South Korea: Authorities to temporarily lift electronic travel authorization requirements for 22 visa-free locations from April 1 /update 104

Event

Officials in South Korea will temporarily lift electronic travel authorization (K-ETA) requirements for 22 visa-free locations from April 1. The exemption will apply to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Macau, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, UK, and US. Authorities did not specify the duration of the exemption. Passport holders from other visa-free countries not included in the list must continue to apply for K-ETA at least 72 hours prior to entry.

Domestic Measures
Facemasks are no longer mandatory at indoor and outdoor locations, as well as on public transport. However, people must continue to wear facemasks at hospitals, pharmacies, and other medical facilities that house vulnerable patients.

International Travel Restrictions
Visa-free and visa-waiver programs have resumed, with some exceptions. Passport holders from eligible countries must obtain an electronic travel authorization (K-ETA) at least 72 hours before entry; to access the form, click here.

Authorities encourage all incoming travelers to register their travel information on the Q-Code platform before departure for South Korea. To access the platform, click here.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying travel if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays.

Resources

Korea Tourism Organization
Quarantine COVID19 Defence (Q-Code) system