Canadians exempt from Korean ETA until December 31, 2025

Canadian travellers to South Korea are exempt from applying for the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) until December 31, 2025. Canada was one of the 22 countries to receive a temporary K-ETA exemption from April 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025, in a bid to revitalize the tourism industry. 

From January 1, 2026, Canadian nationals will require a K-ETA to travel to Korea for short stays of up to six months. With the K-ETA, Canadian travellers can enter South Korea for tourism, visiting relatives, business activities, and participation in events and meetings. The application for the K-ETA can be done online and may take more than 72 hours to be processed and issued. The K-ETA is valid for three years and allows multiple visits to South Korea.

Canadian nationals looking to study or work in South Korea will need to obtain student and work visas respectively before they enter the country.