Korea makes life easy for most tourists — but the rules changed in 2026, and there’s a lot of confusing, out-of-date information online. This is the clear, fact-checked version. For the vast majority of visitors from English-speaking countries, the short answer is reassuring: you do not need a visa to come to Busan for a holiday, and right now you don’t even need a K-ETA. What you do need is the new, free e-Arrival Card, and an awareness of one big change coming in 2027. Below we explain exactly what your nationality requires, how long you can stay, what the K-ETA and e-Arrival Card actually are, what to do if you genuinely need a visa, and — importantly — how to avoid the unofficial sites that overcharge travellers. Plan the rest of your trip with our complete Busan Travel Guide.

1. Do you need a visa or K-ETA for Korea?

If you hold a US, UK, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport, you do not need a visa for tourism, and you do not need a K-ETA either — at least through 31 December 2026. All you need is a valid passport and the free e-Arrival Card (more on that below). These countries are on Korea’s temporary K-ETA exemption list.

That said, your exact situation depends on your nationality, so check carefully:

• US, UK, Australia, New Zealand: visa-free for 90 days; K-ETA not required through end of 2026.
• Canada: visa-free for an unusually generous 6 months (180 days); K-ETA not required through end of 2026.
• Ireland: visa-free for 90 days, but Ireland is not on the temporary exemption list — Irish travellers do need a K-ETA.
• Other nationalities: many are visa-free but still need a K-ETA (for example South Africa is visa-required; always confirm for your own passport).

2. The three things to understand: visa, K-ETA & e-Arrival Card

Korea’s entry system has three separate parts. Most tourists only deal with the last one. Here’s how they fit together:

• They don’t stack the way you’d fear: if you have a valid K-ETA, you do not need an e-Arrival Card. If you’re K-ETA-exempt, you do the e-Arrival Card instead.
• A visa replaces the K-ETA: if you hold a Korean visa, you don’t need a K-ETA — but you still complete the e-Arrival Card unless your visa says otherwise.

3. Visa-free entry: how long can you stay?

Visa-free stays in Korea range from 30 to 180 days depending on nationality. For the main English-speaking markets:

• Visa-free is for tourism and short business — you can’t work on it.
• Your passport should be valid for your whole stay; six months’ validity is the safe rule.
• Don’t overstay — Korea takes this seriously, with fines and entry bans.

4. K-ETA: what it is and who’s exempt until end of 2026

The K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) is an online pre-approval that visa-free travellers normally need before flying — but a temporary exemption means many nationalities don’t need it right now.

• Who’s exempt until 31 Dec 2026: nationals of a list of designated countries and regions, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Spain and most of the EU. These travellers skip the K-ETA entirely and just do the e-Arrival Card.
• Who still needs it now: visa-free nationalities not on the exemption list — for example Thailand, Russia, Mexico, Argentina and Ireland.
• The big 2027 change: the exemption ends on 31 December 2026. From 1 January 2027, every visa-free traveller will need a K-ETA again, so if you’re reading this for a 2027 trip, plan to apply.

How to apply for a K-ETA

• Where: only the official site k-eta.go.kr or the official K-ETA app.
• Cost: about 10,000 won (roughly US$7), payable by card.
• Validity: 3 years, multiple entries — apply once and reuse it.
• Timing: apply at least 72 hours before departure; most are approved within that window.
• Age: applicants aged 17 and under or 65 and over are exempt from the K-ETA (but still need the e-Arrival Card).

5. The e-Arrival Card — now mandatory (2026)

As of 2026 the paper arrival card is gone: everyone entering Korea without a valid K-ETA must complete the free digital e-Arrival Card before going through immigration. This is the one step almost every tourist now needs.

• Who needs it: all foreign visitors arriving without a valid K-ETA — including citizens of exempt countries, children and seniors. If you have a valid K-ETA, you do not need it.
• Cost: it is 100% free.
• Where: the only official site is e-arrivalcard.go.kr (check the URL ends in .go.kr).
• When: you can submit it from 3 days (72 hours) before you arrive.
• How: it takes about 5–10 minutes — passport details, flight number, your address/hotel in Korea — and generates a QR code. Save a screenshot and show it at the immigration desk.

6. If you need a tourist visa (C-3)

If your nationality is not on the visa-free list, you’ll need a short-term visit visa (typically the C-3) before you travel — a K-ETA is not an option in that case. This applies to a number of nationalities (for example Vietnam, India and the Philippines).

• Where: apply at a Korean embassy, consulate or an authorised visa centre (VFS) in your country. There is no general tourist e-visa for Korea.
• Typical documents: passport, application form, photo, proof of funds, itinerary/flight and hotel bookings, and sometimes proof of employment or invitation. Requirements vary by country — check your local Korean mission.
• Stay: a C-3 tourist visa usually allows up to 30 or 90 days; apply well ahead, as processing takes time.
• With a visa you do not need a K-ETA, but you still complete the e-Arrival Card on arrival unless told otherwise.

7. Avoid scams: use only official .go.kr sites

The single most common way travellers waste money on Korean entry is by using unofficial websites. Many look professional and rank high in search results, but charge inflated ‘processing fees’ for things that are free or cheap on the government sites.

• K-ETA — official only: k-eta.go.kr (or the official K-ETA app). The real cost is about 10,000 won.
• e-Arrival Card — official only: e-arrivalcard.go.kr. It is completely free.
• The tell-tale sign: if the address does not end in .go.kr, it is not the Korean government. Third-party sites may charge tens of dollars extra and can mishandle your data.
• Visas: apply only through a Korean embassy/consulate or the official VFS partner for your country.

8. Before you fly & at the airport: a simple checklist

Here’s the whole thing as a step-by-step, for a typical visa-free tourist arriving in Busan.

1. Check your passportMake sure it’s valid for your stay (six months is the safe rule).
2. Confirm your trackVisa-free + K-ETA-exempt (most Western tourists) → you only need the e-Arrival Card. K-ETA-required → apply at k-eta.go.kr a few days early. Visa-required → apply for a C-3 visa well ahead.
3. Do the e-Arrival CardWithin 72 hours of arrival, complete it at e-arrivalcard.go.kr and screenshot the QR code (skip this if you hold a valid K-ETA).
4. At immigration in BusanHave your passport and QR code (or K-ETA) ready; fingerprints and a photo are usually taken. It’s quick and well signed in English.
5. You’re inFrom Gimhae International Airport, the light rail and buses connect you to the city — see our airport guide.

Verdict: for most visitors, entering Korea in 2026 is genuinely simple — no visa, no K-ETA, just a free online card and your passport. Keep two things in mind: do the e-Arrival Card before you land, and only ever use the official .go.kr sites. And if your trip is in 2027 or later, remember the K-ETA will be back for everyone. Now plan the fun part with our complete Busan Travel Guide.

Korea visa & K-ETA — Frequently asked questions

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