South Korea Visa & Entry Requirements (2026)
There's no single answer — it depends on your passport. Most Western nationalities (US, UK, EU/Schengen, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) get 90 days visa-free, and K-ETA (the electronic travel authorization normally required in addition) is temporarily waived through December 31, 2026 for roughly 67 eligible countries. Travelers from India, China, Vietnam, and several other nationalities need to apply for a full C-3 tourist visa in advance — K-ETA isn't an option for them. Everyone must also complete the free e-Arrival Card online within 72 hours of arrival.
Visa questions are the one place a generic answer can genuinely cost you a trip. South Korea's system has two separate layers — the underlying visa-free/visa-required status, and K-ETA, an extra electronic authorization that's currently suspended for many nationalities but due to snap back into force in 2027. Here's the real breakdown.
Last checked 15 July 2026 directly against South Korea's own official sources — the official K-ETA site (the electronic travel authorization requirement and current exemption status), the Korea Immigration Service (the visa-exemption list and C-3 visa rules) — not just this page's own history. Visa rules like this one change with little notice, so we re-verify against those two sources every few weeks rather than trusting our own last edit. Spotted something that's changed since? Tell us and we'll fix it fast.
Visa-free entry & K-ETA status by nationality (as of mid-2026)
| Nationality group | Visa-free stay | K-ETA status |
|---|---|---|
| EU / Schengen countries | Up to 90 days | Waived through Dec 31, 2026 for most member states (confirm your specific country) |
| United States | Up to 90 days | Waived through Dec 31, 2026 |
| United Kingdom | Up to 90 days | Waived through Dec 31, 2026 |
| Canada, Australia, New Zealand | Up to 90 days | Waived through Dec 31, 2026 |
| India | Not visa-exempt | K-ETA not available — a C-3 tourist visa must be arranged in advance at a Korean embassy/consulate |
| Gulf states (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman) | 30 days (Saudi) to 90 days (UAE) depending on country | Waived through Dec 31, 2026 |
| South Africa, Brazil | 30 days (South Africa), 90 days (Brazil) | Optional/not yet enforced through 2026 for South Africa; confirm current status for Brazil before booking |
| Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia), China | Not visa-exempt for most of this group | K-ETA not available — a C-3 tourist visa is required in advance (Singapore, Brunei, and a few others are separate visa-exempt exceptions) |
| Other nationalities | Varies — 100+ countries have some form of visa-free or K-ETA-eligible entry | Check the official K-ETA site or your nearest Korean embassy for your specific passport |
K-ETA's temporary suspension is scheduled to end at 23:59 KST on December 31, 2026. From January 1, 2027, every previously-exempt traveler will need to apply for and hold a valid K-ETA before flying to Korea (a simple online form, a small fee, and normally fast approval) — unless the Ministry of Justice extends the suspension again, which it has done multiple times already. If you're traveling in 2027, check the current requirement before booking rather than assuming 2026's rules still apply.
The mandatory e-Arrival Card
Regardless of nationality or K-ETA status, every foreign traveler must complete Korea's e-Arrival Card online within 72 hours before landing — it's free, takes a few minutes, and replaces the old paper arrival card. Use the official e-Arrival Card site only; skip any third-party site charging a 'processing fee' for what's a free government form.
Jeju Island's separate entry policy
Jeju Island runs its own standalone visa-free entry policy that's more permissive than the mainland's — some nationalities that need a visa for Seoul can enter Jeju directly without one, for up to 30 days. This doesn't cover onward travel to the mainland, which still requires whatever visa or K-ETA status your passport normally needs for Korea generally. See our Jeju Island guide for the details.
Other entry basics
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry.
- Immigration officers occasionally ask for proof of an onward or return flight — have a digital or printed copy ready.
- If a K-ETA is required for your nationality (either now, or after the 2027 rule change), apply at least a few days before departure — approval is normally fast but isn't guaranteed instant.
Common visa mistakes to avoid
- Assuming K-ETA's temporary suspension means you never need to think about it again — it's due to snap back into force from January 1, 2027, so check the current status if you're traveling around that boundary.
- Confusing Jeju Island's separate visa-free policy with the mainland's rules — entering Jeju without a visa doesn't automatically let you continue on to Seoul if your nationality otherwise needs one.
- Skipping the free e-Arrival Card because you're visa-exempt — it's a completely separate, mandatory requirement for every foreign traveler regardless of visa or K-ETA status.