South Korea entry requirements for UK citizens (2026)

Visa — not needed (up to 90 days)

Tourism, family visits and short business trips are visa-free for up to 90 days. Work, study or stays beyond 90 days need the right visa via HiKorea before you fly.

K-ETA — waived until December 31, 2026

Korea temporarily exempts your passport from K-ETA. Applying is optional (a valid K-ETA also spares you the arrival card), but not required for entry in 2026. Arriving on or after January 1, 2027? As of September 2026 Korea has not announced another extension — unless it does, you will need a K-ETA, so check k-eta.go.kr before you fly.

e-Arrival Card — required (free)

Since 2026 the e-Arrival Card is the standard: every foreign visitor without a valid K-ETA should file it online within 3 days (72 hours) before arrival (paper cards are still accepted at immigration for now). It's free and takes ~5 minutes — you get a QR code for immigration.

Q-code — only if listed

The Q-code health declaration is only required if you stayed in or transited a "priority quarantine area" on KDCA's list — it changes every quarter and covers Ebola- and MERS-affected countries plus specific regions with bird-flu or Nipah cases. Most travelers skip it; if your route touched Africa, the Middle East or a recent outbreak area, check qcode.kdca.go.kr before you fly.

Do UK citizens need a visa for South Korea in 2026?

No — for stays up to 90 days for tourism or short business, UK citizens enter visa-free. Work, study and longer stays require a visa.

Do UK citizens need K-ETA in 2026?

No. K-ETA is temporarily waived for UK citizens until December 31, 2026. You may still apply voluntarily, but it is not required for entry. Arriving on or after January 1, 2027? As of September 2026 Korea has not announced another extension — unless it does, you will need a K-ETA, so check k-eta.go.kr before you fly.

What is the Korea e-Arrival Card and who must file it?

Since 2026 the e-Arrival Card is Korea's standard arrival declaration (paper cards are still accepted at immigration for now). Foreign visitors must submit it free online within 3 days (72 hours) before arriving in Korea. You receive a QR code shown at immigration.

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