Is South Korea Visa-Free? Who Can Enter Without a Visa in 2026

The short answer

For most nationalities, yes — but ‘visa-free’ is not the same as ‘no paperwork’. South Korea waives the visa for citizens of roughly 110 countries and territories, but the entry requirements depend on your passport:

• Visa-free nationals enter on a B-2 short-term stay for tourism or business, usually for 30 to 90 days depending on the bilateral agreement.
• K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) is required in advance for most visa-free nationals. It is an online pre-approval, not a visa.
• A temporary K-ETA exemption is in place for 22 countries and regions through December 31, 2026.

So the accurate answer is: you may not need a visa, but you do need to check the K-ETA requirement for your nationality before you book your flight.

Who can enter visa-free

Visa-free entry covers citizens of around 110 countries and territories, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, most EU member states, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Permitted stay lengths vary by nationality under each bilateral agreement — commonly 30 days, 60 days or 90 days. A few agreements give longer stays (for example, some give Canadian citizens six months). You must check the exact duration for your passport with the official sources below.

Visa-free entry is granted for tourism, visiting and short-term business. It is not a route to employment — paid work requires a proper work visa, and engaging in work while on visa-free entry is an immigration offence.

K-ETA — who needs it

K-ETA is an electronic travel authorization that visa-free nationals must obtain before boarding a flight to South Korea. Approval is linked to your passport and is typically valid for multiple entries.

As of 2026:

• The temporary K-ETA exemption applies to 22 countries and territories (including the United States, the UK, Japan, Canada, and many EU states) until December 31, 2026.
• Citizens of other visa-free countries (around 90) must still apply for K-ETA before travel.
• There is also a permanent age-based exemption: travellers under 17 and over 65 from visa-free countries do not need K-ETA.

You should check the current list on the official K-ETA portal (k-eta.go.kr) — the exemption list and its end date can change with little notice.

The e-Arrival Card

Since 2026, South Korea has replaced the paper arrival form with a digital e-Arrival Card. What matters for visa-free travellers:

• The e-Arrival Card is mandatory for most foreign visitors entering Korea.
• If you have a valid K-ETA, you are generally exempt from the separate e-Arrival Card submission — the K-ETA record covers you.
• If you are exempt from K-ETA (by the temporary 22-country exemption or by age), you must still submit the e-Arrival Card before arrival.

The e-Arrival Card is submitted online before landing and is free. Check the official portal (e-arrivalcard.go.kr) for the current procedure.

What visa-free entry does not allow

Visa-free entry is strictly for short stays. The common pitfalls:

• No paid work. Employment, freelance work or any profit-making activity on a B-2 stay is an immigration offence and can lead to deportation and a re-entry ban.
• No long-term residence. Visa-free entry does not lead to an alien registration card or a long-term status. If you intend to study, work or marry, you need the corresponding visa and must follow the normal application route.
• Extensions are narrow. Routine extension for more tourism is not an accepted ground; only unavoidable reasons such as illness are considered. See our guide on tourist visa extension for details.
• Return ticket expectations. Immigration expects visitors to show an onward or return ticket and proof that they will leave within the permitted period.

If your purpose is anything other than a short visit, start from the visa you actually need. Our guide on how to get a Korean visa walks through the main types and sponsor routes.

How to check your own case

Because agreements are bilateral and policies change, always confirm three things before travelling:

1. Whether your nationality is visa-free, and for how long.
2. Whether you need K-ETA (or fall under the temporary 22-country exemption or the age exemption).
3. Whether you must submit the e-Arrival Card.

Authoritative sources are the Korea visa portal (visa.go.kr), HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the K-ETA portal (k-eta.go.kr). Confirm with the Korean embassy or mission in your country before booking.