South Korea extends K-ETA exemption through 2026

Quick summary

South Korea has extended its K-ETA (Korean Electronic Travel Authorization) exemption through December 31, 2026, for nationals of 22 countries including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. Travelers from these nations can enter visa-free for tourism or business stays up to 90 days without applying for a K-ETA — the exemption is automatic and requires no action.

The requirement resumes January 1, 2027. Travelers can still apply for a K-ETA optionally during the exemption period to skip the electronic arrival card at entry, though the KRW 10,000 (~USD 7.70) fee is non-refundable.

South Korea’s Ministry of Justice confirmed on January 9, 2026, that the K-ETA exemption — originally set to expire December 31, 2025 — will continue for another full year as part of the “Visit Korea Year” tourism initiative. The extension covers 22 specific countries and territories, including all major Western markets: the United States (including Guam), Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, and Singapore.

Exempt travelers can enter South Korea for up to 90 days without a K-ETA for tourism or business purposes. The exemption is automatic — no application, no approval process, no documentation beyond a valid passport. Upon arrival, travelers must complete an electronic arrival card unless they’ve obtained an optional K-ETA, which waives that requirement.

The exemption does not apply to work, study, or long-term stays, which require separate visa categories. It also does not extend beyond December 31, 2026 — the K-ETA requirement is scheduled to resume for all eligible nationalities starting January 1, 2027.

Full list of exempt countries and how it works

The 22 exempt countries and territories are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Macao, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and United States (including Guam). Nationals from these places can verify their exemption status by selecting their nationality on the official K-ETA portal — a pop-up notification will confirm the exemption if applicable.

The exemption is tied to passport nationality, not residence. A British citizen living in Australia enters under UK rules; an American citizen living in Germany enters under US rules. Children under 17 and adults over 65 from any visa-waiver country are always K-ETA exempt regardless of this policy — that’s a separate standing exemption.

One caveat for UK travelers: citizens holding GBO, GBD, GBS, or GBP passport statuses are limited to 30-day stays instead of the standard 90 days. Standard British passports (GBR status) qualify for the full 90 days. This is a longstanding South Korean policy unrelated to the K-ETA exemption.

The official extension notice from South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms the policy runs through the end of 2026 with no further extensions announced. Travelers planning trips in 2027 should assume the K-ETA requirement will be back in force.

Why the optional K-ETA still matters

Even though the K-ETA is not required, applying for one optionally has one tangible benefit: it waives the electronic arrival card requirement at entry. Without a K-ETA, exempt travelers must complete an e-Arrival Card before passing through immigration — a separate digital form covering the same information (passport details, address in Korea, purpose of visit).

The K-ETA costs KRW 10,000 (approximately USD 7.70 at current exchange rates) and is non-refundable even for exempt travelers. Processing takes 24–72 hours, so apply at least 72 hours before departure if you want to skip the arrival card. The application requires a passport scan, a recent photo, and basic travel details — the same information the arrival card asks for, just submitted in advance.

For travelers connecting through Seoul Incheon International Airport without entering South Korea, the K-ETA exemption does not apply to transit passengers staying longer than 24 hours or exiting the airport. Confirm transit requirements with your airline at check-in — policies vary by nationality and layover duration. European travelers connecting to onward destinations in Asia should verify whether their specific routing requires a K-ETA even under the exemption.

Before you book: verify and document

The exemption is confirmed, but airlines and immigration systems don’t always update instantly.

• Verify your exemption status: Go to www.k-eta.go.kr, select your nationality, and screenshot the pop-up notification confirming the exemption. Keep it on your phone for check-in.
• Check passport validity: Your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your stay. If it expires mid-trip, you must exit before the expiry date — no extensions are available under visa-free entry.
• Confirm UK passport status: If you hold a UK passport with GBO, GBD, GBS, or GBP status, your stay is limited to 30 days, not 90. Check the status code on your passport’s data page.
• Plan for 2027 travel now: If you’re booking a trip that departs after December 31, 2026, apply for a K-ETA at least 72 hours before departure. The exemption ends January 1, 2027, and there’s no indication it will be extended again.

Watch: South Korea’s Ministry of Justice typically announces policy changes 30–60 days in advance. If the K-ETA exemption is extended beyond 2026, expect an announcement in November 2026.

Questions? Answers.