Incheon Airport Transit Tour 2026: Explore Seoul Visa-Free Within a 24-Hour Layover

Even a short layover doesn't have to mean staying inside the terminal the whole time. Incheon International Airport's Transit Tour program lets travelers step outside and see Seoul without a separate visa, as long as the layover is 24 hours or less.

At a glance: Available only for layovers of 24 hours or less · Eligible travelers include nationals of visa-exempt countries, those holding valid US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand or one of 32 European visas (including permanent residency) transiting onward to those countries, and general transit tour participants · Sign up at least 30 minutes before departure with your passport and onward boarding pass at the Transit Tour desk on the 1st floor of Terminal 1 or 2 · If your actual destination is Korea, you'll need a separate K-ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), which costs 10,000 won and is valid for three years from issue.

Separately from the transit tour, anyone whose final destination is Korea needs a K-ETA. It applies to 112 countries and regions combined — 67 visa-exempt nations and 45 visa-waiver-for-tourism nations — and costs 10,000 won. Applying at least 72 hours before boarding is recommended, and once approved, it can be reused without limit for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. With an approved K-ETA, you don't need to fill out a separate arrival card. Applications can be submitted directly through the official K-ETA website or its dedicated mobile app.

The transit tour works differently from K-ETA. As long as your layover is within 24 hours, you can leave the airport and tour Seoul without any visa or K-ETA at all. Just be sure to reach the desk with your passport and onward boarding pass at least 30 minutes before the tour departs — if you're running short on layover time, it's safer to stay inside the airport rather than risk missing your connecting flight.