Korea has extended its temporary K-ETA exemption through December 31, 2026 (Korea Standard Time). If your country is on the exempt list, you do not need a K-ETA for a 2026 trip. The exemption does not remove the separate e-Arrival Card, though, and the published notices say nothing about 2027.
Updated October 16, 2026 · Based on Korean embassy notices published between February 2025 and January 2026
What the official notice says
The Ministry of Justice decided to extend the temporary K-ETA exemption by one more year to stimulate the tourism industry. Korean diplomatic missions published the notice, and the Korean Consulate General in Houston dated its copy January 1, 2026. Here is the notice in plain terms.
| Topic | What the notice says |
|---|---|
| Decision | The Ministry of Justice extended the temporary exemption by one more year. |
| Period | January 1, 2026 (Thursday) to December 31, 2026 (Thursday), Korea Standard Time. |
| Who is covered | The countries and regions that are currently exempt, including the U.S.A. |
| How you will know | Eligible applicants get a pop-up message when they select their nationality during the application. |
| Voluntary application | People who want K-ETA benefits, such as not having to submit an arrival card, may still apply. The application fee will be charged. |
| If you already have one | A K-ETA can be used until its expiration date. |
| Refunds | The application fee paid is non-refundable. |
| Who runs the site | The K-ETA website is managed directly by the Korea Immigration Service. |
Exempt from the K-ETA is not exempt from the arrival card
This is where most travelers get confused. Korea also runs an online entry declaration called the e-Arrival Card. A February 2025 embassy notice says that all foreign nationals entering Korea are required to submit the entry declaration, with a short list of exemptions. One of those exemptions is for foreign nationals who hold a valid K-ETA. A traveler from an exempt country who never applied for a K-ETA does not hold one.
| Your situation | e-Arrival Card? |
|---|---|
| Exempt nationality, no K-ETA | In principle, you submit the e-Arrival Card. |
| You hold a valid K-ETA | Exempt from the entry declaration. |
| Registered resident in Korea (including permanent residents and people who reported a domestic residence) | Exempt. |
| Group tourist with a C-3-2 visa (certain China, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, India and Cambodia groups) | Exempt. |
| Airline crew members, etc. | Exempt. |
The K-ETA notice and the e-Arrival Card notice are separate documents. Reading only the first one can leave you thinking you have no form to fill in.
The e-Arrival Card in three numbers
- 3 days: you can submit it up to 3 days before your arrival in Korea, counted in Korea Standard Time.
- 72 hours: if you do not arrive in Korea within 72 hours, the e-Arrival Card is no longer valid and you need to submit a new one.
- 1 site: the notices name www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr as the e-Arrival Card website.
The February 2025 notice also said travelers could choose either the paper or the electronic form, and that both would be accepted until December 2025. For how the paper form is handled now, check the official site before your flight.
Should you apply for a voluntary K-ETA?
The notice states the trade-off directly: a K-ETA lets you skip the arrival card, but the application fee is charged and it is non-refundable. The notice does not give the fee amount, so look at the portal for the current figure.
| Factor | Voluntary K-ETA | Skip the K-ETA |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival card | None to submit | Submit the e-Arrival Card (up to 3 days before arrival) |
| Cost | Application fee, non-refundable | No K-ETA fee |
| Effort | One more application | One online form |
| How long it helps | Until the K-ETA’s expiration date | Exemption through December 31, 2026 |
- Open the K-ETA portal and select your nationality. If you are exempt, you will see the pop-up message the notice describes.
- Decide what you want to avoid. If the only goal is skipping the arrival card, compare the non-refundable fee with filling in one online form.
- Write down your entry date. The exemption notice covers entries through December 31, 2026.
- If you stay exempt, plan to submit the e-Arrival Card within 3 days before you land.
- Bookmark the official addresses listed in the notices: the K-ETA portal and www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr.
Trip-timing scenarios
| Your trip | What the notices say | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Entirely inside 2026 | The exemption runs through December 31, 2026. | No K-ETA needed if your country is exempt. Submit the e-Arrival Card. |
| Entry date in 2027 | The notices cover 2026 only. | Check the K-ETA portal for the rules on your entry date before you book. |
| You already hold a K-ETA | It can be used until its expiration date. | You are exempt from the arrival card while the K-ETA is valid. |
| You applied and changed your mind | The fee is non-refundable. | Do not count on getting the fee back. |
Common mistakes
The exemption covers the K-ETA. The e-Arrival Card is a different requirement.
The notice says the application fee is non-refundable.
The notice states an end date of December 31, 2026. For later entry dates, look at the portal.
The e-Arrival Card can be submitted up to 3 days before arrival, so plan to file once you are inside that window.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a K-ETA for a trip to Korea in 2026?
If your country or region is currently exempt, the exemption applies through December 31, 2026. The notice says this includes the U.S.A. The K-ETA application shows a pop-up message to eligible nationalities.
Can I still apply for a K-ETA if I am exempt?
Yes. The notice says people who want the benefits of K-ETA approval, such as not having to submit an arrival card, may apply, and the application fee will be charged.
Do I still need the e-Arrival Card?
In principle, all foreign nationals entering Korea must submit the entry declaration. Valid K-ETA holders are exempt, so an exempt traveler without a K-ETA should plan to submit it.
What happens after December 31, 2026?
The published notices cover 2026 only. Check the K-ETA portal for the rules that apply on your entry date.
Is the K-ETA fee refundable?
No. The notice says the application fee paid is non-refundable.
Who runs the K-ETA website?
The notice says the K-ETA website is managed directly by the Korea Immigration Service, and questions should go through that website.
Sources
- Notice on Extension of K-ETA Temporary Exemption (~12/31/2026) — Korean Consulate General in Houston, January 1, 2026 — exemption period, scope, fee, refunds
- E-Arrival card system will be started from February 24, 2025 — Korean Consulate in Hagatna, February 25, 2025 — who must submit, exemptions
- Implementation of e-Arrival card system — Korean mission notice, February 20, 2025 — 3-day window and 72-hour validity
- K-ETA official website (listed in the notice) — application portal
Checked on October 16, 2026. Entry rules can change, so confirm on the official sites before you travel.