K-ETA for Korea - What to Know Before You Book a Flight
The two systems people mix up
Korea now runs two separate pre-arrival digital requirements, and travelers researching one often miss that the other exists. K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) is a pre-screening approval for visa-free travelers, similar in spirit to the US ESTA or Canada's eTA — you apply before you fly, and Korean immigration checks it before letting you board. The e-Arrival Card is newer and different: a digital replacement for the old paper disembarkation card, mandatory from January 1, 2026, that covers the basic arrival details immigration used to collect on paper. The two forms ask for overlapping information, which is exactly why one can exempt you from the other — covered below.
Who actually needs a K-ETA
K-ETA applies to travelers from countries that qualify for Korea's general visa-waiver program but aren't on Korea's separate, temporary K-ETA exemption list. That exemption list — currently extended through the end of 2026 — covers dozens of nationalities, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore among others, letting citizens of those countries enter without a K-ETA at all, provided they still meet the usual visa-free entry conditions. If your nationality isn't on that exemption list but does qualify for Korea's visa waiver, K-ETA is the extra step that stands in for a visa. The only way to know for certain which category you fall into is to check your specific nationality on the official K-ETA site before booking, since the exemption list is a temporary measure that gets extended (or not) by government decision rather than fixed permanently.
What K-ETA actually costs and covers
The application fee is 10,000 KRW, roughly $7 USD, paid online and non-refundable once submitted. Approved K-ETA is valid for up to three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and covers multiple entries within that window — you don't need to reapply for a second or third trip to Korea inside the validity period, only if your passport changes or the approval expires. The application itself asks for standard travel details: passport information, contact details, trip dates, and your accommodation address in Korea. Apply at least 72 hours before departure; approval is often faster, but airlines and immigration do check for it before boarding, and getting rejected at the gate over a missing K-ETA is a worse outcome than applying a few days early.
The e-Arrival Card, and who's exempt from it
Starting January 1, 2026, the e-Arrival Card became mandatory for most travelers entering Korea, filled out online within three days of arrival at the official e-Arrival Card site. It replaces the paper form that used to get handed out on the plane or at immigration, covering flight details, purpose of visit, and accommodation address — much of which overlaps with what K-ETA already collects. Because of that overlap, travelers who already hold a valid, approved K-ETA are exempt from separately filling out the e-Arrival Card. Travelers who are K-ETA-exempt by nationality (the extended exemption list above) still need to complete the e-Arrival Card, since they never submitted that information through K-ETA in the first place.
What this means in practice, by traveler type
If your nationality is on the K-ETA exemption list: skip K-ETA, but complete the e-Arrival Card within three days of your flight. If your nationality needs K-ETA: apply for it at least 72 hours ahead, and once approved, you don't need to separately file an e-Arrival Card for that trip. Either way, bring a copy or screenshot of whichever confirmation applies to you — a downloaded PDF or an email confirmation open on your phone is normally enough at the immigration counter.
The short version
- K-ETA is pre-arrival screening for visa-free travelers who aren't on Korea's separate K-ETA exemption list; the e-Arrival Card is a newer, separate digital arrival form mandatory from January 1, 2026
- K-ETA costs 10,000 KRW (~$7 USD), is valid up to 3 years or until your passport expires, and covers multiple entries in that window
- Apply for K-ETA at least 72 hours before departure
- Holding an approved K-ETA exempts you from also filing the e-Arrival Card
- If your nationality is K-ETA-exempt, you still need to complete the e-Arrival Card separately
- The exemption list is temporary (currently extended through the end of 2026) and can change — check your specific nationality on the official site before booking rather than assuming last year's rules still apply
Official sources
This guide is checked against Korea's official K-ETA site (k-eta.go.kr) and e-Arrival Card site (e-arrivalcard.go.kr). Fees, exemption lists, and procedures change — confirm time-sensitive details there before you rely on them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need both K-ETA and the e-Arrival Card?
No — they're designed to not overlap. If you hold an approved K-ETA, you're exempt from separately filing the e-Arrival Card for that trip, since K-ETA already collected equivalent information.
How much does K-ETA cost and how long does it last?
10,000 KRW (roughly $7 USD), non-refundable. Once approved, it's valid for up to three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, covering multiple entries in that window.
My country is on the K-ETA exemption list — do I need to do anything before flying to Korea?
Yes — you still need to complete the e-Arrival Card online within three days of your flight, since skipping K-ETA doesn't exempt you from that separate requirement. Confirm your specific nationality's current status on the official K-ETA site, since the exemption list is temporary and subject to change.