South Korea entry requirements for US citizens
Short answerUS citizens need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before travelling to South Korea. Up to 90 days per visit.
- How long you can stay
- Up to 90 days per visit.
- What you need
- Valid passport
- e-Arrival Card (submit online up to 72 hours before arrival, or on arrival)
- Proof of onward/return ticket
- K-ETA approval if traveling after the temporary exemption ends
- Good to know
- US nationals are on Korea's list of countries visa-exempt for tourism/business up to 90 days. Since April 1, 2023, K-ETA has been temporarily waived for US citizens as part of the 'Visit Korea Year' promotion; the waiver has been repeatedly extended and currently runs through December 31, 2026 (KST), per K-ETA's own notice of extension dated 2026-03-20. Travelers may still voluntarily apply for K-ETA (fee 10,000 KRW / approx. USD 7-8, valid 3 years or until passport expiry, multiple entry) to skip the e-Arrival Card. If the exemption is not renewed after that date, K-ETA becomes mandatory again before departure.
Source K-ETA Official Portal - Eligible Countries / Allowed Period of StayChecked against the source on 2026-09-02
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South Korea for other passports
- Argentinaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Australiaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Brazilelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Canadaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Chileelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Chinavisa required
- Franceelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Germanyelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Indiavisa required
- Israelelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Italyelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Japanelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Malaysiaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Mexicoelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Netherlandselectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- New Zealandelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Singaporeelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Spainelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- United Kingdomelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
Other destinations for US citizens
- Albaniavisa-free short stay
- Argentinavisa-free short stay
- Armeniavisa-free short stay
- Australiaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Bahamasvisa-free short stay
- Bosnia and Herzegovinavisa-free short stay
- Brazilvisa required
- Canadavisa-free short stay
- Chilevisa-free short stay
- Chinavisa required
- Colombiavisa-free short stay
- Costa Ricavisa-free short stay
- Cyprusvisa-free short stay
- Dominican Republicvisa-free short stay
- Ecuadorvisa-free short stay
- Egyptvisa required
- Fijivisa-free short stay
- Georgiavisa-free short stay
- Ghanavisa required
- Hong Kongvisa-free short stay
- Indiaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Indonesiavisa on arrival
- Irelandvisa-free short stay
- Israelelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Jamaicavisa-free short stay
- Japanvisa-free short stay
- Jordanvisa on arrival
- Kenyaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Macaovisa-free short stay
- Malaysiavisa-free short stay
- Maldivesvisa on arrival
- Mauritiusvisa-free short stay
- Mexicovisa-free short stay
- Mongoliavisa-free short stay
- Montenegrovisa-free short stay
- Moroccovisa-free short stay
- New Zealandelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Nigeriavisa required
- Peruvisa-free short stay
- Philippinesvisa-free short stay
- Qatarvisa on arrival
- Rwandavisa on arrival
- Saudi Arabiavisa on arrival
- Serbiavisa-free short stay
- Seychelleselectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Singaporevisa-free short stay
- South Africavisa-free short stay
- Sri Lankaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Taiwanvisa-free short stay
- Tanzaniavisa on arrival
- Thailandvisa-free short stay
- Turkeyvisa-free short stay
- United Arab Emiratesvisa-free short stay
- United Kingdomelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Uruguayvisa-free short stay
- Uzbekistanvisa-free short stay
- Vietnamelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Zambiavisa-free short stay
- Zimbabwevisa on arrival
Informational only — not legal advice. Entry rules change; confirm with the official source above before you travel. See update history