K-ETA 2027: Waiver Runs Until 31 December 2026 - How to Apply, ₩10,000 Fee, 3-Year Validity

K-ETA waiver runs until 31 December 2026 — 2027 not yet announced

The Ministry of Justice announced that the K-ETA temporary waiver, introduced as part of measures to support the tourism industry, has been extended by one more year and will run until 31 December 2026. The waiver period is from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026 (Korea Standard Time).

Whether the waiver continues in 2027 was not announced as of 12 September 2026. If you plan to travel to Korea after January 2027, you must check the notices on the official website, www.k-eta.go.kr, before departure.

The official website explains how to check whether your country is waiver-eligible. When you apply for K-ETA and scan the photo page of your passport, a 'K-ETA waiver-eligible' popup appears if you qualify for the waiver.

K-ETA waiver-eligible travelers can still apply — the arrival card is waived

Nationals of waiver-eligible countries can also apply for K-ETA if they wish. If you apply, the fee is charged, but in return you receive the benefits given to K-ETA holders. The main one is exemption from completing the arrival card.

If you have already obtained an authorization, you can keep using it until its expiry date even during the waiver period. However, the waiver does not refund any fee you have already paid.

Who needs K-ETA — visa-free entrants, before boarding

K-ETA is an electronic travel authorization for foreign nationals who wish to enter the Republic of Korea visa-free. The official guidance states that you must obtain the authorization before boarding an aircraft or ship.

If you apply after boarding or while already staying in Korea, you may face disadvantages such as refusal of the authorization or restricted entry.

The following people do not need to apply for K-ETA. The age criteria stand out in particular — based on the date of entry, if you are 17 or under or 65 or over, you are not required to apply.

How to apply for K-ETA — official website and app only, no agents or express service

You can apply only at www.k-eta.go.kr or through the K-ETA mobile app. The official website warns users to beware of fake agency and phishing sites that charge high fees while claiming to offer application agency or express services.

There is no express service. The official guidance states plainly that reviews are processed in the order applications are received and that there is no service that speeds up a particular person's application.

Inquiries are handled through the contact form at the bottom of the website, not by phone. The Ministry of Justice K-ETA Center does not, in principle, provide phone or in-person consultations.

K-ETA fee ₩10,000 — payment fee of about 3% extra, no refunds

The application fee is ₩10,000 per person. In US dollars, that is about US$7-8. On top of this, an additional fee for online payment, generally about 3%, is added.

This money is a fee for undergoing the review. It is not refunded regardless of the review outcome. That means you will not get it back even if the authorization is not granted.

Accepted payment methods are VISA, MASTER, JCB, AMEX, Diners Club, DISCOVER, UnionPay and Alipay+. If your card's overseas payments are blocked, the payment may not go through.

K-ETA review: 72 hours, validity 3 years

The review usually takes place within 72 hours. However, the official guidance notes that it can exceed 72 hours depending on the number of applications received and the applicant's circumstances, so keep this in mind when applying.

The authorization is valid for 3 years. If your passport expires in less than 3 years, it is valid until the passport expiry date. Applications submitted before 3 July 2023 are valid for 2 years. Within the validity period, it can be used multiple times.

There are cases where you must reapply even if the validity period has not run out. This applies when you have been issued a new passport, or when your criminal record or infectious disease information has changed. If your purpose of entry, address of your intended stay in Korea, contact details, expected dates of entry and departure, expected flight number for departure, or accompanying traveler information changes, you must update them through the Travel Information Update page on the website rather than obtaining a new authorization. If you do not update them, you may be refused entry.

Is K-ETA a visa — the period of stay differs by country

The official guidance clearly states that a K-ETA authorization is not a visa. It only means you have met some of the requirements for entering visa-free, and it does not guarantee entry. Entry is ultimately decided by the immigration officer's entry review.

The authorization's validity period is also different from the length of time you can stay. The period you can stay visa-free is set by each country. Taiwan is 90 days, New Zealand is 3 months, Germany is 90 days, and Russia is 60 consecutive days within a limit of 90 days out of 180. Check the period for your country on the eligible countries page.

If you also hold an alien registration card or a visa, that takes precedence. If you hold a valid alien registration card or domestic residence report card when entering, that status of stay and period of stay are granted first.