Home to vibrant cosmopolises that never sleep, a fascinating ancient heritage, and even K-Pop, one of the most ubiquitous cultural movements to have originated from outside the United States in recent years, South Korea is one of the trendiest destinations right now.
For the past two years, Americans have been flocking into the Asian hotspot, with very limited bureaucracy when it comes to actually entering Korea: in other words, this year, U.S. passport holders have been exempt from filling out forms and paying tourism fees.
From 2025, this changes once more as South Korea gears up to reimpose a travel permit requirement on Americans as soon as January 1:
You Could Be Denied Entry To Korea If You Don’t Have This In 2025
Starting January 2025, South Korea looks set to reinstate the K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization), which had been suspended since April 1, 2023 in a bid to boost international tourism following the global crisis.
Prior to April, Americans, as well as nationals of 67 other countries, were required to obtain this travel permit ahead of boarding flights to South Korea and present it both at the airport during check-in and upon landing in the country.
During the last two years, they’ve been flying to Korea with no other requirement than presenting a valid passport with at least one blank page for entry.
If they’re planning on traveling on or after January 1, however, they might want to double-check entry requirements.
The K-ETA exemption was only meant to be temporary, as the South Korean administration sees it as a safety measure and a means to pre-screen people who are coming to the country.
Now that the global crisis has officially subsided and tourism is back to normal in South Korea and virtually all territories, South Korea has moved past the need for travel incentives.
According to the K-ETA Center, which oversees K-ETA applications for foreigners, tourists ‘must apply’ for the permit in advance to arrive in the country after December 31, 2024, as reported by VisasNews.
The entity reiterates that American citizens who do not have an approved K-ETA for travel will have the issuance of their boarding pass during check-in denied or even denied entry landing in Korea.
The K-ETA Is Not A Visa!
Contrary to popular belief, a K-ETA is not a visa: in fact, it applies to visa-exempt nationals, such as United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and European Union citizens.
It is simply an online form that can be completed in 10 to 20 minutes. You are required to provide a color photo of your face, your passport details, information about your personal background and character, and travel plans.
These are usually presented in simplified, ‘yes or no’ questions, and at the end of the K-ETA application, you’ll be directed to a payment page, where you’ll be asked to enter your credit card details before submitting the data.
The fee for a K-ETA prior to its 2023 suspension was a negligible 10,000 South Korean won, or around $7.27 at the current exchange rate.
Once payment goes through, and the submission of the form is complete, an answer to your K-ETA application should be given within 24 hours, either as confirmation the travel permit was issued, a request for more information, or a denial.
U.S. citizens with no criminal background and no History of visa denials should expect their K-ETA to be issued with no additional hurdles, but it’s important not to leave applications until the very last minute: as noted, it can take up to a full day for authorities to review applications.
The last thing you want is to wait for an answer on your K-ETA application when you’re already at the departure gate.
Other Countries Rolling Out ETAs In The Near Future
The Korean ETA is only one of several travel authorizations being introduced from 2025.
Also in January, the United Kingdom will start requiring Americans to apply for their own travel permit, or else they may be denied boarding, and Europe’s long-delayed ETIAS––same thing, only a slightly-different acronym––will be coming into force later next year.
Just this year, yet another Asian destination rolled out a travel authorization, to the surprise of many: from now on, Americans must apply for an online permit to fly to Thailand.
So now you know: if you dream of strolling Seoul’s lively markets, experiencing Aegyo firsthand, and trying all those unusual Fanta flavors, you better get your K-ETA first.
The good news is K-ETAs are valid for 3 years, or until your passport expires if it’s expiring sooner than that, so you don’t need to pay the $7-or-so fee, and reapply every time you go to Korea.
Apply for your K-ETA on the official website.
Top Destinations To Visit In South Korea In 2025
South Korea is an incredibly trendy destination for 2025, with Seoul leading in bookings with its modern, futuristic cityscape, big choice of sightseeing spots and quirky, interactive museums, and incredible food scene.
Busan, on the other hand, is a large port fringed by sandy beaches and backed by verdant mountains, where you’ll find centuries-old temples––the 7th-century Beomosa Temple is located at the base of Geumjeong Mountain––and colorful, retro ‘sky’ capsules traveling along the coast.
For something a little more offbeat and with a more abundant nature, Jeju Island offers tourist-friendly hikes and pristine marine reserves, and it’s an up-and-coming leisure destination, with Yongduam Haesu Spa Land––and its seawater saunas in particular––drawing in a crowd of wellness seekers.
Looking to experience South Korea’s native culture? Gyeongju is littered with Korean Buddhist temples, imperial palaces (a pond-dotted Donggug Palace included), and the picturesque Yangdong Folk Village, a snapshot into life in Korea 500 years in the past.
Learn more about Korea and why Americans are so obsessed with it as of late here.
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