Apply for your South Korea ETA online

No, provided you are from a visa-exempt country. Instead, you need a K-ETA. If your country is not on the visa-waiver list, or if you plan to work or study in Korea, you must apply for a traditional visa at a South Korean embassy.

The South Korean government has extended a temporary K-ETA exemption until December 31, 2026, for 22 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Macao, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and United States (including Guam).

If you are from these countries, you can enter without a K-ETA, but you will still need to fill out a digital Arrival Card before arriving in the country.

The K-ETA is an electronic authorization. This means it is digitally linked to your passport number. When you check in for your flight or pass through immigration in Korea, the officials will see your approved status automatically when they scan your passport.

If you applied through iVisa, you can also find your documents in your dashboard.

Applying for a K-ETA voluntarily allows you to skip the Arrival Card at immigration, making your entry into South Korea faster and smoother.

No. If you have the K-ETA you don’t need to fill out the e-Arrival Card before traveling.

However, as of January 1, 2026, South Korea has introduced a mandatory e-Arrival Card for all travelers not using a K-ETA. Even if you are exempt from the K-ETA, you are no longer allowed to use paper arrival cards, as you must submit the digital version within 72 hours of landing.

The stay duration depends on your nationality. Most travelers (like those from the US or EU) can stay for 90 days. Others, like citizens of Canada, may stay for up to 6 months, while some nationalities are limited to 30 days.

While the government can take up to a few days, iVisa offers expedited processing to ensure you receive your ETA in as little as 1 day.

The K-ETA covers short-term business trips, such as attending meetings, signing contracts, or participating in conferences. It does not allow for long-term employment or receiving a salary from a Korean source.

Generally, a stay granted under a K-ETA cannot be extended. If you need to stay longer than your permitted duration, you must exit the country and re-enter under the multiple-entry allowance, or re-apply for a new ETA if your previous one has expired.

Yes. Every traveler, including infants and minors, must have their own ETA. Parents can manage the application for their children through iVisa by using the "Add another person" option.

If denied, you may need to apply for a traditional C-3 Tourist Visa at a South Korean Embassy. iVisa offers review services to ensure your application is submitted correctly the first time. We also offer denial protection as an optional add-on to your application.

The most frequent reasons are mismatched passport details (typos in the passport number), blurry photos, or due to criminal records or previous immigration issues. iVisa’s review process is designed to prevent these specific errors.