K-ETA Exemption for Japan 2026: Deadline December 31 and the Arrival Card You Still Need

Bottom line: Japanese nationals can still enter South Korea visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism, and the K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) requirement is waived through December 31, 2026. But skipping K-ETA means filling out a paper or digital arrival card by hand at entry — applying for K-ETA and getting approved removes that step entirely.

If you didn't know: travelers who rely only on the K-ETA exemption and bring no other paperwork often end up filling out an arrival card on the plane or at the immigration hall by hand, one per person. A family of four filling out four cards during a busy arrival window can lose 10 to 20 extra minutes in line. Applying for K-ETA for a 10,000-won fee removes this step completely.

South Korea's Ministry of Justice and the official K-ETA website confirmed in a March 20, 2026 notice that the temporary exemption was extended by one more year, from January 1 to December 31, 2026. Japan is among the 22 exempted countries and regions. Even exempted travelers who skip K-ETA must still complete an arrival card at entry; applying for and receiving K-ETA approval waives that requirement. A K-ETA already issued stays valid until its expiration date and is non-refundable. The notice does not say whether the exemption will be extended again after 2026, so check the notice board on k-eta.go.kr again shortly before departure.

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

Journey stage: Before you go · Verified 2026-10-30