K-ETA Exemption Countries: Who Needs K-ETA From 2027

Cover image: Gyeonghoeru pavilion reflected in its pond at Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul — photo by Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Last checked: 16 October 2026. If you hold a US, British citizen (GBR), Canadian, Australian, Japanese, Singaporean or most Western European passport, you can fly to South Korea without a K-ETA until the end of 2026 — the temporary exemption runs from 1 January to 31 December 2026 (Korean Standard Time). From 1 January 2027 you will need an approved K-ETA before boarding unless Seoul announces another extension; as of today, none has been announced. The practical move for anyone with a 2027 trip booked is to apply now anyway — a K-ETA is valid for three years, so one bought today covers 2027 whatever Korea decides.

Which countries are exempt from K-ETA until 31 December 2026?

The Ministry of Justice extended the exemption "for 1 more year to stimulate the tourism industry", and the extension notice is dated 23 December 2025. It covers the countries and regions already exempt — when an exempt national scans their passport page during the application, a pop-up confirms the exemption. The Korean Embassy in Switzerland lists the exempt roster, updated to 31 December 2026, as:

• Asia: Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macao
• Americas: Canada, the United States, Guam
• Europe: the UK, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Austria — plus Switzerland and Liechtenstein
• Oceania: Australia, New Zealand

Two cautions. First, most "22 countries" lists you will find online omit Switzerland and Liechtenstein, which appear only on the Bern embassy notice even though both were on the K-ETA-required list back in April 2023. Swiss and Liechtenstein readers should confirm via the exemption pop-up on the official site. Second, "UK" here means British citizens (GBR); other British nationality categories carry different stay lengths, so check the pop-up too.

Has the K-ETA exemption been extended into 2027?

Not as of 16 October 2026. We re-checked the K-ETA portal notice board before publishing: its newest notices are a Gmail-delivery delay notice (11 March 2026), a how-to-apply guide (7 January 2026) and the 23 December 2025 extension notice. Nothing mentions 2027. The renewal pattern so far — launched 1 April 2023 for 22 countries through end-2024, extended to end-2025, extended to end-2026 — has been one year at a time, with the latest renewal landing just eight days before expiry. A 2027 decision could therefore arrive in the last week of December 2026. If you are travelling in early January, do not bank on it: check the official notice board again before you fly.

What changes for arrivals on or after 1 January 2027?

Without a new notice, the exemption ends with 31 December 2026 KST and travellers from the countries above will need an approved K-ETA before boarding from 1 January 2027. One edge case deserves caution rather than confidence: a flight that departs on 31 December and lands in Korea on or after 1 January. Approval is required before boarding, so getting a K-ETA for such a trip is the safe play — treat that as our advice, not an official ruling.

Should you apply for a K-ETA now if you travel in 2027?

Yes — this is the single most useful thing in this guide. Exempt nationals may apply voluntarily (paying the fee) to get K-ETA benefits such as skipping the arrival card, and K-ETAs already issued stay valid until they expire. Because a new K-ETA lasts three years, one bought now covers any 2027 trip regardless of what Seoul announces in December. If you are still costing the trip, our South Korea trip-cost breakdown folds the fee into a full budget.

How much does K-ETA cost, how long does it take and how long is it valid?

The fee is 10,000 KRW per person (about USD 7–8), plus an online payment processing fee of generally about 3%, payable by VISA, MasterCard, JCB, AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, UnionPay or Alipay+. It is non-refundable whatever the outcome. Assessment "typically takes 72 hour or less" but can take longer, and there is no expedited service — so "apply at least 72 hours ahead" is our advice, not an official minimum. Applying after boarding or once inside Korea risks refusal or entry restrictions.

Validity is three years (two years for K-ETAs issued before 3 July 2023), or until the passport expires if sooner, for multiple entries. Validity is separate from the visa-free stay allowed per entry — a three-year K-ETA does not let an American stay 90 days times forever; each visit is still capped (see the table). You need a new K-ETA if your passport is reissued or your criminal-record or infectious-disease information changes, and changed travel details (purpose, address, contact, arrival date) must be updated online. And remember: a K-ETA "is NOT a visa" and does not guarantee entry — the immigration officer at the port decides.

Who never needs a K-ETA (children, over-65s, transit passengers, visa holders)?

Since 3 July 2023, travellers aged 17 or under, or 65 or over, on the date of entry are exempt from applying — but they must still file an arrival card (see below). Also permanently exempt: diplomatic and official passport holders, US Forces SOFA members, aircraft and ship crew, ABTC (APEC) holders, transfer passengers, registered foreigners and visa holders, and UN passport holders. Transiting Incheon without entering Korea? Then you are covered by the transfer-passenger exemption — our layover visa guide explains when entering the country (or reclaiming bags) changes that.

Which passports need a visa instead of a K-ETA?

Do not confuse the full K-ETA-eligible list (116 passport entries) with the temporary exemption. Passports such as Ireland, Portugal, Czechia, Malaysia, Thailand, Mexico, Brazil, the UAE, Israel and Türkiye are K-ETA-eligible but not exempt — they need a K-ETA right now, in 2026. And India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and mainland China are not on the K-ETA list at all, so their nationals need a visa and K-ETA simply does not apply. Indian readers should use our dedicated South Korea visa guide for Indian passports instead — a different question with a different answer.

Stay lengths come from the official eligible-countries list; two quirks worth knowing: Kazakhstan gets 30 days (no more than 60 in 180) and Russia 60 days (no more than 90 in 180). If you are planning how long to stay, how many days to spend in Seoul pairs these stay limits with realistic itineraries.

Do you still need the e-Arrival Card?

Probably, yes. The e-Arrival Card is a free, separate system from K-ETA: file from 3 days before arrival (KST), and each submission dies 72 hours after filing or once you clear immigration — one per entry. K-ETA holders do not file one (unless entering on a visa). Everyone else does: visa holders, citizens of temporarily exempt countries, and eligible-country travellers under 17 or over 65. Because the e-card "holds the same validity as the paper arrival card", paper forms still exist in the background — do not assume they are abolished.

One last warning: Korea "has not delegated the service of the K-ETA application to any agencies". Apply only at k-eta.go.kr or the official K-ETA app — unofficial sites charging higher fees have caused reported losses, and they dominate search results for these queries.

Frequently asked questions

Has the K-ETA exemption been extended to 2027?

Not as of 16 October 2026. The latest notice on the K-ETA board covers 2026 only, and last year's renewal was posted on 23 December, so a 2027 decision could land in the last week of December.

If I get a K-ETA now, does it cover a trip in 2027?

Yes. A K-ETA is valid for 3 years, or until your passport expires, for multiple trips. Exempt nationals can apply voluntarily for 10,000 KRW plus the processing fee.

Do children or over-65s need a K-ETA?

No, if they are 17 or under, or 65 or over, on the date of entry. They still need to file an e-Arrival Card (or a paper arrival card).

Is the K-ETA the same as the e-Arrival Card?

No. The e-Arrival Card is a free arrival declaration filed within 3 days before arrival. Holding a K-ETA exempts you from it; travellers from temporarily exempt countries must still file one.

Sources

• K-ETA portal (Ministry of Justice) — Notice on Extension of K-ETA Temporary Exemption, 23 Dec 2025
• K-ETA portal — notice board (checked 16 Oct 2026; no 2027 notice)
• K-ETA portal — Application Guide (fee, timing, validity)
• K-ETA portal — Eligible Countries / Applicants
• Embassy of Korea in Switzerland — Temporary Exemption notice (updated 30 Dec 2025)
• Embassy of Korea in Canada — Extension of Temporary Exemption (18 Dec 2025)
• K-ETA portal — Application Fee Guide
• K-ETA portal — Validity Expansion & Age Exemption (28 Jun 2023)
• K-ETA portal — Beware of Non-Official Websites (16 Dec 2022)
• e-Arrival Card portal — Guide
• e-Arrival Card portal — Individuals Subject to Declaration