Korea K-ETA Checklist — Application, Fee & Who Still Needs a C-3 Visa
The K-ETA is Korea’s electronic travel authorisation — the online permission that replaces a visa for eligible visa-waiver passports. It is short, cheap and easy to get right, and easy to get wrong: the failures come from using the wrong website and paying a middleman. Everything below is built from the official K-ETA portal. Source: Ministry of Justice K-ETA portal — Apply (checked September 2026).
The three things that decide your application
- Where you apply. Only through the official site www.k-eta.go.kr or the official mobile app (K-ETA). There is no other legitimate channel.
- What it costs. The application fee is approximately USD 7–8. That is the whole government charge.
- What to watch out for. The portal carries an explicit anti-phishing warning: be careful of similar agencies and phishing sites that charge high fees. If a site asks for a large multiple of the official fee, it is not the government route.
K-ETA at a glance
| Item | What the official source says |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | Only at www.k-eta.go.kr or the mobile app (K-ETA). |
| Fee | Approximately USD 7–8. |
| Anti-phishing | “Please be careful of similar agencies/phishing sites that charge high fees…” — apply only through the official channel. |
| Who it is for | Holders of eligible visa-waiver passports. Confirm your nationality on the official k-eta.go.kr list before you rely on it. |
Before you start — the 60-second check
- ✅ Confirmed your passport is on the official K-ETA-eligible nationality list
- ✅ Opened the real site — www.k-eta.go.kr — or installed the official K-ETA app (not a search ad)
- ✅ Ready to pay only the official fee of approximately USD 7–8
- ✅ Passport details and travel dates to hand
- ✅ Applied in good time before departure, not at the airport gate
Who still needs a C-3 visa instead
The K-ETA and the C-3 visa are alternative routes for different passports, and mixing them up is the single most common mistake. The rule, as the Korean missions state it: K-ETA-eligible travellers must apply for K-ETA rather than a C-3 visa. The C-3 lane is for passports that are not K-ETA-eligible. There is one bridging case — if a K-ETA application is denied, the traveller may then apply for a C-3 visa and must attach the proof of denial.
| Your situation | Route |
|---|---|
| Visa-waiver passport, K-ETA-eligible | K-ETA — filed online only, approximately USD 7–8. Do not file a C-3. |
| Passport not K-ETA-eligible | C-3 visa — the consular, paper route. |
| K-ETA denied | May then apply for a C-3 visa, attaching the proof of denial. |
The full document list, fees and processing times for the paper route are on our Korea C-3 visa documents checklist.
Photos, and when your trip is more than a K-ETA
- If your trip is the K-ETA route, you are done once it is approved — but if you go on to a C-3 application, that route needs a physical photo. See Korea visa photo requirements and the general photo validity rules.
- Not sure which photo a given route wants? The difference between a passport image and a visa image is explained in passport photo vs visa photo.
- Get it right first time with the passport & visa photo checker before any upload or print.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I apply for a Korea K-ETA?
Only at www.k-eta.go.kr or the official mobile app (K-ETA). The official guidance states that K-ETA application is available only at those two channels — there is no other legitimate way to file.
How much does the K-ETA cost?
Approximately USD 7–8. That is the official application fee quoted on the K-ETA portal; anything dramatically higher is a reseller or a scam.
Are there fake K-ETA websites?
Yes, and the official site warns about them: visitors are told to be careful of similar agencies and phishing sites that charge high fees, and to apply only through the official site or app. The fee of around USD 7–8 is the tell — a third-party “service” charging many times that is not the government channel.
Who still needs a Korea C-3 visa instead?
Travellers whose passports are not eligible for the K-ETA. For visa-waiver nationalities that are K-ETA-eligible, the guidance is that they must apply for K-ETA rather than a C-3 visa. If a K-ETA application is denied, the traveller may then apply for a C-3 visa, attaching the proof of denial.
Can I use the K-ETA instead of a C-3 visa?
They are alternative routes, not stackable ones. If your passport qualifies for the K-ETA, that is the channel you use; the C-3 is the visa route for passports that are not K-ETA-eligible. The two checklists are kept separate for exactly this reason.
Do I need to confirm my nationality is eligible?
Yes. K-ETA eligibility follows visa-waiver nationality lists, and those lists are revised. Check your passport on the official k-eta.go.kr eligibility list before you rely on the K-ETA for a trip.
Source: Ministry of Justice K-ETA portal, k-eta.go.kr/portal/apply/index.do, checked 28 September 2026 — fee and application-channel wording quoted from that page. Eligibility lists and fees change; confirm your nationality and the current charge on the official portal before you apply. Other country entry checks are on the visa checklists hub.