Quick answer: Visa eligibility, K-ETA and the arrival declaration are three separate checks. Your passport, travel purpose, route and status determine which apply.
Start with visa eligibility
Check the official Korean visa and immigration guidance for your nationality before booking. A K-ETA exemption does not create visa-free eligibility, permit work, or guarantee admission. Transit through mainland Korea and direct entry to Jeju may have different conditions.
K-ETA in 2026
The Ministry of Justice's notice extends the temporary exemption for the already designated countries and regions until December 31, 2026, Korean time. It does not cover every visa-free nationality. Use the official K-ETA portal to check your own passport instead of relying on a description such as “Western travellers” or “most EU countries.”
Exempt travellers may still apply voluntarily for benefits such as arrival-card exemption, with the application fee payable. Existing approvals remain subject to their expiry and conditions. Check your approval and passport details before each trip.
Do you need an e-Arrival Card?
The official declaration is free and can be submitted within the three days before arrival, using Korean time. Some travellers are exempt, including eligible valid K-ETA holders and registered residents. Use the official eligibility navigator, particularly if you hold both a visa and K-ETA.
Do not pay an unofficial site for the government form. Prepare your passport, flight or ship information, accommodation address and contact details. Check the arrival date carefully if your flight crosses time zones.
What about 2027?
The current exemption notice has a 2026 end date. That is not confirmation of all 2027 rules. We removed the previous prediction that K-ETA would automatically become mandatory for all eligible travellers on January 1, 2027. Check a newer official notice for a 2027 trip.
Before departure
- Confirm visa eligibility for your nationality, passport type and purpose.
- Check whether K-ETA applies, including relevant age or status exemptions.
- If needed, apply early enough to resolve a request for more information; an application is not an approval.
- Use Immigration's navigator to determine whether an arrival declaration is required.
- Recheck documents and the airline's requirements close to departure.
Children and older travellers still need the documents applicable to their own status. Do not infer visa eligibility from an age exemption. For unusual passports, multiple immigration statuses or a complex transit route, ask the official authority rather than extrapolating from a standard holiday example.