3 Korea e-Arrival Card and K-ETA checks before you fly

A K-ETA notice dated 23 December 2025 says the Ministry of Justice extended the temporary K-ETA exemption by one year, from 1 January to 31 December 2026, Korea Standard Time, for the countries and regions already exempt. The Korean Embassy in the United States says the USA is among them. Covered travelers see a pop-up when they scan their passport's information page in the K-ETA application. Source: K-ETA: notice on the extension of the temporary exemption

The period is set in Korea time, and flights from the Americas cross the date line, so compare both the day you board and the day you land in Korea with it when your trip crosses the new year.

On 24 October 2026 the K-ETA notice board had no notice about arrivals after 31 December 2026.

Plan the first five days after you land.

Source: Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA: K-ETA temporary exemption to 31 December 2026.

Source: K-ETA: notice board.

Source: K-ETA: eligible countries and applicants.

The e-Arrival site lists citizens of countries temporarily exempt from the K-ETA among those who submit an arrival card, and says the e-Arrival Card is free and holds the same validity as the paper card. It can be filed on the three days up to and including your arrival date, by Korea time: for a 31 January arrival, 29 to 31 January. A K-ETA costs KRW 10,000 per person, about USD 7–8, plus an online payment fee of generally about 3%, and the K-ETA guide says holders are exempt from submitting the arrival card. Source: Korea e-Arrival Card: e-Arrival Card guide

The extension notice says exempt travelers may still apply for a K-ETA, paying the fee, to skip the arrival card, and that an issued K-ETA can be used until it expires. That is worth comparing if you plan to come back: the K-ETA guide gives it a validity of three years for multiple entries, or until the passport expires if that is sooner.

The K-ETA guide says it must be obtained before boarding and that a reissued passport needs a new application. Review typically takes 72 hours or less but can take longer, there is no express service, and the fee is not refunded if the application is refused.

Source: Korea e-Arrival Card: who submits a declaration.

Source: Korea e-Arrival Card: frequently asked questions.

Source: K-ETA: application fee guide.

Source: K-ETA: application guide.

Source: Korea e-Arrival Card: declaration procedures.

After you submit, the e-Arrival Card's issue number is sent to your email, and you can save the card as a PDF. The e-Arrival guide says you need not bring the card to immigration, though knowing the issue number helps, and that it stops being valid 72 hours after submission or once you have passed immigration. If your arrival slips past that point, file again. Source: Korea e-Arrival Card: e-Arrival Card guide

If plans change after you submit, the official site lets you edit the purpose of entry, place of stay or departure date before immigration; the arrival date can be corrected only within three days of the first submission. K-ETA holders update changed travel details on the K-ETA site.

If you did not file before landing, you can still complete the e-Arrival Card or a paper arrival card before immigration.

Choose a first base and the airport rail line that reaches it.

Source: Korea e-Arrival Card: declaration procedures.

Source: Korea e-Arrival Card: frequently asked questions.

Source: K-ETA: application guide.

Source: Korea e-Arrival Card: user authentication at submission.