KOREA ESSENTIALS · KOREA ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
K-ETA vs e-Arrival Card: What Do You Actually Need to Enter Korea in 2026?
First Korea Trip · Updated September 11, 2026
Last fact-checked: September 11, 2026 · How we verify travel information
K-ETA and Korea’s e-Arrival Card are not two versions of the same form, and most travelers do not need both. Which one you need depends on the document or exemption you are using to enter Korea.
For many tourists covered by Korea’s temporary K-ETA exemption in 2026, the practical answer is simple: no K-ETA is required, but you still submit the free e-Arrival Card unless another arrival-card exemption applies to you.
QUICK ANSWER
- You already have a valid K-ETA and will enter using it: you do not need an e-Arrival Card.
- Your passport is temporarily exempt from K-ETA in 2026: K-ETA is not required through December 31, 2026. If you do not hold a valid K-ETA or another arrival-card exemption, submit the e-Arrival Card.
- You are entering with a Korean visa: you are generally subject to the e-Arrival Card requirement. Use the official navigator to confirm your exact case.
- You hold a valid Korean residence card or fall under another listed exclusion: you may be exempt from the e-Arrival Card.
| Quick fact | What to know in 2026 |
|---|---|
| K-ETA temporary exemption | Extended through December 31, 2026 (KST) for the countries/regions already covered by the temporary exemption |
| K-ETA fee | ₩10,000 per person, plus an online payment fee; non-refundable |
| K-ETA processing | Typically 72 hours or less, but it can take longer; there is no expedited service |
| K-ETA validity | Generally up to 3 years, or until passport expiry if sooner |
| e-Arrival Card fee | Free |
| When to submit e-Arrival Card | Starting 3 days before arrival in Korea, based on Korea Standard Time |
| What you need | Valid passport, email address, and arrival/departure and stay information |
| Official e-Arrival Card site | e-arrivalcard.go.kr — the official service does not ask for payment |
K-ETA and the e-Arrival Card Do Different Jobs
K-ETA is a travel authorization for eligible visa-free travelers. It is not a visa, and approval does not guarantee admission to Korea. It is checked before travel and can be used for multiple entries while it remains valid.
The e-Arrival Card is an immigration arrival declaration. It is the online version of the arrival information that eligible foreign travelers submit for immigration. It is free and can be filed shortly before the trip.
The easiest way to think about it is this: K-ETA answers whether an eligible visa-free traveler has electronic travel authorization. The e-Arrival Card provides arrival and stay information to Korean immigration. That is why a K-ETA exemption does not automatically mean an arrival-card exemption.
Which One Do You Need? Start With Your Entry Status
| Your situation | K-ETA | e-Arrival Card |
|---|---|---|
| Passport covered by the 2026 temporary K-ETA exemption, no valid K-ETA | Not required through Dec. 31, 2026 | Usually required unless another exclusion applies |
| Valid K-ETA holder entering with that K-ETA | Already satisfied | Not required |
| Valid Korean visa holder | Not the document used for visa entry | Generally required |
| Valid Korean residence card holder | Not normally relevant | Not required |
| K-ETA-eligible traveler age 17 or younger, or 65 or older | Exempt from the K-ETA requirement | Generally required unless another exclusion applies |
Korea’s official e-Arrival Card site has a navigator where you select what you will hold on the day of entry — visa, K-ETA, residence card, or none. Use that tool if your case is more complicated than a normal short tourist visit.
The K-ETA Temporary Exemption Runs Through December 31, 2026
Korea’s Ministry of Justice extended the existing temporary K-ETA exemption for one more year, through December 31, 2026 (KST). The extension applies to the countries and regions already covered by the temporary exemption.
Do not rely on an old country list from a travel blog or social post. The official K-ETA application system checks your passport details and displays an exemption message if your nationality is currently covered.
If you are exempt and do not already hold a valid K-ETA, that does not mean you can ignore arrival paperwork. The official e-Arrival Card guidance lists K-ETA-exempt travelers among the people subject to the arrival declaration.
If You Already Have a Valid K-ETA, You Normally Skip the e-Arrival Card
A valid K-ETA remains usable until its expiration date, even if your nationality is currently covered by the temporary exemption. When you enter Korea using that valid K-ETA, you are excluded from the e-Arrival Card requirement.
There is one important edge case: the e-Arrival Card site states that if you hold a K-ETA but enter Korea using a visa, you still need to complete the e-Arrival Card for that visa entry.
If You Are Entering With a Visa, Check the e-Arrival Card Requirement
Visa holders are listed among the people subject to Korea’s e-Arrival Card declaration. That includes travelers whose visa is valid on the scheduled entry date.
There are specific exclusions for some categories, including certain group visa holders. If you are entering on anything other than a normal individual tourist visa, use the official e-Arrival Card navigator rather than assuming the general rule applies to you.
Children 17 or Younger and Travelers 65 or Older: K-ETA Exempt Does Not Mean Arrival-Card Exempt
Travelers from K-ETA-eligible countries who are 17 or younger or 65 or older are exempt from the K-ETA application requirement.
But Korea’s e-Arrival Card target guide specifically includes these age-based K-ETA exemptions among the people who may need to submit an arrival declaration. Families should check each traveler separately instead of assuming one rule covers everyone in the group.
How to Complete Korea’s e-Arrival Card
You can submit the e-Arrival Card starting 3 days before you arrive in Korea, calculated using Korea Standard Time. Do not try to file it weeks in advance.
- Go to the official e-Arrival Card website.
- Enter and verify your email address.
- Enter your passport information.
- Enter your arrival, departure, and stay information.
- Check the details and submit.
Since May 6, 2026, the service uses a verification-code step for user authentication during submission. The issue number is sent by email after submission.
You do not need to carry a printed e-Arrival Card for immigration inspection, although keeping the issue number or confirmation email handy is sensible in case you need to check the submission.
Should You Apply for K-ETA Anyway If You Are Exempt?
You can. Korea allows travelers covered by the temporary exemption to apply voluntarily for K-ETA if they want its benefits, including skipping the arrival card.
The trade-off is straightforward. K-ETA costs ₩10,000 per person plus an online payment fee, and the fee is non-refundable. It is generally valid for up to three years, or until your passport expires if that comes first, and can be used for multiple entries while valid.
For a single 2026 trip, paying for K-ETA purely to avoid a free e-Arrival Card usually adds cost rather than solving a real problem. Someone making repeated trips may value the convenience more.
If you do choose to apply, do not leave it until the last minute. K-ETA assessment typically takes 72 hours or less, but the official site warns that it can take longer and there is no expedited service.
Use the Official Sites — Fake Arrival-Card Sites Are Charging Travelers
Korea Immigration issued a 2026 warning about fake websites impersonating the official e-Arrival Card service. The official e-Arrival Card is free. If a site asks for payment information to submit the arrival card, it is not the official service.
- Official e-Arrival Card: e-arrivalcard.go.kr
- Official K-ETA: k-eta.go.kr
Common Mistakes Before Flying to Korea
Applying for both just because you are unsure
Most tourists do not need both. Check your actual entry status first.
Assuming “visa-free” means “no arrival declaration”
They are separate issues. A traveler can be visa-free, K-ETA-exempt, and still need an e-Arrival Card.
Trying to submit the e-Arrival Card too early
The filing window opens 3 days before arrival in Korea, based on Korea Standard Time.
Paying a third-party site for a free arrival card
The official e-Arrival Card does not require payment information.
Assuming the 2026 K-ETA exemption automatically continues into 2027
The current extension is only confirmed through December 31, 2026. Travelers arriving in 2027 should check the official K-ETA site again.
K-ETA and e-Arrival Card FAQ
Do I need both K-ETA and an e-Arrival Card?
Usually no. A valid K-ETA holder entering with that K-ETA is excluded from the e-Arrival Card. A traveler who is K-ETA-exempt may still need the e-Arrival Card.
Is Korea’s e-Arrival Card free?
Yes. The official e-Arrival Card service is free. Korea Immigration warns that a website asking for payment information is not the official service.
Can I fill out the e-Arrival Card earlier than 3 days before arrival?
No. The official filing window opens 3 days before arrival in Korea, based on Korea Standard Time.
Do I need to print the e-Arrival Card?
No. The official guide says you do not need to bring the e-Arrival Card for entry inspection. Keeping the issue number or confirmation email available can still be useful.
I already have a valid K-ETA from an earlier trip. Can I still use it in 2026?
Yes, if it is still valid and the passport details remain applicable. The temporary exemption does not cancel an existing valid K-ETA.
What changes in 2027?
The current temporary K-ETA exemption is confirmed only through December 31, 2026. Check the official K-ETA website again before a 2027 trip rather than assuming the exemption continues.
Official Sources
- K-ETA — Notice on Extension of K-ETA Temporary Exemption
- K-ETA — Application Guide, Fee, Processing and Validity
- Korea e-Arrival Card — Individuals Subject to Declaration Guide
- Korea e-Arrival Card — Official Guide
- Korea e-Arrival Card — 2026 User Authentication Update
- Korea Immigration Service — Beware of Fake e-Arrival Card Websites
The simple version
If you already have a valid K-ETA and enter Korea using it, you normally do not need the e-Arrival Card. If your passport is temporarily exempt from K-ETA in 2026 and you do not have another arrival-card exemption, skip the K-ETA and submit the free e-Arrival Card within the 3-day filing window.
That is the distinction most first-time travelers are looking for.
Once you are through immigration, the Incheon Airport to Seoul guide compares AREX, airport buses, and taxis for the next step of the trip.
Entry rules can change. Re-check the official K-ETA and Korea e-Arrival Card websites shortly before travel, especially for trips after December 31, 2026.
