026, all foreign travelers—including those from exempt countries—must submit an e-Arrival card online within three days before landing. The e-Arrival card replaced the paper arrival form and requires a passport photo, flight details, and accommodation information.
Exempt travelers can voluntarily apply for K-ETA if they want to skip the e-Arrival card step entirely. The application costs KRW 10,000 (non-refundable) and takes up to 72 hours to process. When exempt nationals visit the K-ETA portal, a pop-up confirms their exemption status—but the system still allows them to proceed with a voluntary application if they prefer the e-Arrival bypass.
The exemption does not apply to stays longer than 90 days or to travelers entering South Korea for employment, study, or other purposes requiring a visa. Those travelers must apply for the appropriate visa category—such as the C-3-9 tourist visa—through a Korean consulate, which typically takes 5 to 14 days and costs between $40 and $185 USD depending on nationality and reciprocal agreements.
| Country/Region | Exemption status | Fee saved | e-Arrival required |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Exempt | KRW 10,000 (~$7.50) | Yes |
| Canada | Exempt | KRW 10,000 (~$7.50) | Yes |
| Australia | Exempt | KRW 10,000 (~$7.50) | Yes |
| New Zealand | Exempt | KRW 10,000 (~$7.50) | Yes |
| United Kingdom | Exempt | KRW 10,000 (~$7.50) | Yes |
| India | Not exempt | N/A | Yes |
| China | Not exempt | N/A | Yes |
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Why South Korea suspended K-ETA—and why it’s coming back
South Korea introduced the K-ETA system in 2021 as a security screening tool for visa-waiver nationals. The system collects passport details, travel history, and criminal background information before travelers board flights to South Korea. The temporary suspension, which began in April 2023, was designed to boost tourism recovery after COVID-19 border closures.
The “Visit Korea Year” campaign targets 30 million tourist arrivals in 2026—a 25% increase over 2025 levels. The K-ETA exemption reduces friction for short-term visitors from high-volume markets, particularly the US, which sent 1.8 million travelers to South Korea in 2024.
The exemption ends on December 31, 2026, because the Ministry of Justice views K-ETA as a permanent security layer. Starting January 1, 2027, all visa-waiver nationals will need to apply for K-ETA before departure, regardless of trip length or purpose. The fee and processing time will return to pre-exemption levels: KRW 10,000 and up to 72 hours.
Travelers planning trips in late 2026 should confirm their departure and return dates fall entirely within the exemption window. A trip that departs on December 30, 2026, but returns on January 5, 2027, would require K-ETA for the return entry if the traveler exits and re-enters South Korea during that period. For flight options to South Korea from North America, nonstop routes from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, and Vancouver operate year-round with frequencies ranging from daily to 3–4 times weekly.
Steps to confirm your exemption and prepare for entry
The K-ETA exemption is automatic for US and Canadian passport holders traveling for tourism or business stays up to 90 days. No application or advance notification is required.
- Verify your exemption status: Visit the K-ETA portal at k-eta.go.kr and enter your nationality. A pop-up will confirm whether you are exempt. If you hold dual citizenship, the exemption applies to whichever passport you use for entry—non-exempt passports trigger the full K-ETA requirement.
- Submit the e-Arrival card: Complete the form at k-eta.go.kr/eta/e-arrival within 72 hours before your flight. Upload a passport photo, enter flight details, and provide your accommodation address. The form takes 5–10 minutes and must be submitted for every entry, even if you visited South Korea earlier in 2026.
- Check your passport validity: South Korea requires passports to be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date. Airlines will deny boarding if your passport does not meet this requirement.
- Plan for trips after December 31, 2026: If you are booking travel for early 2027, apply for K-ETA at least one week before departure. The system occasionally experiences delays during high-volume periods, and approval is required before boarding.
Questions? Answers.
Can I still get K-ETA benefits without applying during the exemption period?
No. Exempt travelers skip the application fee and processing wait, but they must still submit the e-Arrival card within 72 hours before landing. The only way to bypass the e-Arrival card is to voluntarily apply for K-ETA, which costs KRW 10,000 and takes up to 72 hours to process. The voluntary application is valid for two years and covers unlimited entries.
What happens if I hold dual citizenship with one exempt and one non-exempt passport?
The exemption applies to whichever passport you use for entry. If you enter South Korea on a US or Canadian passport, you are exempt. If you enter on a passport from a non-exempt country—such as India or China—you must apply for K-ETA regardless of your other citizenship. Airlines check passport nationality at check-in, and South Korean immigration officers verify it at arrival.
Does the exemption apply to transit layovers in South Korea?
Travelers staying airside for less than 24 hours during a transit layover are exempt from both K-ETA and the e-Arrival card. If you leave the airport and enter South Korea—even for a few hours—you must comply with the e-Arrival card requirement. The K-ETA exemption applies to landside transit, but the e-Arrival card does not.
What if my trip starts in 2026 but extends past January 1, 2027?
The exemption covers your initial entry if you arrive before December 31, 2026. However, if you exit South Korea and re-enter after January 1, 2027, you will need K-ETA for the second entry. Travelers planning multi-country itineraries that include a return to South Korea in early 2027 should apply for K-ETA before departure to avoid complications during the trip.
Can I use the K-ETA exemption for stays longer than 90 days?
No. The exemption applies only to tourism and business visits lasting 90 days or less. Travelers planning longer stays or entering South Korea for employment, study, or other purposes must apply for the appropriate visa through a Korean consulate. The C-3-9 tourist visa is the most common option for extended leisure travel and typically takes 5 to 14 days to process.
