Japan K-ETA Exemption Korea 2026: Who Qualifies, Until When, and the e-Arrival Card You Still Need

Bottom line: According to Korea's Ministry of Justice, Japanese passport holders can enter Korea for tourism through December 31, 2026 without applying for a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA). Even so, everyone — exempt travelers included — must still fill out the electronic Arrival Card (e-Arrival Card) before entry.

If you didn't know: Apply for a K-ETA without realizing you're exempt, and you'll pay a needless 10,000-won fee (by credit card) per person. The Ministry also warns that booking through an agency site instead of the official one, k-eta.go.kr, can mean paying a much higher handling fee — the exact amount isn't disclosed in official materials and varies by site.

K-ETA was introduced in 2021 as a pre-arrival screening system, and Japan has since been among the countries and regions granted a temporary exemption. That temporary exemption has now been extended for another year. But exemption and the arrival card are separate matters — even if you're exempt from K-ETA, you still need to fill out the e-Arrival Card separately, and skipping it can slow you down at immigration. Travelers entering for profit-making purposes are not eligible for the exemption in the first place.

This article summarizes official information and is not legal, medical or financial advice.

Journey stage: Before you go · Verified Oct. 23, 2026 · Source: Ministry of Justice, official K-ETA website (k-eta.go.kr)