K-ETA Exemption 2026: Only 22 Countries Qualify, Not the Rumored 67

Bottom line: Only 22 countries and regions are exempt from Korea's K-ETA (electronic travel authorization): Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Macau in Asia; the US and Canada; 13 European countries including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain; and New Zealand and Australia. The exemption runs through December 31, 2026. If your country isn't on this list, you still need to apply for K-ETA.

If you didn't know: Believing the widely-shared claim that "67 countries are exempt from K-ETA" and skipping the application can get you denied boarding or flagged at the airport. The fee is 10,000 won and approval usually takes a few days, so finding out the night before your flight can derail the whole trip.

The claim that "K-ETA is waived for 67 countries" circulates widely online, but it's wrong. According to Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that 67 figure actually refers to countries with visa-waiver agreements with Korea (countries whose citizens can enter without a visa) — a completely different system from the K-ETA exemption list. Even if your country has a visa-waiver agreement, you still need K-ETA unless you're one of the 22 countries listed above. Conversely, citizens of the 22 exempt countries can still voluntarily apply for K-ETA for 10,000 won to skip filling out the arrival card on landing; a K-ETA already issued stays valid, unrefunded, for its full two-year term. Andorra is another frequent point of confusion — its citizens can enter Korea visa-free but are not on the K-ETA exemption list.

Journey stage: Before you go · Verified 2026-11-10