The exemption currently in place is temporary, and the announced end date is 31 December 2026. If your trip falls near that date, plan on the basis that the requirement returns rather than that it will be extended again.
Which date matters
What counts is the date you arrive in Korea, not the date you booked or the date you departed home. A flight that lands after the exemption period needs the permission even if it took off before.
If you are travelling around the changeover
- Apply anyway if your arrival is close to the date. It is valid for 3 years, so an unnecessary application is not a loss.
- Do not rely on the airline to tell you. Carriers check on the day of departure, which is too late to fix.
- Check the official portal shortly before you travel — extensions and changes are announced there first.
Exemption lists have been revised more than once, and the countries covered have changed each time. Treat any list you read elsewhere, including summaries like this one, as a pointer to the official page rather than a substitute for it.
Source: K-ETA official portal
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.