By KMedTrip editorial · Updated · Written with AI assistance · Reviewed by KMedTrip native-speaker review team
This guide is general information, not medical advice. KMedTrip is run by a government-registered foreign patient facilitator (an agency that helps international patients arrange medical care). We do not recommend, rank or receive payment from any hospital or clinic.
Key takeaways
Figure 1. Three groups of travelers. ① Temporarily exempt until 31 Dec 2026 (list set by Korea; check the official K-ETA site). ② Visa-waiver: K-ETA required. ③ Visa required: K-ETA does not apply.
K-ETA applies to citizens of countries that can enter Korea without a visa. Before you board a flight or ship to Korea, you need an approved K-ETA, unless you are exempt.
| Your passport | What you need |
|---|---|
| One of the 22 temporarily exempt places (list below) | No K-ETA until 31 Dec 2026. You may apply voluntarily. |
| Another visa-waiver country | K-ETA before boarding |
| A visa-required country | A visa. K-ETA does not apply. See our C-3-3 medical visa guide. |
Korea’s Ministry of Justice extended a temporary K-ETA exemption until 31 December 2026, Korea time (K-ETA official notice and Embassy in Canada notice, as of Oct 2026). The official notice does not list the places by name. According to embassy notices and public reports, it covers these 22 countries and territories:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Macao, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Embassy lists are not all the same. For example, the Korean Embassy in Switzerland says citizens of Switzerland and Liechtenstein are also exempt until 31 December 2026 (checked Oct 2026).
Check your own passport on www.k-eta.go.kr before you travel. As of October 2026, no extension beyond 31 December 2026 has been announced. If you travel in 2027, check again.
If you are from one of these places, you can still apply for K-ETA voluntarily. You then pay the fee. One benefit is that you do not need to fill in an arrival card when you land (K-ETA official notice, as of Oct 2026).
If you do not have K-ETA, fill in an arrival card. You can do it online for free with the e-Arrival Card (www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr), from 3 days before you arrive (Korea time). If you submit it online, you do not need the paper card (e-Arrival Card official site, as of Oct 2026).
Figure 2. How to apply safely. ① Prepare passport, photo, email, card. ② Enter personal, passport, travel details. ③ Answer all questions honestly. ④ Pay the fee online. ⑤ Get the result by email.
The official site warns about unofficial websites. They look similar but charge much higher “service” fees. They are not government services. Before you pay, check that the web address is exactly k-eta.go.kr.
| Step | What to do | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Prepare | Have your passport, a recent photo (or take one in the app), an email address and a payment card | Use an email you check often |
| 2. Fill in the form | Enter your personal, passport and travel details | You will be asked your purpose of visit and where you will stay in Korea |
| 3. Answer questions | Answer every question honestly | Wrong information can lead to refusal |
| 4. Pay | Pay 10,000 won online (K-ETA official site, as of Oct 2026) | Card processing fees may be added |
| 5. Get the result | Wait for an email, or check on the website | Results usually come within 72 hours (K-ETA official site, as of Oct 2026) |
Tip for medical travelers: answer questions about your purpose of visit and where you will stay truthfully. If no option fits your trip, choose Other and write your purpose in English (K-ETA official notice, as of Oct 2026). The form must be filled in in English.
New passport = new K-ETA. Your K-ETA is linked to your passport. If you get a new passport, you need a new K-ETA.
Figure 3. When to apply and how long it lasts. ① Ideally one week before boarding. ② At least 72 hours before. ③ Fee: 10,000 won. ④ Valid 3 years or until passport expires.
| Item | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | 10,000 won per application. Card processing fees may be added. | K-ETA official site, as of Oct 2026 |
| Refunds | No refund if refused. Already-issued approvals are not refundable. | K-ETA official site and Embassy in Canada notice, as of Oct 2026 |
| Processing time | Usually within 72 hours | K-ETA official site, as of Oct 2026 |
| When to apply | At least 72 hours before boarding; ideally up to one week before | Korean embassy guidance, as of Oct 2026 |
| Validity | 3 years from approval, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Older notices that say “2 years” are about applications made before 3 July 2023. | K-ETA official site, as of Oct 2026 |
| Use | Usually valid for multiple trips during that time | K-ETA official site, as of Oct 2026 |
Figure 4. K-ETA and the C-3-3 medical visa side by side. ① Who it is for. ② Where to apply. ③ Typical stay (K-ETA: visa-free period / C-3-3: up to 90 days). ④ Documents. ⑤ Fee (K-ETA: 10,000 won / C-3-3: set by embassy).
| K-ETA | C-3-3 medical visa | |
|---|---|---|
| ① Who it is for | Citizens of visa-waiver countries | Patients (and caregivers) coming for treatment, including from visa-required countries |
| ② Where to apply | k-eta.go.kr or official app | Korean embassy, consulate or visa center, or via an inviting registered institution |
| ③ Typical stay | Your nationality’s visa-free period | Up to 90 days (Medical Korea, as of Oct 2026) |
| ④ Documents | Passport, photo, travel details | Medical records, appointment confirmation, proof of funds and more |
| ⑤ Fee | 10,000 won (K-ETA official site, as of Oct 2026) | Set by the embassy; varies by nationality |
K-ETA may be enough for short, planned treatment by travelers from visa-waiver countries, as long as everything fits inside the visa-free stay. Medical Korea lists visa-free entry as one way to come for treatment. The K-ETA site lists tourism, visiting family or friends, events or meetings, and business as purposes, and does not name treatment. That alone does not mean treatment is banned, but it also does not confirm your own case (K-ETA, Medical Korea and VISITKOREA, checked Oct 2026). For long treatment, a hospital stay or any doubt, ask the Korean embassy in your country or get a visa.
A medical visa may be better if:
Requirements can change. Always check the official site close to your travel date.
Is K-ETA a visa? No. It is an online travel permit for visa-waiver travelers. You need it before boarding, unless you are exempt.
How much does K-ETA cost? 10,000 won per application on the official site. Card processing fees may be added (K-ETA official site, as of Oct 2026).
How early should I apply? At least 72 hours before boarding. One week before is safer.
How long is K-ETA valid? 3 years from approval, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first (K-ETA official site, as of Oct 2026).
My country is on the exempt list. Should I still apply? You do not have to until 31 December 2026. Applying (and paying) means you skip the arrival card on landing. Without K-ETA, you can fill in the free e-Arrival Card online instead.
Does K-ETA let me stay longer for recovery? No. Your allowed stay depends on your nationality. For a longer stay, look at a medical visa or contact immigration early.
I found a K-ETA site that charges more. Is it official? No. Only www.k-eta.go.kr and the official K-ETA app are official.
If you’d like help planning, you can talk to a coordinator.