K-ETA Validity 2026: How Long It Lasts, the 10,000-Won Fee, and Why a New Passport Means Reapplying

A traveler who had a K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) approved three years ago is stopped at the check-in counter for a flight to Korea. Their passport was recently reissued with a new passport number, but the K-ETA on file still carries the old one.

At a glance: According to the Ministry of Justice's Korea Immigration Service, a K-ETA costs 10,000 won and is valid for three years from the date it's issued — or until the passport's expiry date, if that comes sooner. Applicants are advised to apply at least 72 hours before boarding, and without an approved permit, travelers cannot board a flight or ship bound for Korea. Nationals of 112 countries and regions in total — 67 under visa-waiver agreements and 45 eligible for visa-free transit — are exempt from needing a K-ETA at all.

The catch is that a K-ETA is tied to the specific passport used to apply for it. If personal details such as name, nationality, or passport number change, the existing approval is treated as no longer valid. Whether the passport was reissued after being lost or simply renewed at expiry, a new passport number means applicants need to apply for a fresh K-ETA with the new passport's details — at the same 10,000 won fee.

Nationals of 22 countries and regions, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, are temporarily exempt from applying for a K-ETA at all, from January 1 through December 31, 2026. Even so, starting January 1, 2026, every foreign arrival — exempt or not — must separately submit an electronic Arrival Card up to three days before landing, so travelers shouldn't confuse K-ETA exemption with the arrival-declaration requirement.

Travelers aged 17 or under or 65 or over, holders of diplomatic or official passports, crew members, and transit passengers are excluded from the K-ETA requirement in the first place. Anyone unsure whether they fall into one of these categories should check the official site, k-eta.go.kr, before booking.

The math is simple either way: a new or renewed K-ETA costs 10,000 won and takes as little as 72 hours. Miss it, though, and boarding can be denied at the check-in counter — turning a missed step into the cost of an entire plane ticket. Anyone who has recently renewed their passport should check their K-ETA status first.