Do United States passport holders need a visa for South Korea?

No visa to apply for. United States passport holders enter South Korea without one. Korea’s temporary K-ETA exemption covers US passport holders through 31 December 2026, so you file the arrival card: online for free, or on paper at the counter. A K-ETA, if you choose to pay 10,000 won for one, excuses you from it.

Policy

Visa-free

Max stay

90 days

  • The official form is free, on the government’s own site.
  • Automation we built fills in your K-EAC under your supervision. You review it, change anything, and submit it yourself.
  • Your first one-traveler form per country is free. visayes Premium fills in your whole group in one go.
  • Your passport and trip details never leave your device and we have no way to read them. The one exception is the passport photo you choose to scan. It passes through a recognition service once and we keep no copy of it.
Start my K-EAC

Do I need a K-ETA?

Not while Korea’s temporary exemption lasts. The K-ETA portal says it runs “until December 31, 2026 (KST)”, and the Korean Embassy in the US lists the United States among the countries it covers.

For US ordinary passports, the e-Arrival Card portal’s Navigator answers: “You are subject to e-Arrival card submission.”

You can still get a K-ETA for its benefits: the K-ETA portal says travelers who want them, “such as not having to submit an arrival card,” may apply and pay the fee.

Serving with US Forces Korea?

USFK members file the arrival card too: the portal’s FAQ says “USFK (SOFA) members are also required to fill out e-Arrival Card.”

On the form, the passport number box doubles for them: its label reads “Passport number ※ For USFK - DoD ID number”. The FAQ adds that they fill in their details from the document they will show at immigration, a passport or a US military ID.

Your next step

Turn up with a passport that still has enough validity left, and be ready to show where you are staying and how you are leaving.

The Korea e-Arrival Card: what it means for you

Visa-free does not mean no arrival card, but you choose its form: the Korea e-Arrival Card online in advance, or the paper card at the counter. A K-ETA that is still valid excuses you from it.

First time filing it? The full guide covers who is exempt, the exact window, and fixing mistakes: read the Korea e-Arrival Card guide. Ready to fill one in? The Korea e-Arrival Card walkthrough takes you through every box, in order.

Official sources

Compiled by the visayes team. Visa status and maximum stay come from our passport policy dataset, last updated 16 Sep 2026. Entry rules can change without notice and the destination’s own government is always the final word.

Same passport, nearby: Thailand · Singapore · Malaysia · Vietnam · Indonesia