The South Korea Electronic Visa (K-ETA): A Simple and Fast Option for Visa-Free Entry

From 1st September 2021, South Korea has opened its doors to travellers through the new Electronic Visa (K-ETA), which allows for fast and simple online registration up to 24 hours before your arrival. For those under time constraints, a premium processing option is also available.

The Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) grants citizens from selected countries the ability to travel to South Korea without a traditional visa, by applying for an online entry permit in advance. This fee-based permit is essential before your departure. Note that the K-ETA does not replace a traditional visa. If you are planning a longer stay, have specific travel purposes not compatible with the K-ETA, or hold a passport from a non-eligible country, you will need to apply for a traditional South Korea visa. Holders of a valid conventional South Korea visa do not need a K-ETA.

With the K-ETA, you can enter South Korea multiple times over two years from the issue date. It is suitable for tourism, business trips, or visiting family and friends. Depending on your nationality, the duration of stay varies, with most European passport holders able to stay up to 90 days per entry.

Purpose of Travel:	Tourism, business, or visiting family and friends
Duration of Stay:	Up to 90 days for EU passport holders
Number of Entries:	Multiple entries
Validity Period:	24 months or until your passport expires
Processing Time:	2-10 working days
Costs:	£110 in standard processing, £260 in premium processing (incl. VAT and all visa & service fees)

Apply for Your South Korea Electronic Visa Online Here Passport holders from the following countries currently qualify for a K-ETA:

United Kingdom, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Dominica, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Venezuela, Albania, Andorra, Croatia, Cyprus, Monaco, Slovenia, USA.

The application for K-ETA is done online and is simpler and more cost-effective than traditional visa applications. It requires no physical passport dispatch. You will need a digital copy of your passport and a coloured, biometric passport photo, which must be submitted via email.

Documents to Include in Your Visa Application:

• Digital Passport Photo: Biometric, white background (size 3.5cm x 4.5cm)
• A scan or photo of the first page of your passport: (File format jpg or pdf, approx. 300-500 KB)

The issuance of K-ETA typically takes 8-10 working days in standard processing. For urgent requests, premium processing is available, ensuring preferred handling of your application.

For the latest information on entry requirements, we recommend regularly consulting official channels.

Apply for Your South Korea Electronic Visa Online Here