1. Home
  2. Visa requirements
  3. South Korea
Destination · Asia

South Korea visa requirements (2026)

Of 198 passports, 110 can travel to South Korea without arranging a visa in advance. 88 can apply online for an e-Visa and 0 need a visa from an embassy or visa centre.

Who can visit South Korea: passports by requirement

How to enter South Korea: official routes

Checked November 2026

⚠️ The official K-ETA site warns that K-ETA is available only at www.k-eta.go.kr or the official K-ETA app, and that look-alike agency or phishing sites charge high fees. Use only the official links below.

Official route

K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) - for visa-free nationals

Fee
KRW 10,000 (about USD 7-8) plus a small online payment charge; non-refundable
Valid for
3 years or until the passport expires, whichever is sooner; multiple entries
Processing
Usually within 72 hours; no expedited service, so apply well before boarding
Official site →
Official route

Short-term visit visa (C-3)

Fee
USD 40 single entry (90 days or less); USD 70 double; USD 90 multiple; reduced or waived for some nationalities by reciprocity
Processing
Varies by embassy or via the Korea Visa Portal
Official site →

At the border

  • Visa-free nationals must hold an approved K-ETA before boarding, unless their country is on the temporary exemption list.
  • Travellers without K-ETA submit an arrival card; the official Korea e-Arrival Card (e-arrivalcard.go.kr) is free and can be filed from 3 days before arrival.
  • K-ETA holders do not need to submit an arrival card.
  • Permitted visa-free stay length depends on nationality (check the K-ETA eligibility list).
  • Visa fees are non-refundable even if the application is refused.

Recent changes

  • December 2025: the K-ETA temporary exemption for currently listed countries was extended for all of 2026 (1 January to 31 December 2026, KST); exempt travellers may still apply voluntarily to skip the arrival card.

Official source: Korea Immigration Service (Ministry of Justice) - Korea Visa Portal · Not yet confirmed officially: Exact list of K-ETA temporarily exempt countries (official site shows it only during application), e-Arrival Card launch date (not stated on the official page read), Passport validity rule (no fixed minimum stated on the pages read), consularVisa.processing time

Do I need a visa for South Korea?

Entry requirement Choose a passport and a destination.

Popular passports

PassportRequirementStay
United States Visa-free 90 d
United Kingdom Visa-free 90 d
India e-Visa –
Philippines e-Visa –
Nigeria e-Visa –
Pakistan e-Visa –
Canada Visa-free 180 d
Australia Visa-free 90 d
China e-Visa –
Germany Visa-free 90 d

Access by passport region

Passports that enter visa-free, with a visa on arrival or an eTA.

RegionPassports
Europe 41/46
Asia 17/49
Africa 8/54
North America 21/23
South America 11/12
Oceania 12/14

Working remotely from South Korea? The South Korea digital nomad visa requires KRW 52.4–104.8 million per year (1x–2x GNI per capita), by age and region.

Passports that can enter South Korea visa-free

62 passports

Passports that need an eTA for South Korea

48 passports

Passports eligible for South Korea e-Visa

88 passports

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to visit South Korea?

It depends on your passport. 62 passports can enter South Korea visa-free, 0 get a visa on arrival, 48 need an eTA, 88 can apply for an e-Visa online and 0 need a visa from an embassy or visa centre.

Which countries can enter South Korea without a visa?

62 passports can enter South Korea visa-free, including Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia and others.

Does South Korea offer an e-Visa?

Yes. Holders of 88 passports can apply for a visa to South Korea online.

Holding a South Korea passport? See where the South Korea passport can travel visa-free.

Data last updated February 2026. Rules can change at short notice and may differ by purpose of travel. Confirm with the embassy or official immigration website of South Korea before you book.