Notice on How to Apply for K-ETA Exemption
(Diplomatic·Official Passport)
(‘22. 4. 1. revision)
Those who are subject to exclusion of K-ETA (exemption request is NOT required)
①
(Diplomatic·Official Visa Holders)
Those who obtained a Diplomatic (A1), Official (A2) visa at the diplomatic missions do not need to apply for K-ETA until the validity period of the visa② (Registered Foreign Residents) Foreign nationals who registered their residence in the Republic of Korea (for all status of stay) do not need to apply for K-ETA until the validity period of the Foreign Resident Registration Card
□
Diplomatic·Official passport holders of visa-waiver·visa-free countries (112 countries, refer to the appendix) who are not subject to exclusion as above, are required to obtain the K-ETA approval* for entry※ Official website for application: (PC) www.k-eta.go.kr, (Mobile App) K-ETA The application fee is 10,000 KRW, valid for 2 years (for limitless multiple entries)
※ Those who are not subject to exclusion as above need to apply for K-ETA for re-entry after exiting the country even though they have been residing in Korea
□ However those who applied for the ‘K-ETA exemption
request’ to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) via official
letter through their diplomatic mission in Korea and
obtained the approval before entry, can enter Korea
without K-ETA.
Process for K-ETA Exemption Request
① The diplomatic mission in Korea sends the K-ETA exemption request via official letter to the MOJ (copying to regional division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)).
② MOJ evaluates the application and send the result to the diplomatic mission in Korea (via email) and to the regional division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via official letter.
③ The diplomatic mission in Korea sends the official letter of the result to the applicant.
④ Those who received the approval for K-ETA exemption need to carry the MOJ official letter for entry.
< Process Flowchart >
① Diplomatic mission in Korea
▸Applies for K-ETA exemption by sending an official letter to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) (copying to regional division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA))
② Ministry of Justice
▸Evaluates the application and sends the result via official letter to MOFA and diplomatic mission in Korea
③ Diplomatic mission in Korea
▸Sends the MOJ official letter to the applicant
④ DiplomaticㆍOfficial Passport Holder
▸Carries the MOJ official letter to enter the Republic of Korea
Details Regarding the Official Letter
Content
❍ Applying entity: Diplomatic mission in Korea, International organization
❍ Applicant: Diplomatic·Official passport holders (eligible for A1, A2 status)
❍ How to Apply
- The diplomatic mission in Korea should send the official document via e-mail at keta@korea.kr
(copying the relevant region division of MOFA) ※ E-mail Subject: K-ETA Exemption Request for
DiplomaticㆍOfficial Passport Holder
❍ Recipients: Director of Border Control Division of the Ministry of Justice, Chief of Gimpo Airport Immigration Office (K-ETA Center)
Required Documents
❍ Required Documents
① Official letter or documents that the reason for applying for K-ETA exemption is stated
② Applicant name list (refer to the excel format attached to the
‘Notice’board of the K-ETA website) ③ Copy of passport bio page of the applicant
※ Those who are to be stationed in Korea for long-term, write the expiration date of station period for expected date of departure and mark 'O' for stationed in Korea.
■ Application Period: Send request at least 5 days prior to expected entry date
■ Evaluation Period: Result is sent within 3 days from date of receipt the request by e-mail
■ In case K-ETA exemption cannot be requested in advance due to being pressed for time or other reasons, boarding of the flight can be allowed if the K-ETA exemption is requested by contacting the Incheon airport intelligence analysis section or K-ETA Center (at 02-2666-7107)
(However, entry is allowed only when the 3 required documents are sent via e-mail before the immigration inspection of the Republic of Korea.)
APPENDIX List of Countries Eligible for 'K-ETA Exemption Request of Diplomatic·Official Passport Holders (112 countries)
Unlike the regular passports, the nationals of all 112 countries including visa-free entry suspended countries
can apply for Diplomatic·Official K-ETA exemption
United States of America, United Kingdom, Mexico, Nicaragua, Dominica, Barbados, Venezuela, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Malta, Ireland, Guyana, Monaco, Holy See, San Marino, Andorra, Albania, Slovenia, Guam, New Caledonia, Palau, Greece, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Romania, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Sweden, Spain, Slovakia, Estonia, Austria, Italy, Czech Republic, Croatia, Portugal, Poland, France, Finland, Hungary, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Singapore
Guatemala, Nauru, Republic of South Africa, Dominican Republic, Russia, Lesotho, Marshall Islands, Malaysia, Morocco, Mauritius, Montenegro, Bahrain, Bahamas, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Serbia, Seychelles, Saint Lucia, Suriname, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Haiti, Eswatini, Ecuador, Antigua and Barbuda, El Salvador, Oman, Honduras, Uruguay, Israel, Jamaica, Chile, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Canada, Costa Rica, Colombia, Thailand, Turkey, Tuvalu, Tunisia, Trinidad and Tobago, Paraguay, Fiji, Australia
Macau, Brunei Darussalam, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Kuwait, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Grenada, Panama, Peru, New Zealand, Micronesia, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tonga
