Korea's entry rules have changed three times in as many years, and most of what is written about them online is out of date. Here is what currently applies, with the dates attached.
What K-ETA is, and why you probably do not need it yet
K-ETA is Korea's electronic travel authorisation, the equivalent of the US ESTA. Korea suspended it temporarily for a list of countries to encourage tourism, and has extended that suspension more than once. The current end date is 31 December 2026.
That is the part most guides get wrong: they either tell you to apply when you do not need to, or they say it was scrapped when it was only paused.
The e-Arrival Card replaced the paper form
Since 1 January 2026, travellers entering under the exemption have had to complete an e-Arrival Card instead. This is a separate requirement — being exempt from K-ETA does not exempt you from this.
The 2027 change is the one to plan around
From 1 January 2027, K-ETA is scheduled to apply again to all visa-free travellers. If you are booking a trip that begins in late 2026, the rule that matters is the one in force on your arrival date, not your booking date.
