South Korea ETA Requirements for US Citizens

In order to complete the simple Korean Electronic Travel Authorization application process, United States passport holders must meet a few basic visa waiver requirements.

Currently, American applicants need to meet certain criteria, which includes having the following:

• United States passport, which is valid for a minimum of 6 months
• Passport-sized photograph of the American citizen
• Active email address, which will be used for K-ETA correspondence
• Credit or debit card to pay the ETA Korea fee

In addition to these documents, US nationals must share information about their trip (e.g., travel plans, proof of onward travel and accommodation), and their current occupation, and answer a few health and security-related questions.

Since the US passport is automatically linked to the K-ETA once this is granted, American travelers must carry the same passport used during the application process on their trip to the Republic of Korea.

Important: We advise you to check the general visa conditions for US citizens in case they have further questions about the application process and the eligibility criteria when traveling abroad.

The South Korea ETA online application for US nationals is quite easy, simple, and straightforward. Usually, it does not take more than 20 minutes to be completed.

American visitors must submit the following information when applying online for the K-ETA:

• Basic information about the traveler, such as full name, gender, date of birth, and country of citizenship
• Contact details, such as a home address, email address, and phone number
• Travel details, such as trip itinerary, proof of onward travel & accommodation
• Passport information, such as country, number, expiry date, and issue date

The application form may have some additional questions about health, security, and other aspects.

Then, US travelers have to complete the payment of the Korea visa waiver processing fee. This can be done with a debit card or a debit card. All major bank cards are accepted.

American applicants are advised to make sure that the information provided matches the US passport and any other data submitted. Small errors and inconsistencies can lead to issues processing the visa waiver. Double-check your answers before submitting the form.

When arriving in South Korea, nationals from the United States must show their US passport along with the K-ETA. Once the border and immigration officials have checked all the information, they will grant entry to all eligible passengers.

Although the document can be presented in digital format once in South Korea, we recommend that you print a hard copy to have it with you during the entirety of the trip.

American citizens must note they are not allowed to overstay a Korean visa waiver. If this happens, you can be denied entry in future trips to the country.