South Korea Application

HandyVisas logoETA South Korea eVisa

ETA South Korea eVisa

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South Korea ETA Information

The online South Korea visa waiver, or K-ETA,  is an electronic travel authorization.

It permits eligible citizens to visit South Korea for short stays for tourism, visiting family and friends, and business activities such as attending meetings and seminars.

The South Korea K-ETA is a multipleentry online visa waiver valid for 2 years from approval. It allows you a stay of between 30 and 180 days per entry, depending on your nationality.

The ETA for South Korea is designed to make it quicker and easier for you to authorize your trip, using a simple online application system.

As well as speeding up the application process and streamlining border control checks, the K-ETA also improves security checks. This makes traveling to South Korea safer than ever before.

Eligible citizens can now apply for a South Korea visa waiver through the simple South Korean ETA application online in just a few minutes.

Although the K-ETA is temporarily not mandatory for around 20 visa-exempt citizens, it saves you the hassle of queuing at the border to complete an arrival card.

To visit the country for purposes other than those permitted with the  South Korea ETA, or for longer consecutive stays, or if your country does not qualify for the South Korea ETA, you should contact the nearest consulate or embassy of South Korea for information on other South Korea travel visa types.

Highlights Icon
Highlights
Multiple entry online travel authorization
For tourism or business purposes
Permits a stay of between 30 and 180 days with each entry
Valid for 2 years from approval
What do I need?
Add passport info

Valid passport

Add user photo

Recent color photograph, passport sized and style

email address

Current email address

Credit/Debit Card

Valid debit/credit card

South Korea ETA Requirements

Submitting a South Korea K-ETA application online is very simple. First, you must meet a few basic South Korea visa requirements.

The following documents are required for a South Korea ETA online application:

  • A valid passport from an eVisa-eligible country
  • A valid debit or credit card to pay the Korea ETA fee
  • A current email address at which to receive a copy of the approved ETA for South Korea
  • A passport-style photo in color. 

Once approved, you can present a printed copy of the approved K-ETA alongside your passport to gain entry to South Korea at a border entry point.

The passport you use to travel to South Korea must be the same one used to complete the ETA application form. Dual nationals with multiple passports should keep this in mind.

Countries Eligible for South Korea

Citizens from the countries listed below are eligible to apply online to enter South Korea

Countries Eligible for South Korea

  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Bahamas
  • Bahrain
  • Barbados
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Bulgaria
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • El Salvador
  • Estonia
  • Federated States of Micronesia
  • Fiji
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala
  • Guyana
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Jamaica
  • Japan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kiribati
  • Kuwait
  • Latvia
  • Lesotho
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macau
  • Malaysia
  • Malta
  • Marshall Islands
  • Mauritius
  • Mexico
  • Monaco
  • Montenegro
  • Morocco
  • Nauru
  • Netherlands
  • New Caledonia
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua
  • Norway
  • Oman
  • Palau
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Qatar
  • Republic of Cyprus
  • Romania
  • Russian Federation
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Samoa
  • San Marino
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Serbia
  • Seychelles
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • Spain
  • Suriname
  • Swaziland
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey
  • Tuvalu
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Uruguay
  • Venezuela

Countries waiting to be confirmed soon for K-ETA

Next Countries Eligible for South Korea

Complete the South Korea K-ETA online application

You can fill out the simple South Korea ETA application form in a matter of minutes by providing basic personal data, passport information, and travel details. You will also need to upload your passport-style photograph and provide an email address to receive the Korean visa waiver.

Before submitting the application, you should also ensure that all the information provided on the form is accurate. By checking that all of your details are free of mistakes, you can avoid any unnecessary processing delays that can sometimes result from small errors in the personal data provided.

Confirm the K-ETA Payment

Before submitting the South Korea K-ETA application, you will also need to complete payment of the mandatory processing fee. You can pay this fee through our secure online system using the details of a valid credit or debit card authorized for electronic transactions.

Receive your approved ETA for South Korea

Once processed, usually within 1-2 business days, your approved K-ETA for South Korea is sent to the valid email address you provided on the application form. You can then print a copy to present alongside your passport when boarding a flight to South Korea and to immigration authorities upon arrival in the country.

ETA South Korea Processing time
1 - 2 days
South Korea government fee
9 usd
Our service fee
40 usd
TOTAL
49 usd
The total amount depends on several parameters as: additional services.
Optional services:
Embassy Registration
Service fee includes
Fast processing timeFast processing time
Application reviewExpert application review
Online supportOnline support 365 days a year
High success rate99% application success rate
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This content has been reviewed by

Handyvisas.com author Mauricio Torres

Mauricio Torres

US Immigration Attorney

Mauricio Torres is a U.S. attorney licensed in the State of California, specializing in immigration and citizenship law. He has focused his career on family-based and employment-based immigration, naturalization and more.

Country policy

South Korea Visa Policy

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

South Korea Visa FAQ

  • What is the South Korea K-ETA?

    The South Korea K-ETA is an electronic travel authorization for visa-exempt travelers. It is quick and easy to obtain — simply apply online and receive the ETA by email.

  • How long is my South Korean ETA valid for? When does it expire?

    The K-ETA for South Korea is valid for 2 years from the date of approval.
    Please note that approval of the K-ETA does not guarantee entry to the Republic of Korea. The final determination of a traveler’s entry will be made by the immigration official during an official immigration inspection.
    If your passport expires after your K-ETA has been approved, you are required to apply for a new K-ETA.

  • Which countries need the K-ETA for South Korea?

    You can check if you can apply for the K-ETA for South Korea in the table of eligible nationalities above.

  • How do I apply for an electronic travel authorization for South Korea?

    You can apply for an ETA to South Korea through a simple online form which only takes a few minutes to complete.

  • How much does the ETA for South Korea cost?

    Starting September 2021, it’s a mandatory requirement to pay an ETA fee. This fee is lower than the price of a visa from a South Korean embassy.

  • Do I require a visa for South Korea?

    It depends on your nationality. There are various South Korea visa-free countries whose citizens can avoid a lengthy in-person visa application by registering online for the K-ETA. Nationals of other countries are still required to obtain one of the South Korea visa types in order to travel to the country. Use the visa checker at the top of this page to find out the requirements for your nationality.

  • Is the South Korea K-ETA a single or multiple entry visa waiver?

    The South Korea K-ETA is a multiple entry visa waiver for Korea. It allows you to stay in South Korea for 30 days to 3 months with each entry, depending on your nationality.

  • What should I do if I have made a mistake on my application for a South Korea ETA?

    You should carefully check all the information provided on the South Korea ETA application is correct before submitting the online form. This is because even small errors may result in a delay in receiving the K-ETA, or even the rejection of the application.

  • How long does it take to get an electronic travel authorization for South Korea?

    The standard online South Korea visa processing time is within 2 business days. In many cases, you’ll receive your K-ETA even sooner. We advise that you submit the K-ETA form at least 48 hours before boarding a flight to ensure enough time for processing and approval.

  • How can I check the status of my South Korea visa waiver application?

    You will be updated on your South Korea visa application status by email. If you applied through this site, you can also use the OnlineVisa Manager to check your ETA status.

  • Where can I apply for a South Korea visa?

    Depending on your nationality, you can apply for the K-ETA for South Korea online to visit the country for short periods for tourism or business activities. This is by far the fastest and easiest way to get authorization to enter the country.

    To obtain a visa to visit for longer periods or other purposes, such as a South Korea work visa or business visa, you will need to contact the nearest diplomatic office of South Korea for further information.

  • Can I extend my ETA in South Korea?

    It is not possible to extend an ETA in South Korea. Once the K-ETA expires, you will need to submit a new application from outside of South Korea to be able to continue to the country.

  • Do I need to print a copy of the South Korean tourist K-ETA?

    Yes, it is mandatory to print a copy of the approved K-ETA to present to board a flight to South Korea and to border authorities on arrival, alongside your passport.

  • Do I need a travel authorization if I am in transit in South Korea?

    In general, it is not necessary to obtain a South Korea transit visa to pass through the country to an onward destination for less than 24 hours, if the traveler remains within the airport transit area.

    However, citizens of the following countries do require a transit visa for South Korea no matter the transit time:

    • Egypt
    • Mongolia
    • Sudan
    • Syria
    • Yemen
  • Why was my ETA for South Korea application denied?

    Small errors in the information provided on the South Korea online visa waiver form could result in the denial of the ETA or a delay in processing the application. We advise you to carefully ensure all the data entered on the form is correct and matches the details of your passport before submitting the form, to ensure approval of the K-ETA.

  • Is the South Korea ETA easy to get?

    Yes. You can complete the simple online form for the South Korea ETA in just a few minutes, to receive an approved electronic travel authorization sent via email.

Disclaimer
Handyvisas.com is not owned by, or affiliated with any government agency. We are a private, online agency that provides assistance in submitting applications for tourist visits to different countries around the world. Applications can also be made directly through government websites.