If you hold a passport from one of 22 countries and regions, including the US, UK, Australia, Japan and Taiwan, you don't need a K-ETA to visit Korea for tourism until December 31, 2026. Korea's Ministry of Justice has extended this temporary exemption again. Travelers from other visa-free countries still need to apply on the official K-ETA website before they fly.
What is K-ETA?
K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) is an online pre-approval that visa-free visitors normally need before boarding a flight to Korea. It is not a visa. You apply online, pay a fee, and get a result before you travel.
Who doesn't need a K-ETA until December 31, 2026
| Region | Countries and regions on the exemption list |
|---|---|
| North America | United States (including Guam), Canada |
| Asia-Pacific | Japan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan |
| Europe | United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Poland |
The list is the same as during the 2025 exemption. Always double-check on k-eta.go.kr before your trip. When you start an application there, the site tells you if you are exempt.
Should you apply anyway?
Exempt travelers can choose to apply. The main benefit is that people with an approved K-ETA don't need to fill in the paper arrival card on the plane or at immigration. If you'd rather skip that form, you can apply and pay the fee. Otherwise, you can simply fill in the arrival card when you land.
If your country is not on the list
If you can visit Korea visa-free but your country is not one of the 22, you still need an approved K-ETA before boarding. Apply well ahead of your flight.
Use only the official site, k-eta.go.kr. Many look-alike websites charge extra fees for the same application.
FAQ
What happens after December 31, 2026?
Unless Korea announces another extension, travelers from these 22 countries will need a K-ETA again from January 1, 2027. We'll update this page when there is news.
Final word
For travelers from the 22 listed countries and regions, entering Korea in 2026 is simple: no K-ETA needed until the end of the year. Check the official K-ETA site once before you fly, and consider applying only if you want to skip the arrival card.