Start with your passport, purpose and dates
Entry requirements depend on nationality, passport type, purpose, length of stay and immigration status. A friend’s successful trip does not establish your eligibility. Prepare those facts before searching for a form or paying an agent.
This is a decision checklist, not an individual visa determination. For unusual travel documents, work, study, a long stay or an unclear status, ask the relevant Korean embassy or immigration authority before booking nonrefundable travel.
Three different questions
| Question | What it concerns |
|---|---|
| Is a visa required? | Permission category for the planned visit |
| Is K-ETA required? | Travel authorization for eligible visa-free travel |
| Is an arrival declaration required? | Information submitted for entry processing |
These are not interchangeable names for one form. Having an exemption from one requirement does not automatically remove all the others.
Check the 2026 K-ETA exemption carefully
KTO reports that the temporary K-ETA exemption for covered nationalities extends through December 31, 2026. Do not convert that into “everyone is exempt.” Check the official eligibility result for your actual passport and travel date.
A K-ETA exemption is not a visa and does not guarantee admission. If your trip extends into a later policy period, check again rather than assuming the same arrangement continues.
Use the arrival-card decision path
The official e-Arrival Card is free and, when required, must be submitted within the three days before arrival in Korea. Use the site’s permitted dates and eligibility navigator with your actual valid documents, then enter confirmed flight and accommodation details. K-ETA exemption alone does not establish exemption from the arrival declaration.
Check the domain before entering passport data. Avoid paid imitation pages that look like government services. Do not send your passport image to a stranger merely to find out which form you need.
Keep the result and update changed details
Retain the application result or declaration reference, accommodation address and airline itinerary securely. If the flight, passport or other relevant information changes, check the official correction or new-application requirement.
A screenshot of a submitted screen is not necessarily an approval. Read the actual status and any follow-up instructions. Keep access to the email account used for the application.
Final pre-departure check
Confirm visa eligibility, authorization status when required, declaration requirements and the airline’s document instructions. Airlines check boarding documents, while final admission remains an immigration decision.
Our K-ETA and e-Arrival Card guide explains the forms in more detail. Keep the distinction clear: identify your requirement first, then submit the correct official form, rather than filling every form you encounter online.