Travel Basics
Visa & Entry (K-ETA)
Separate visa eligibility, K-ETA and arrival paperwork before booking; check the rules for your own passport and purpose.
Source-based desk guide · sources checked 2026-10-14. Not a firsthand visit report. Reference links below; send corrections through Contact.
Do not copy another traveller’s document list just because your flights are similar. Nationality, travel purpose and intended stay determine which official questions to ask. This guide helps organise those checks; it does not determine your eligibility or guarantee admission.
Step 1 — decide which rules apply
VISITKOREA directs travellers to the Korea Visa Portal for current visa requirements. Record your passport nationality, intended activity and length of stay before using it. If your plans include work or study, do not assume that an ordinary sightseeing checklist applies. Ask the relevant Korean diplomatic mission when your circumstances are unclear.
Step 2 — check K-ETA separately
The Ministry of Justice notice extends the temporary K-ETA exemption for the applicable countries and regions until 31 December 2026 (KST). It is not an exemption for every nationality. Check the official application service for your passport; the notice explains that eligible applicants are shown an exemption message. An exemption from K-ETA does not itself settle visa eligibility.
Step 3 — keep a record of the answer
Your document worksheet
- Passport used for this trip and its expiry date.
- Purpose and intended dates of travel; the authority page used to check them.
- Visa or K-ETA decision, if applicable, and the reference you may need at check-in.
- Accommodation address and contact; onward-travel details when required for your situation.
Treat this as an organiser, not a universal list of mandatory documents. Save the official answer and the date you checked it. If a passport or travel purpose changes, revisit the checks instead of assuming an old approval still covers the new trip. Do not publish your passport number or application reference in a public itinerary.
Check again before paying for inflexible bookings
Separate the question “may I travel under this entry category?” from “have I completed the current arrival paperwork?”. Ask the airline about boarding-document checks and consult the immigration authority for entry requirements. Resolve conflicting advice with the authority rather than a forum screenshot. Leave time for questions before non-refundable bookings become difficult to change.
Avoid unofficial websites that resemble application portals. Open the official links below yourself and verify the domain before entering passport or payment details. We do not collect applications, issue authorisations or sell an expedited entry service.