With a view to developing the tourism sector, the Korean authorities have adopted a visa-free policy for French and European Union nationals. Faced with a number of irregularities, the authorities have introduced a K-ETA authorisation option to control the entry and exit of visitors. Find out here when to apply for a K-ETA in South Korea.
From September 2021
From May to August, theelectronic authorisation to enter South Korea K-ETA was being tested. This transitional phase is being carried out to ensure the practicality and functionality of this electronic device. As of early September, the requirement has been introduced for all nationals benefiting from visa exemption.
Now you can apply for K-ETA authorisation. All you have to do is fill in an ETA application form. Then pay the application fee and wait for a reply.
It should be noted that this authorisation represents an alternative to the traditional visa and is the equivalent of an e-visa. At an affordable price, the authorisation is obtained within three days of submitting the application.
72 hours before the flight
We recommend that you apply for K-ETA authorisation. At least 72 hours before the flight to avoid last-minute inconveniences. It is not uncommon for your application to be extended by three days or more due to a shortage of parts. That's why it's better to make your request with a significant margin of time to avoid any eventuality.
To avoid any inconvenience and obtain authorisation quickly, you can call on the e-visa authorisation experts. There are online platforms that will take care of the procedure for obtaining your K-ETA for you.. The advantage of these experts is that you can obtain your authorisation quickly and with confidence. However, if you opt for an expert, it is advisable to choose reputable and recommended sites.
If you are a national of a visa-exempt country for a short stay*.
The K-ETA permit is a compulsory formality required of visitors from a number of visa-exempt countries. These include the French, Belgians, Swiss, Canadians and all nationals of the Schengen area and the European Union. In fact, some visitors from these countries land in South Korea with the intention of staying on. In this way, the much-prized tourist flow is gradually being transformed into a migratory flow facilitated by a pass policy.
To compensate for this lack of control over people who settle illegally in the country, the K-ETA permit comes just at the right time. The South Korean authorities have adopted this procedure with a view to combining tourism with the monitoring of entry and exit.
When you want to take a non-remunerated tourist or business trip
It is important to know that the K-ETA permit is only valid for tourist or business travel. In fact, the visa waiver policy conducted by South Korean leaders is strictly focused on tourism and business stays. As a result, the K-ETA permit is only available to tourists. The idea is to make the country attractive to visitors and thus turn it into a tourist hub on the Korean peninsula. This is why the application is only valid for stays of limited duration.
If you wish to stay for no more than 3 months*.
Whether for tourism or business, your presence on Korean soil with a K-ETA permit must not exceed 90 days maximum. So if you want to stay for three days, you can apply for a K-ETA permit. It's also worth knowing that if your passport is valid for at least two years, you have several options. This means you can enter the country multiple times over a 2-year period, without having to apply for authorisation each time. Bear in mind, however, that if your passport expires, you will need to apply for a new authorisation.
In any case, it is important to know that the K-ETA permit is an electronic device designed to authorise entry into South Korea. This requirement is specific to 112 countries. It is part of a drive to regulate the laissez-passer policy.
* The authorities have announced that 22 nationalities will be exempt from the K-ETA until the end of 2024 as part of the "Visit Korea Year". I'll let you read our article.
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