Travelling to South Korea
What you need for South Korea, by passport.
- US passportNo visa or K-ETA needed until 31 December 2026Cleared
- UK passportNo visa or K-ETA needed until 31 December 2026Cleared
- Irish passportGet a K-ETA (₩10,000) before you flyAction needed
- Canadian passportNo visa or K-ETA needed until 31 December 2026Cleared
- Australian passportNo visa or K-ETA needed until 31 December 2026Cleared
- New Zealand passportNo visa or K-ETA needed until 31 December 2026Cleared
Quick answers
Do I need a visa for South Korea?
It depends on your passport. US passport: No visa or K-ETA needed until 31 December 2026. UK passport: No visa or K-ETA needed until 31 December 2026. Irish passport: Get a K-ETA (₩10,000) before you fly. Canadian passport: No visa or K-ETA needed until 31 December 2026. Australian passport: No visa or K-ETA needed until 31 December 2026. New Zealand passport: No visa or K-ETA needed until 31 December 2026.
Good to know
Use the official sites only. The K-ETA costs ₩10,000 on k-eta.go.kr or the official K-ETA app. The e-Arrival card is free on e-arrivalcard.go.kr. Other sites charge extra fees and some are scams.
Checked 26 October 2026 against Korea Electronic Travel Authorization, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Switzerland, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the UK, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Canada, Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Australia, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Greece, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ireland, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Singapore, Ministry of Justice, Korea Immigration Service and Korea Tourism Organization.
See the 17 official sources
- K-ETA: Apply (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (Ministry of Justice))
- K-ETA Application Guide (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (Ministry of Justice))
- K-ETA: Who can apply (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (Ministry of Justice))
- K-ETA FAQ (Q58: Who is eligible for the application exemption?) (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (Ministry of Justice))
- Notice on Extension of K-ETA Temporary Exemption (23 December 2025) (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (Ministry of Justice))
- Notice on Temporary Exemption of K-ETA to Switzerland and Liechtenstein (and the 23 countries/regions) (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Switzerland)
- Notice on Temporary Exemption of K-ETA for 22 countries/regions (as of April 1, 2023) (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the UK)
- Extension of Temporary Exemption from K-ETA (until December 31, 2026) (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Canada)
- Visa Free Entry (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Canada)
- Notice on Extension of K-ETA Temporary Exemption (~12/31/2026) (Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York)
- 대한민국 전자여행허가제(K-ETA) 한시 면제 시행 연장 안내(2026년 12월 31일까지) (K-ETA temporary exemption extended to 31 December 2026) (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Australia)
- (K-ETA) Information about Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (updated 2 January 2026) (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Greece)
- Notice for all Visa applicants (31 July 2026) (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ireland)
- Things to Note When Travelling to Korea (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Singapore)
- Ministry of Justice implements e-Arrival card starting Feb 24, 2025 (press release) (Ministry of Justice, Korea Immigration Service)
- Visa & Travel Requirements (Korea Tourism Organization (VisitKorea))
- Immigration (Korea Tourism Organization (VisitKorea))