South Korea K-ETA
A K-ETA is required. We can assist in processing this document.
Travel Document Type
K-ETA
Government Fee
USD 9.00
Byevisa Processing Fee
USD 20.00
Processing Time
24 hours
All About the South Korea K-ETA
If you come from a country that was previously allowed visa-free entry to this Asian nation, starting in September 2021 you’ll now be required to apply for the South Korea K-ETA (South Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) prior to your trip.
Don’t worry, travel to this country that simultaneously boasts 5,000 years of history and modern, cosmopolitan cities will still be a breeze. This new South Korea tourist visa is 100% online, putting your Korean adventure just a couple of clicks away.
In the past, foreign visitors were essentially divided into 2 groups: those who could visit South Korea visa-free for 30 or 90 days with only a valid passport, and those who needed to request a traditional authorisation through a South Korean embassy or consulate.
Now, visitors from 112 countries that could previously enter visa-free – among them the US, the UK, most European countries, Australia and Canada – can travel to Korea easily with the K-ETA. This new digital pass allows you to visit for up to 90 days multiple times, depending on your nationality, and is valid for 2 years.
In addition to expediting entry at border checkpoints, this document will also increase security by allowing Korean Immigration and Border Patrol to pre-screen visa-exempt foreign visitors before arrival.
As always, Byevisa is here to empower international travellers by putting visa information directly at your fingertips. Let us provide you with all the need-to-know information on this digital pass, including its validity, application process and fees.
What’s more, you can apply for your South Korea K-ETA right here in just a few steps! Keep reading to find out more.
Contents
ETA for Korea Requirements and Eligibility
This digital pass allows you to stay in the country for up to 30 or 90 days, depending on your nationality. To apply for your K-ETA today, all you’ll need is:
- To be a national of an eligible country.
- To be travelling for tourism, to visit friends and family or to participate in events or meetings.
- To hold a passport that’s valid for at least 6 months past your travel date, and with 2 blank pages.
- To fill in some basic personal and travel information such as your name, address and dates of arrival and departure.
- A credit/debit card or PayPal account to pay for the authorisation and the small Byevisa processing fee.
If the 5 points above apply to you, then you’re in luck – you just need 10 minutes to fill in the online application and get this process rolling. Once approved, you’ll be good to go! Seoul’s legendary karaoke bars and sizzling bowls of bibimbap (mixed rice) await you.
To see if your country is eligible, just choose your nationality in our eligibility checker tool:
Or, alternatively, find your nationality in our list below:
Albania*
Andorra*
Antigua & Barbuda
Argentina*
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Bahrain*
Barbados
Belgium
Bosnia-Herzegovina*
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam*
Bulgaria
Canada (180 days)
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus*
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Fiji*
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guam*
Guatemala
Guyana*
Haiti
Honduras*
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kazakhstan*
Kingdom of Eswatini*
Kiribati*
Kuwait
Latvia
Lesotho (60 days)
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Malaysia
Malta
Marshall Islands*
Mauritius*
Mexico
Micronesia*
Monaco*
Montenegro*
Morocco
Nauru*
Netherlands
New Caledonia*
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Norway
Oman*
Palau*
Panama
Paraguay*
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Qatar*
Romania
Russia (60 days / 90 days total within a 180-day period)
Saint Kitts & Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
Samoa*
San Marino*
Saudi Arabia*
Serbia
Seychelles*
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands*
South Africa*
Spain
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Tonga*
Trinidad & Tobago
Tunisia*
Turkey
Tuvalu*
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Vatican City*
Venezuela
Countries marked with an asterisk (*) are permitted to stay up to 30 days with this new system.
If your nationality is not included on this list, then not to worry. You can still experience this country’s spectacular cuisine and stunning mountain vistas by applying for a traditional entry document through your nearest embassy or consulate. For your convenience, we’ve outlined this whole process on our South Korea Tourist Visa page.
Korea ETA Application Process
Applying for your South Korea Electronic Visa is easy with Byevisa. The process includes just a few simple steps and can be done entirely online:
- Select your nationality from our list.
- Fill in the online form with your passport information as well as some personal and travel details.
- Upload a picture of the photo page of your passport as well as a recent profile picture.
- Pay the fee online.
- Receive the approved digital pass directly to your email inbox.
And that’s it – with just a few clicks you can apply for an authorisation for yourself, your family and your acquaintances. In fact, with this new system, you can apply for up to 30 people at once!
Once approved, your digital pass will be electronically linked to your passport. Nevertheless, it’s always a good idea to print a copy, just to have extra proof that your authorisation has been successfully issued.
Travelling with the K-ETA is just as easy as applying for it: there’s no need to fill in any additional forms or pay any extra fees at the airport. Simply show your approved pass to airline staff and immigration officials and let the journey begin.
South Korea E-Visa Form and Documents
This new system is a safe and convenient way for Korean Immigration and Border Control to understand who is travelling in and out of the country’s borders. For this reason, basic personal and travel information is collected during the application for K-ETA processing.
The information you provide is then cross-checked with international security databases to verify your identity. If no red flags are raised, then your application will be approved. Here are the personal and travel details you need to complete this form:
- A valid email address where your authorisation will be sent.
- A digital picture of the bio page of your passport.
- Additional information about your trip, such as your date of arrival, and the name and address of the hotel where you will stay.
- A digital profile picture (for best results, take this headshot standing in front of a white or neutral background).
- Your credit/debit card or Paypal account details.
When taking the profile picture, it’s best to think of it as a passport picture you take at home. Your expression should be neutral and head coverings should be avoided unless they are worn for religious purposes. For best results, your picture should be recent, in colour and of high quality.
Before submitting your application, make sure you review all your answers carefully. Even small typos could lead to your request being denied or delayed, so make sure all your information is entered exactly as it appears on your passport or reservation.
The last step is to pay the online fee and hit ‘Submit’. Depending on the Byevisa processing speed you select, your application will be processed from 5 days to 24 hours.
How Much Is the South Korea ETA?
The K-ETA costs approximately 9.00 USD. In addition, Byevisa charges a small processing fee for helping you apply for your document quickly and hassle-free. Our prices depend on the processing speed you select:
- Standard processing – 5 days for 20.00 USD
- Rapid processing – 3 days for 50.00 USD
- Highly Rapid processing – 24 hours for 70.00 USD
South Korea K-ETA Status Check
With Byevisa, it’s easy to check the status of your travel document.
Click ‘Log In’ at the top of this page to go to your personal area. Here you’ll find information on your pending applications, including:
- Whether your application has been approved.
- Whether your application has yet to be processed (pending).
- Your visa’s validity dates.
- Whether your pass has been rejected, and the reason why if we know.
Please bear in mind that the processing time depends on the Byevisa service you’ve selected. For example, if you’ve selected our Standard service, you can expect to receive your authorisation in just 24 hours.
More South Korea ETA Information
We hope the sections above have provided you with some helpful information on this digital waiver, as well as how to apply for it quickly and easily. For more useful tips, please see our FAQs below.
An exception is for Canadian visitors, who may stay in the country for up to 180 days (6 months) with a valid K-ETA.
Once approved, you will receive an email containing your entry permit in PDF. Please print this page and keep it with you during your entire trip.
With this authorisation and a return flight ticket in hand, you have very little reason to worry about hold-ups or uncertainties at the airport.
Make the most of your digital authorisation by ensuring that your passport is up-to-date and doesn’t need to be renewed.
To prevent any hassles or hold-ups during your adventure, be sure that the passport you use to apply for your digital authorisation is the same one you use to travel and book your accommodation.