K-ETA — Korea Electronic Travel Authorization: the complete 2026 guide
What K-ETA is, who needs it, the ₩10,000 fee, 3-year validity, the list of 22 temporarily exempt countries for 2026, and why Vietnamese citizens do NOT use K-ETA but must apply for a C-3 visa.
The Korea Electronic Travel Authorization — or K-ETA (전자여행허가) — is an online pre-entry screening system reserved for citizens of countries that are exempt from a visa when entering South Korea. Much like the United States' ESTA or Canada's eTA, K-ETA is not a visa, but for those required to submit it, it is a mandatory condition that must be held before boarding an aircraft or vessel. This article consolidates all of the official information current as of June 2026.
An important note for readers who are Vietnamese citizens: because Vietnam does not yet have a visa-exemption agreement with South Korea, Vietnamese citizens are not eligible to use K-ETA — you must apply for a C-3 tourist visa through the ordinary procedure. This is explained in detail in Section 3.
1. What K-ETA is and who needs it
K-ETA is an electronic authorization issued by the Ministry of Justice of Korea (법무부 출입국·외국인정책본부). Once approved, K-ETA lets the traveler skip submitting a paper arrival card at the border — which shortens the time spent on entry formalities.
Who needs to apply for K-ETA? Any foreign national who meets all three of the following conditions at once:
- Holds a passport of a country or territory that is on the list of those exempt from a visa to enter Korea.
- Intends a short-term entry for the purpose of tourism, visiting relatives, attending an event or conference, or business (direct profit-making activity is not permitted).
- Does not fall under a category exempt from submitting K-ETA (see Section 2 on the temporary exemption policy).
K-ETA does not replace a visa. According to the official rule at k-eta.go.kr: "K-ETA is NOT a visa and only fulfills some of the requirements for entering the Republic of Korea without a visa. An approved K-ETA does not guarantee entry — the final decision is made by a Korea Immigration Service officer at the port of entry."
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Since 2023, the Ministry of Justice of Korea has implemented a policy that temporarily exempts the K-ETA requirement for certain countries in order to boost domestic tourism. On 23 December 2025, the Ministry officially announced a further one-year extension: the K-ETA exemption period runs from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026 (KST).
The list of 22 countries and territories temporarily exempt from K-ETA in 2026:
- Asia: Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macao
- Americas: United States, Canada
- Europe: United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Austria
- Oceania: New Zealand, Australia
An important note for citizens of these 22 countries: even though they are exempt from K-ETA, from 1 January 2026 all travelers entering Korea are required to submit the Electronic Arrival Declaration Card (e-Arrival Card / 전자입국신고서) before arrival or within 3 days of the arrival date (including the day of arrival). This is an online form that replaces the former paper arrival card. Those who hold a valid K-ETA are exempt from submitting the e-Arrival Card, because K-ETA already incorporates this declaration process.
Countries that are exempt but still wish to enjoy the benefits of K-ETA (for example, not having to file the e-Arrival Card) may voluntarily apply at the ordinary fee.
3. Relationship with Vietnamese citizens: no K-ETA — a C-3 visa is required
This is the point most likely to cause confusion for Vietnamese readers.
Vietnamese citizens are NOT eligible to be granted a K-ETA, for a simple reason: Vietnam currently has no bilateral visa-exemption agreement with South Korea. The K-ETA eligibility list published officially at k-eta.go.kr covers roughly 100 countries and territories — and Vietnam is not on that list.
Vietnamese travelers who wish to visit Korea must apply for a C-3 tourist visa (Short-Term Stay Visa / C-3-9 Visa) at the competent Korean embassy or consulate before departure. The C-3 visa is for the purposes of tourism, visiting relatives, and attending short events — it does not permit paid work.
This is the crux: K-ETA ≠ visa; K-ETA does not apply to Vietnamese citizens; Vietnamese travelers cannot "use K-ETA in place of a visa." Any service advertising "K-ETA for Vietnamese" is misinformation — please be cautious.
4. Fee and processing time
Fee: ₩10,000 (equivalent to roughly 7–8 USD), not including the online payment fee, which is charged separately. The fee is non-refundable even if the application is rejected. The system accepts only international credit or debit cards.
Warning: Apply only at www.k-eta.go.kr or the official mobile app (K-ETA). Many fraudulent websites charge several times more under the guise of a "K-ETA agency" or "express K-ETA." K-ETA has no expedited processing service — every application is reviewed in the order it is received.
Processing time: usually within 72 hours of submission. During peak season or when applications surge, it may take longer. You should apply at least 72 hours before boarding — do not apply after you have already boarded the vessel or aircraft, or once you are already in Korea.
5. Validity and number of entries
An approved K-ETA is valid for 3 years from the date of issue, allowing multiple entries within that period. If the passport expires before 3 years, the K-ETA is valid only until the passport's expiry date. (Applications submitted before 3 July 2023 are valid for only 2 years under the former rule.)
The validity of K-ETA is separate from the visa-free length of stay permitted at each entry. A valid K-ETA does not mean you may stay in Korea indefinitely — the maximum length of stay per entry depends on nationality (typically 30–90 days, Canada 6 months) and is recorded in the passport at the border.
A K-ETA holder must apply for a new K-ETA if: (1) the passport is reissued, or (2) there is a change in criminal history or infectious-disease information. Changes to trip information (place of stay, arrival/departure dates, traveling companions) must be updated via the K-ETA site before entry.
6. The K-ETA application process
The K-ETA application is submitted entirely online — there is no need to visit an embassy:
- Go to www.k-eta.go.kr or download the K-ETA app (Android/iOS).
- Select "Apply for K-ETA" — there are two forms: a registered member or a non-member (a non-member must verify their email each time).
- Enter passport information (you can scan it with the camera).
- Fill in trip information: purpose of entry, place of stay, arrival/departure dates, traveling companions.
- Upload a portrait photo to specification (color photo, white background, face looking straight ahead).
- Pay the ₩10,000 fee.
- Receive the result by email within 72 hours.
Once approved, keep the confirmation email or the lookup result on the website, as you may need to present it at the border.
7. Additional notes and frequently asked questions
Special for 2026 — Special Entry Procedure Declaration: As of June 2026, the k-eta.go.kr website is displaying the warning "The Republic of Korea is in disaster situations for special entry procedure" — requiring all foreigners entering the country to declare in advance. ⚠️ The detailed content and scope of application of this procedure were not fully clarified at the time of writing — readers should check directly at k-eta.go.kr before departure.
Does K-ETA replace a passport? No. A valid passport is still mandatory.
Does a person holding a valid Residence Card need a K-ETA? A person who holds both a K-ETA and a valid Residence Card will enter under residence status (not K-ETA). K-ETA applies only if the Residence Card was surrendered upon the previous departure.
Do children need their own K-ETA? Yes — every passenger, regardless of age, needs their own K-ETA.
Do transit passengers need a K-ETA? If you must enter Korean territory during transit (for example, to collect baggage or change your itinerary), you need a K-ETA or a visa.