What K-ETA and Q-CODE are, how to check whether they apply to you, and what to have ready at immigration — with official sources to confirm the latest rules.
Check K-ETA before you book flights
K-ETA is an electronic travel authorization for visitors who can enter Korea without a visa. Apply only through the official K-ETA website or app; look-alike sites may charge much higher agent fees.
The official site lists a fee of KRW 10,000 and says review generally takes within 72 hours. Some nationalities have been temporarily exempt and an extension of that exemption was announced, so check the official notice for your passport before you pay anything.
- Apply only on the official K-ETA website or app
- Apply well before departure so the review time fits your trip
- Check the exemption notice for your passport before paying
Q-CODE: the quarantine pre-entry form
Q-CODE is the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's quarantine information pre-entry system. Registration is required for arrivals who stayed in or passed through certain designated quarantine-management areas, and you can enter your details from 7 days before arrival.
Reporting health status falsely can lead to a fine under the Quarantine Act. Requirements can change with public-health notices, so check the official page before you travel.
Visa rules and immigration help
Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality, the purpose of your trip and how long you stay. Many nationalities can visit without a visa for a limited stay, but the permitted period and conditions are set by the government and can change, and K-ETA may also apply. The Korea Visa Portal is the official place to check visa types and apply.
HiKorea, run by the Ministry of Justice, offers immigration e-services for foreign nationals, including applications and visit reservations. The Foreigner Information Center (1345) gives multilingual guidance on immigration questions; hours and call charges are shown on the HiKorea site, and from abroad you should use the overseas number listed there.
On arrival day: what to have ready
Have your passport, accommodation address and return or onward ticket ready for immigration. Special entry procedures can be announced at short notice, so follow the latest Ministry of Justice notices.
If you have booked a tour, save the mobile voucher and meeting point details offline so you can reach them even with a weak signal after landing.
- Passport
- Address of your first night's accommodation
- Return or onward ticket
- K-ETA approval or Q-CODE confirmation, if they apply to you
Numbers worth saving before you land
Police: 112. Fire and ambulance: 119. Both can be dialed from any phone; if you can, tell the operator your location and what happened. The Korea Travel Helpline, 1330, run by the Korea Tourism Organization, helps visitors, and the Foreigner Information Center, 1345, covers immigration questions.
Official sources and last-checked date
HOLIDAY wrote this article from public official information. It is not an official publication of any government body, and it is not a guarantee that a rule, fee or condition applies to you. Figures vary and change: always check the linked official source before you travel.
Last checked by HOLIDAY: 11 October 2026.
- Ministry of Justice, K-ETA: https://www.k-eta.go.kr/
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Q-CODE: https://travelhealth.kdca.go.kr/travel/cd/qcoInfo.do
- HiKorea (Ministry of Justice): https://www.hikorea.go.kr/
- Korea Visa Portal (Ministry of Justice): https://www.visa.go.kr/
- Korea Tourism Organization (VISITKOREA): https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/main/index.do
