UK ETA Requirements for South Korean Travelers 2026: Complete Checklist

UK Entry Requirements for South Korean Citizens in 2026

South Korean passport holders do not need a visa for a short trip to the UK, but they do need an approved electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before travelling. South Korea is on the Home Office’s ETA National List, and eligible non-European visitors have needed an ETA since 8 January 2025. Since 25 February 2026 the scheme has been fully enforced: carriers check that you have permission to travel before you board.

Key facts: the UK ETA costs £20 per person, lasts 2 years or until your passport expires (whichever is sooner) and lets you make multiple trips of up to 6 months each. Visitors of 85 nationalities need an ETA (Home Office figure). An ETA is not a visa and does not guarantee entry to the UK (sources: GOV.UK, Home Office).

Question	Answer for South Korean travellers
Visa or ETA?	ETA – no visa needed for visits of up to 6 months
Official fee	£20 per person, children included
Validity	2 years or until the passport expires
Length of each stay	Up to 6 months
Decision	Usually within a day; allow up to 3 working days
Where to apply	Official UK ETA app or online via GOV.UK
Required since	8 January 2025 (fully enforced from 25 February 2026)

ETA Requirements Checklist for South Korean Travellers

GOV.UK lists the same essentials whether you use the app or the website. Have these ready before you start:

• The passport you will travel with – the ETA is linked electronically to this passport, and you must travel on it.
• An email address – the decision is sent by email.
• A payment method – a credit or debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
• Photos – a photo of your face that follows the rules for digital photos (see our UK ETA photo requirements), plus a photo of your passport if you apply online. In the app, you use your phone’s camera to scan your passport and your face.
• Honest answers to the suitability questions – if you have a criminal record or have been refused entry to the UK before, GOV.UK suggests applying for a Standard Visitor visa instead.
• The £20 fee – it rose from £16 to £20 on 8 April 2026.

Who Does Not Need a UK ETA?

Not every South Korean traveller needs one. According to GOV.UK, you do not need an ETA if, for example:

• you are also a British or Irish citizen – travel on that passport (the Home Office strongly advises dual British citizens to carry a valid British passport)
• you already have a UK visa, or permission to live, work or study in the UK – including settled or pre-settled status
• you live in Ireland and are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
• you are changing planes airside without passing through UK border control

If you are unsure, use the official check if you need a UK visa tool, or read our guide Who needs a UK ETA?.

UK ETA Fee for South Korean Citizens: £20 in 2026

The official fee is £20 per person whether you apply in the app or online, and it is not refundable. It was £16 until the Home Office fee changes took effect on 8 April 2026. There is no reduced rate for children, so a family pays for each traveller.

Traveller	Official ETA fee	Validity
Adult from South Korea	£20	2 years or passport expiry
Child or baby	£20	2 years or passport expiry
Family of four	£80 in total	Each ETA linked to its own passport

Because one ETA covers repeat trips while it is valid, a regular visitor pays once rather than per journey. The Home Office reports that 24.8 million ETAs were issued between the October 2023 launch and the end of 2025 (ETA factsheet).

How to Apply for a UK ETA: Step-by-Step

You apply in the official UK ETA app (Google Play or App Store) or online through GOV.UK. If you cannot download the app on your phone, GOV.UK says you should apply online.

1. Download the UK ETA app, or open the online application from GOV.UK.
2. Scan or photograph your passport – the app uses your phone’s camera; online you upload a photo of the passport.
3. Take or upload a photo of your face. If it does not meet the rules, the application may be delayed or rejected.
4. Answer the questions and check every passport detail before you submit.
5. Pay the £20 fee.
6. Wait for the email. You must not travel until you get an email confirming you have an ETA.

Applying for someone else? In the app you can apply for another person if they are with you; if they are not, you must apply for them online. Our guide How to Apply for UK ETA walks through every screen, and our UK ETA app guide explains how to check your status afterwards.

Processing Time for South Korean Applicants

GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision by email within a day, but it can take up to 3 working days. The Home Office factsheet adds that most people who apply through the app get an automatic decision in minutes. Plan around the longer figure: allow up to 3 working days before departure, and remember that weekends and UK bank holidays are not working days.

Once granted, you can confirm that you have an ETA, and when it expires, with GOV.UK’s online check service. Nothing needs to be printed – the ETA is linked to your passport.

What You Can and Cannot Do with a UK ETA

According to GOV.UK, an ETA lets you come to the UK for up to 6 months for:

• tourism and holidays
• visiting family and friends
• a business trip, such as meetings
• short-term study
• a permitted paid engagement or event
• work under the Creative Worker visa concession (up to 3 months)
• transit through a UK airport where you pass through border control

It does not allow you to:

• stay longer than 6 months
• do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, apart from the narrow exceptions above
• claim public funds (benefits)
• live in the UK through frequent or successive visits
• get married, form a civil partnership or give notice of either – that needs a Marriage Visitor visa

There is no way to use an ETA to stay beyond 6 months. If you want to stay longer, work or study long-term, you need the right visa before you travel.

Fast Arrival: South Koreans and the UK eGates

South Korea is one of seven non-European countries whose passport holders can use the ePassport gates, alongside Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and the United States, according to GOV.UK. You need a passport with the biometric symbol on the cover and must be 8 or over; children aged 8 to 17 go through with an adult and must be at least 120cm tall.

The ETA itself is checked electronically against your passport, so you do not show any paperwork for it. If the gate cannot process you, you will be directed to a Border Force officer.

When South Koreans need more than an ETA

The ETA only covers visitor activities. If you plan to work for a UK employer, study on a course longer than 6 months or settle in the UK, you need the relevant visa before travelling. The same applies if you plan to marry or form a civil partnership in the UK – that requires a Marriage Visitor visa.

What If Your Application Is Refused?

Most applications are granted, but not all. According to the Home Office caseworker guidance, there is no right of appeal or administrative review against an ETA decision. If your ETA is refused, you can apply for a visa instead. If an application is rejected for a fixable reason – for example, an identity check that fails because of a poor photo – you can make a new application.

Read our guide on what to do if your UK ETA is refused for the next steps.

Important Dates for South Korean Travellers

• 27 November 2024 – applications opened for eligible non-European nationals (GOV.UK).
• 8 January 2025 – eligible non-European visitors, including South Koreans, needed an ETA.
• 25 February 2026 – full enforcement began; see also our note on the end of the grace period.
• 8 April 2026 – the fee went up from £16 to £20.
• Ongoing – an ETA stays valid for 2 years or until the passport expires, so you do not reapply for every trip.

At UK Border Control: What South Korean Travellers Should Expect

An ETA gives you permission to travel, not a guarantee of entry. At the border your passport is checked and you will usually be asked why you are coming to the UK. Keep your accommodation details and your return or onward booking easy to find, along with anything that supports the purpose of your trip, such as a conference registration or an invitation from family.

Travelling with children? You may be asked to prove your relationship to them – for example with a birth or adoption certificate, or a letter from the child’s parent if you are not the parent (GOV.UK).

The ETA covers the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It is not permission to enter Ireland, which has its own entry rules.

UK ETA vs UK Standard Visitor Visa

Feature	UK ETA	Standard Visitor visa
Who uses it	ETA-eligible nationalities, including South Korean citizens	Visa nationals, or travellers whose ETA was refused
Fee	£20	£135 (6 months); long-term visas £506 (2 years), £903 (5 years), £1,128 (10 years)
Decision	Usually within a day; up to 3 working days	Usually within 3 weeks
How you apply	App or online, no appointment	Online, plus fingerprints and a photo at a visa application centre
Each stay	Up to 6 months	Usually up to 6 months
Validity	2 years or passport expiry	6 months up to 10 years, depending on the visa
Work	No (narrow exceptions)	No (narrow exceptions)

Most South Korean visitors only need the ETA. A visa route is the right choice if you want to marry in the UK, stay longer than 6 months, work or study long-term, or if your ETA has been refused (visa fees and times: GOV.UK).

Top UK Destinations for South Korean Visitors

• London – the British Museum, the Tower of London, Westminster, West End theatres and Borough Market.
• Edinburgh – Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile and Arthur’s Seat; the Fringe festival fills the city every August.
• Bath – the Roman Baths, the Royal Crescent and Georgian streets.
• The Cotswolds – honey-coloured stone villages and countryside walks.
• Oxford and Cambridge – historic colleges, libraries and punting.
• The Lake District – Windermere, Ambleside and fell walks.

For more ideas, see our list of top UK tourist attractions.

Practical Travel Tips for South Korean Visitors

• Currency: British pound sterling (£). Contactless card payment is widely used.
• Transport: in London you can tap in with a contactless card or Oyster card; book long-distance trains early for cheaper fares.
• Weather: changeable in every season – pack a waterproof layer.
• Plugs: three-pin Type G sockets, so bring an adapter.
• Driving: check whether your licence is valid with the GOV.UK non-GB licence checker.
• Customs: you can usually bring in other goods worth up to £390 (£270 if you arrive by private plane or boat) – GOV.UK.
• Insurance: travel insurance with medical cover is strongly recommended.
• Emergencies: call 999 for police, fire or ambulance; 101 for non-emergency police.

More South Korea UK ETA Guides

• South Korean Citizens: UK ETA Now Costs £20 — Complete Guide 2026
• South Korea to UK Travel Guide 2026: ETA, Entry Rules & Tips

FAQs for South Korean Travellers

Do South Korean citizens need a visa to visit the UK?

No, not for visits of up to 6 months. South Korean citizens need an approved UK ETA instead, which costs £20. A visa is only needed for longer stays, work, long-term study or getting married in the UK.

How much does the UK ETA cost for South Korean citizens?

£20 per person, including children and babies. The fee is not refundable and is the same in the app and online.

How long does a UK ETA decision take?

GOV.UK says you usually get a decision by email within a day, but it can take up to 3 working days. You must not travel until you get the email confirming your ETA.

How long is the UK ETA valid?

2 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner. You can make multiple trips of up to 6 months each. If you get a new passport, you need a new ETA, because you must travel on the passport linked to it.

Can I appeal a refused UK ETA?

No. There is no right of appeal or administrative review against an ETA decision. If your ETA is refused, you can apply for a visa instead; if your application was rejected for a fixable reason, you can apply again.

Do children need their own UK ETA?

Yes. Every traveller needs their own ETA, including babies and children. You can apply for them in the app if they are with you, or online if they are not.

Is the UK ETA valid for Ireland?

No. The UK ETA covers the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Ireland has its own entry rules.

Summary: UK ETA Requirements for South Korean Travellers

To visit the UK from South Korea in 2026, a South Korean citizen needs a valid passport and an approved UK ETA: £20, applied for in the official app or online, usually decided within a day and valid for 2 years or until the passport expires. It covers tourism, family visits, business meetings and short courses for up to 6 months per trip, but not work, settlement or getting married. Allow up to 3 working days before you travel, keep your booking details to hand at the border, and check the official GOV.UK pages if your situation is unusual.

Official Sources & References

1. GOV.UK – Get an ETA: apply
2. GOV.UK – What you can and cannot do with an ETA
3. GOV.UK – When you do not need an ETA
4. Immigration Rules – Appendix ETA National List
5. GOV.UK – UK set to enforce ETA scheme (85 nationalities, 25 February 2026)
6. GOV.UK – ETA rollout announcement
7. Home Office – ETA factsheet, April 2026
8. Home Office – ETA caseworker guidance
9. GOV.UK – At border control (ePassport gates)
10. GOV.UK – Apply for a Standard Visitor visa
11. GOV.UK – Check if you need a UK visa