What changed
The Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) exemption for 22 countries and regions is extended until 31 December 2026. Nationals of the listed countries entering Korea for tourism or business for up to 90 days do not need to apply for K-ETA. Travellers who are not covered must apply at least 72 hours before departure.
Key details
- Effective from: 2026-04-01
- Exempt country count: 22 countries and regions are exempt from K-ETA until 2026-12-31 (effective 2026-04-01 KST)
- Application fee: K-ETA application fee is 10000 KRW
- Validity period: An approved K-ETA is valid for 3 years
- Application deadline: Apply at least 72 hours before departure
- Visa free stay: Exempt nationals may stay up to 90 days for tourism or business
What you need to do
- Check the official notice linked below before you travel.
- Compare your own travel dates against the effective date given above, in KST.
- Allow extra time at the airport or station on the first affected day.
Where to check
Korea Immigration Service (K-ETA) publishes this change on its own site first, and aggregator pages often lag behind it by a day or more. If your plans depend on the detail, open the source listed with this article rather than relying on a summary. Where an announcement affects transport, cancellations are published separately from the policy notice, so check both.