Does everyone need K-ETA to enter South Korea?
K-ETA was required for all visa-free travellers from 2021 — but currently WAIVED through December 2025 for ~22 high-tourism source countries including the US, UK, EU members, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore.
The truth
K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorisation, KRW 10,000 / ~USD $7.50, valid 3 years, multiple entries) was introduced September 2021 as a pre-travel screening system for the ~110 nationalities that travel to South Korea visa-free for short stays. Following declining post-COVID tourism, the South Korean Ministry of Justice introduced a K-ETA waiver programme from April 2023, initially through December 2024 and extended through 31 December 2025. The waiver currently applies to ~22 countries: US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Australia, NZ, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Belgium, Austria, Greece. Visa-free nationals from waiver countries can enter without K-ETA but must complete the K-Travel Card (an arrival declaration) electronically. K-ETA remains required for ~90 other visa-free nationalities (most Latin American, Caribbean, Middle East, ASEAN, Southern European countries). The waiver does NOT apply to visa-required nationalities — they still need a full Korean visa. Confusion: many traveller-information sites + travel-blog content predates the waiver and incorrectly insists K-ETA is universal.
Why this rumour persists
K-ETA's introduction in 2021 was heavily publicised, while the waiver expansion has been less visible in international media. Korean tourism authorities promoted 'visa-free easy travel' but the K-ETA requirement created friction that wasn't well-explained.
What to actually do
- Check your nationality against the K-ETA waiver list before applying (ICAO portal or k-eta.go.kr)
- If waived, skip K-ETA — complete the K-Travel Card on arrival or pre-arrival via app
- If required (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, UAE, etc.), apply at k-eta.go.kr at least 72 hours before travel
- K-ETA is valid 3 years from issue — re-apply if your passport details change
- Travelling for purposes beyond short tourism (business, study, work) requires a different visa class regardless of K-ETA status