Full Implementation of Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA)Starting September 1st, 2021

Starting from 1 September, 2021, travelers from countries that are required a K-ETA must hold a K-ETA by applying on the K-ETA website (or mobile app) at least 24 hours before their flight. Only K-ETA approved travelers will be able to board a flight bound to the Republic of Korea.

Please read the following information carefully to avoid inconvenience when travelling to Korea.

 

Subject	K-ETA Pilot Operation (From 3 May to 31 August, 2021)	K-ETA Full Implementation (From 1 September, 2021)
Countries Eligible for K-ETA	A total of 112 countries, including visa waiver countries (B-1) and designated visa-free entry countries (B-2)
K-ETA Eligible Countries Adjusted due to COVID-19	K-ETA available to 21 countries (visa is required for 91 countries)	K-ETA available to 49 countries (visa is required for 63 countries)   * List of countries subject to change depending on the COVID-19 situation (Check the website for more information)
Boarding Flight	No additional procedure required. Traveler can board the flight after check-in.	Traveler must apply for K-ETA at least 24 hours before boarding the flight. *Website: www.k-eta.go.kr Mobile app: K-ETA *Fee is 10,000KRW and validity is 2 years (multiple entry)
Entering Korea	Travelers need to fill out and submit the Arrival Card. Traveler goes through normal immigration entry clearance.	Travelers are exempt from submitting the Arrival Card. Travelers can use exclusive entry clearance lanes.

 

1. Main Contents

○ K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) is a travel authorization that foreign nationals, who are eligible to travel to the Republic of Korea without a visa, need to obtain by providing personal and travel related information through the K-ETA website (or mobile app) in advance

 

1 (Application) Foreign national should apply for the K-ETA on the K-ETA website* at least 24 hours before departure

 - PC: www.k-eta.go.kr, Mobile App: K-ETA (App Store, Google Play Store)

2 (Assessment) The K-ETA system will automatically analyze the application information (bio data (facial image), watch list, passenger reliability, etc.)

 - If there are no issues, generally the application will be automatically approved within 30 minutes.

 - If any issues arise, the K-ETA official will check and determine the traveler as ‘Selectee*’ or ‘Not OK’ within 24 hours.

 *  Selectees will be sent to secondary inspection upon entry and in-depth interviews will be carried out.

3 (Notification) Results will be sent to the e-mail address submitted by foreign national applicant

4 (Entry) Those who received ‘OK’ will be exempt from submitting the arrival card, and those who received ‘Selectee’ will be sent to secondary inspection for in-depth interview before final determination of admission. K-ETA approved (including ‘Selectees’) persons will receive convenience such as being exempt from submitting arrival cards upon entry.

 

K-ETA Required Countries: 112 Countries that can enter Korea without a visa

 - Nationals of  eq \o\ac(○,1)166 visa-waiver (B-1) countries and  eq \o\ac(○,2)2 46 designated visa-free entry (B-2) countries

 - However, due to the current COVID-19 situation, the K-ETA will only be available for  1. visa-free entry eligible nationals of 49 countries (attachment 2) as of 1 September and  2. priority entry (business) persons (attachment 4) from the 63 countries (attachment 3) that are temporarily suspended visa-free entry.

 

K-ETA Fee: 10,000KRW

 

K-ETA Validity: 2 years from the date of approval, regardless of number of entries within the validity period

n  For priority entry persons such as business persons, K-ETA is valid for single entry.

 

Guidance Note for K-ETA .docx

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