A K-ETA is valid for 3 years, but there is a condition that catches people out: it is attached to the passport you applied with. If that passport is replaced, the authorisation stops being usable even though the 3 years have not elapsed.
When you need to apply again
- You renewed or replaced your passport
- Your passport was reissued after loss or damage
- You changed the nationality you travel on
Enter your details exactly as printed
- Names as in the machine-readable zone, not as you normally write them
- Passport number character by character — 0 and O, 1 and I
- Nationality as shown on the passport, not where you live
- A photo that meets the requirements — rejections are most often about the photo
Only one official channel
Applications are made only at k-eta.go.kr. The fee is KRW 10,000. Sites charging more are third parties adding their own margin, and entering your passport number anywhere else is a risk you do not need to take.
Source: K-ETA official portal
⚠️ Before applying at all, check whether your nationality is currently exempt. Exemption runs to 31 December 2026, and applying while exempt gives you no benefit and no refund.
More about K-ETA
After you land
K-ETA gets you on the plane. What comes after — arrival card, e-gates, cash, tax refunds, transport, healthcare, emergencies — checked with official sources.
Arrival card and e-gates
Without a K-ETA you file an arrival card (online from 3 days before). Since 16 March 2026, visitors aged 17+ from 42 countries can register for e-gates.
At the border
Immigration, quarantine and customs are three separate checks. Knowing which one asks what is the difference between ten minutes and an hour.
Quarantine
Failing to declare animal or plant products on arrival in Korea can bring a fine of up to KRW 5 million under the Contagious Animal Diseases Prevention Act.
Customs allowances
The general allowance is US$800, with separate limits for alcohol, tobacco and perfume. Travellers under 19 do not get the alcohol and tobacco exemptions.
If you are exempt
Many nationalities do not currently need a K-ETA at all. Applying anyway costs money and gives you nothing. Here is how to check, and what still applies.