KETA Application Guide

KETA Required for Visa-free Country Travelers
You can apply for KETA anytime.
However, you MUST obtain KETA approval before boarding the flight or ship bound for the Republic of Korea.

What is KETA?

KETA is an electronic travel authorization that visa-free foreign visitors need to obtain before entering the Republic of Korea by submitting relevant information online such as their travel information. The purpose of travel should be tourism, visiting a family member, participating in events or meetings, or commercial business (excluding the pursuit of profit).

KETA Apply

• STEP 1 Apply
• STEP 2 Enter E-mail
• STEP 3 Enter Passport Information
• STEP 4 Enter Application Information
• STEP 5 Make Payment
• STEP 6 Under assessment
• STEP 7 Check Results

Items to prepare

• Valid passport
• Recent profile photo
• Email address
• Credit card (for fee payment)

KETA Announcements

1. KETA eligible nationals who wish to enter visa-free to the Republic of Korea must obtain KETA approval before boarding the flight or ship. Please keep in mind that the assessment can take more than 72 hours depending on the situation (e.g., an increased number of KETA applications, applicants’ circumstances, etc.). Therefore, please apply for KETA with sufficient time.
2. Each approved KETA allows multiple visits to the Republic of Korea within the validity period of KETA (3 years in general). However, KETA approval is not a guarantee of entry into the Republic of Korea. The final decision of a traveler’s entry will be made by the immigration official of the Republic of Korea at the port of entry.
3. The validity period of KETA (3 years in general) is irrelevant to the allowed period of visa-free stay. Those who enter the country via KETA cannot stay beyond the allowed period of visa-free stay permitted by nationality. The allowed period of visa-free stay per entry differs by nationality.
4. KETA approval may be denied or canceled in any case of submitting false or inaccurate information on the KETA application, and that person may be subject to penalties or entry restrictions according to relevant Korean laws. The same will be applied to those who are applying on behalf of the applicant.
5. Even in the event of application denial, refunds are not applicable. KETA Center is not responsible for any third-party (agency, etc.) fees for the transaction.
6. Even if your KETA has not expired, you are required to apply for a new KETA if there are any changes to your information, such as name, sex, date of birth, nationality, passport information (passport number, passport expiration date), infectious disease, or criminal record.
7. If there are any changes to your purpose of entry, address in Korea, or contact information after your KETA approval, you are required to update such information through the KETA website before entering Korea. Failure to do so may result in unfavorable measures such as entry denial.
8. Those with KETA approval can go through entry immigration more conveniently, as they will be exempted from submitting the arrival card upon entry. Please note that we do not accept any activities with KETA which are undertaken for the purpose of generating profit or revenue.
9. If you hold both KETA and a valid Residence Card (or Overseas Korean Resident Card) when you enter South Korea, you are firstly granted the status of stay and period of stay according to your Residence Card (or Overseas Korean Resident Card). Based on Article 37-1 of the Immigration Control Act, you can enter the country via KETA only if you had returned your Residence Card (or Overseas Korean Resident Card) to the immigration control official when you exited South Korea in the past or if you return your card at the moment of entry. Please note that if you hold a valid visa, you are firstly granted the status of stay and period of stay according to your visa (regardless of your possessing KETA).

K-ETA progression steps

Under Review

Can be modified

Under Review

Cannot be modified

Reviewed

Approval Reviewed

Approval

Ministry of Justice approval

K-ETA Application results will be sent via email, and may be classified as spam, so please check your spam folder.

• You can apply for K-ETA anytime
• You must obtain K-ETA approval before boarding a plane or ship to Korea.
• Please keep in mind that depending on the situation, the evaluation may take longer than 72 hours.

k-eta Application stage status values

Under Review (Can be modified)

Your application has been received.

(The person in charge will review it within 1 hour, and you can edit the application until ‘Cannot be modified’.)

Under Review (Cannot be modified)

We have reviewed your submitted application, found no issues, and your application has been submitted to the government agency.

Reviewed (Approval Reviewed)

The submitted application is being reviewed by a government agency (Ministry of Justice).

(Basically, it takes 72 hours, but it may take more than 72 hours due to the increase in applicants, temporary applicants, etc.)

Approval (Ministry of Justice approval)

The submitted application received final approval from the government agency (Ministry of Justice).

Reject status values

Rejected (Headshot)

The headshot attached to the submitted application does not meet the requirements.

(Please re-register the photo to meet the requirements.)

Rejected (Passport photo)

The Passport photo attached to your submitted application does not meet requirements.

(Please re-register the photo to meet the requirements.)

Rejected (Passport photo/Headshot)

The headshot in your passport and the headshot attached to your application does not meet the requirements.

(Please re-register the photo to meet the requirements.)

Rejected (Justice Department rejection)

The submitted K-ETA application has not been approved as an Electronic Travel Authorization.

(Because this information is private, we do not know the reason for the rejection. Please make sure to check the email address you used when filling out the application.)

Other status values

Temporary

You have not completed your application, or you have completed your application but have not made payment.

(You must fill out the application form and complete payment to complete the application.)

Cancel

Your application has been cancelled.

From 23.07.03 (Monday), those under 17 and over 65 are excluded from the mandatory application of Electronic Travel Permit K-ETA exemption
However, if you want to receive benefits from K-ETA application, you can apply for K-ETA

* The previously issued K-ETA is available until its expiration date *

▶ KOREA ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION (KETA) is a system in which foreigners who want to enter Korea for the purpose of tourism, visiting relatives, and participating in various events and meetings (for the purpose of profit, are permitted to enter Korea online).

▶ All foreigners who wish to enter the Republic of Korea due to transfer must apply for a visa exemption agreement (67 countries) and 45 countries where visa-free entry is allowed (45 countries).

▶ KETA is valid for up to two years from the date of approval unless important personal information such as name, state of affairs, and passport number is changed within the passport expiration date, and if important personal information is changed, it must be reapplied.

▶ It cannot be modified after submitting the application, and if you fill out the wrong information, you have to reapply.
If the K-ETA application information and passport information are inconsistent, you cannot board the aircraft/ship.
Please make sure to check the information you entered before the final payment.

▶ The following are the KETA exclusions
- diplomatic, official passport holder
- Korean visa holder, Korean registered foreigner
- Multiple citizens of the Republic of Korea (Holding a valid Korean passport)
- active-duty U.S. military personnel in Korea (entry for official purposes)
- Crew and crew (including prospective crew members)
- ABTC Holders (excluding the United States and Canada)
- UN Passport Holder (UNLP, LAISSEZ-PASSER)
- Transfer passengers (If you are on board for transfer purposes, you cannot enter without a pre-authorized K-ETA)