Notice on K-ETA Application Exemption for Diplomatic and Official Passport Holders
K-ETA Work Process
(In principle) When a diplomatic or official passport holder from a K- ETA required country (refer to attachment) enters the Republic of Korea for diplomatic or official purposes, he/she needs to obtain K- ETA approval* in advance. However, in the following exceptional cases, such passport holders may be exempt from K-ETA application.
※ Website for application: (PC) www.k-eta.go.kr, (mobile app) K-ETA
(Case 1) Diplomatic or official passport holder who requested for K- ETA application exemption to the Ministry of Justice before entering the Republic of Korea through relevant Embassy or ministry in Korea and received approval
Due to COVID-19, nationals from countries that are temporarily suspended visa-free entry (attachment 2) will not be eligible to apply for K-ETA until such suspension is lifted. Until then, only request for K-ETA application exemption through the relevant Embassy in Korea or ministry will be available.
※ The spouse and children under 19 years old of diplomatic or official passport holder may be included when requesting for K-ETA application exemption
(Case 2) In case of urgency or lack of time, person may board the flight after contacting the Intelligence Analysis Section at the Incheon International Airport or the K-ETA Center and requesting K-ETA exemption. In this case, the relevant Embassy in Korea must send the official letter for K-ETA exemption before that person’s entry.
K-ETA Application Exemption Request Process Flowchart
○1
Entity Applying for Exemption
(Embassy in Korea, relevant ministry, international organization, etc.)
▶ Send official letter of request for K- ETA application exemption for diplomatic/official passport holder to Ministry of Justice
○2 Ministry of Justice ▶ Send evaluation results and notify the applying entity (by official letter)
○3 Entity Applying for
Exemption ▶ Deliver MOJ official letter to diplomatic/official passport holder
○4 Diplomatic/Official Passport Holder
▶ Book a flight and enter the Republic of Korea
Details regarding the Official Letter
For Diplomatic
Passport Holder (Eligible for
A-1 visa)
Applying Entity: Embassy in Korea, relevant ministry, local government, etc.
Applicant: Diplomat passport holder (eligible for A-1 visa)
How to Apply
- In principle, official letter should be sent via government e-documents.
- For Embassies in Korea that cannot send government e- documents, please send the request letter to [email protected] (CC the relevant region division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
* Subject: K-ETA Application Exemption Request for Diplomatic Passport Holder
Recipient (for e-document): Director of Border Control Division of the Ministry of Justice, Chief of Gimpo Airport Immigration Office (K-ETA Center)
For Official Passport
Holder (Eligible for
A-2 visa)
Applying Entity: Embassy in Korea, relevant ministry, local government, etc.
Applicant: Official passport holder (eligible for A-2 visa)
How to Apply
- In principle, official letter should be sent via government e-documents.
- For Embassies in Korea that cannot send government e- documents, please send the request letter to [email protected] (CC the relevant region division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
* Subject: K-ETA Application Exemption Request for Official Passport Holder
Recipient (for e-document): Director of Border Control Division of the Ministry of Justice, Chief of Gimpo Airport Immigration Office (K-ETA Center)
Common Requirement
Application Documents 1) Official letter or document
2) List of names (Excel format attached) 3) Copy of passport bio page
* For 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 letter at least 5 days before expected entry date
Evaluation Period: Result is sent within 3 days from date of receipt
Questions regarding K-ETA
E-mail contact
Visit the K-ETA website (www.k-eta.go.kr/Notice/Questions/Ask Us) and submit a question. Reply will be sent via e-mail.
Available languages: English, Russian, Thai
Telephone contact
- K-ETA Center: 02-2666-7107~8
E-mail contact is preferred
K-ETA Application Not Required Persons
○1 Diplomatic (A-1) or Official (A-2) Visa Holder
Diplomatic/official passport holders who received an A-1 or A-2 visa from an overseas Korean mission will not be required to apply for K- ETA during validity of the visa
○2 Registered Foreigners
Foreign nationals who registered their residence in the Republic of Korea (regardless of visa status, including A-1 and A-2) will not be required to apply for K-ETA during the validity of the Residence Card
※ Even if you are currently residing in Korea, when the abovementioned does not apply to you, you will need to apply for K-ETA exemption or obtain K-ETA approval for future travels.
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Albania, Andorra, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Bulgaria, Commonwealth of Dominica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guam, Guyana, Holy See (Vatican City State), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, Venezuela
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Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eswatini, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lesotho, Macau, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nauru, New Zealand, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Republic of South Africa, Russia, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay
Attachment 1. List of 49 K-ETA Countries/Regions(as of 1 September, 2021)
Attachment 2. List of 63 Countries/Regions Currently Suspended from K-ETA Application (as of 1 September, 2021)
