Electronic travel authorisations look interchangeable from the outside. They are not. Each country runs its own scheme, with its own eligibility list, its own price, and its own idea of what the document even is — some are visas, some explicitly are not.
This page is a map of which is which. For South Korea, the scheme is the K-ETA, and it costs KRW 10,000.
One rule holds everywhere: you apply on the government's own site, and no agency can make a decision arrive faster. Sites charging several times the official fee are filling in the same form for you.
South Korea — K-ETA
Costs KRW 10,000 and lasts 3 years. ⚠️ Many nationalities are temporarily exempt until 31 December 2026, so check whether it applies to you before applying. How long you may stay is set by the visa-waiver agreement for your nationality, not by the K-ETA itself — typically 30 to 90 days.
New Zealand — NZeTA
A pre-travel authorisation for visa-waiver passports, not a visa. The cost is in two parts: an application fee and a separate conservation and tourism levy, which is why quoted totals differ between sources.
Australia — eVisitor or ETA
Australia uses two schemes depending on the passport. eVisitor (subclass 651) is a visa and is free. The ETA (subclass 601) is the paid alternative and is applied for in the official app.
United Kingdom — ETA
Covers visits of up to 6 months to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. GOV.UK states the cost as £20. Applied for through the official service.
Source: GOV.UK — Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)
United States — ESTA, and Canada — eTA
Both run comparable schemes for visa-waiver travellers. We are not quoting their fees here, because we could not confirm the current figures against the official sources while writing this page, and an out-of-date price is worse than none. Check the official sites directly — and only the official sites.
- United States: esta.cbp.dhs.gov
- Canada: canada.ca (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
The mistakes that actually cost people money
- Assuming one authorisation covers a multi-country trip. Each destination is separate, including a stopover where you leave the airport.
- Assuming it is a visa. Some are, some are not, and the difference decides what you may do once you are there.
- Assuming the price is the price. Several schemes add a separate levy or charge a different amount depending on how you apply.
- Applying through a paid intermediary in the belief it is faster. It is the same form and the same decision.
Check your own passport, not a summary
Eligibility lists change, and holding two passports often means two different answers. Every scheme above publishes an official checker. Use it for the passport you will actually travel on.
More about K-ETA
What is K-ETA
K-ETA is an electronic travel authorisation for visa-free travellers to South Korea. What it is, who it applies to, and why many nationalities do not need it right now.
Do I need K-ETA?
Many nationalities are temporarily exempt from K-ETA. How to check your own passport, and what applies if you are not exempt.
How to apply
Applying for K-ETA on the official site: what you need in front of you, where people get stuck, and what happens after you submit.
Cost
What K-ETA actually costs on the official site, why third-party sites charge more, and when the cost is zero.
What you need
What you must have ready to complete a K-ETA application, and the photo and name rules that cause most rejections.
Processing time
Official guidance on K-ETA processing, what makes it slower, and why no paid service can speed it up.