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🇨🇦CANADA
🇰🇷SOUTH KOREACA-KR

Do Canada passport holders need a visa to visit South Korea?

Canadians get 6 months (180 days) visa-free in South Korea; K-ETA required at k-eta.go.kr (KRW 10,000, valid 3 years). Canadian passport holders enjoy a special 6-month (180 days) visa-free entry to South Korea under a bilateral agreement - longer than the standard 90 days. The K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) must be obtained online at k-eta.go.kr for KRW 10,000 (~USD 8.50) and is valid for 3 years, multiple entries. K-ETA exemption for 22 countries including Canada was offered through Dec 31, 2025 - check k-eta.go.kr for current 2026 status. Air Canada and Korean Air serve Toronto (YYZ) and Vancouver (YVR) to Incheon (ICN) direct. Work, study, journalism, and longer stays require an appropriate visa class (D-2, E-1 to E-7, H-1) from a Korean embassy. Overstays result in heavy penalties and re-entry bans.
VISA-FREETOURISMMULTIPLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-27
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
Canada (PR)Living in Canada as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-27
Visa type
Visa-free + K-ETA
Maximum stay
Up to 6 months per entry (bilateral)
per entry
Entries
Multiple entries allowed
from issue date
Visa fee
KRW 10,000 (~USD 8.50) K-ETA
consular fee only
Processing time
K-ETA approved within 72 hours
standard track
Validity
K-ETA valid 3 years
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Check passport validity
Canadian passport valid 6+ months beyond intended departure with 1 blank page.
· 6 months validity
/02
Apply for K-ETA
At k-eta.go.kr at least 72 hours before travel. Pay KRW 10,000 by card. Save the approval QR.
· K-ETA required· KRW 10,000
/03
Book onward/return ticket
Confirmed ticket out of Korea within 6 months; airlines may check.
· onward ticket
/04
Arrive at Incheon (ICN)
Use SeS auto-gates (eligible) or counters. Up to 6 months visa-free stamp issued.
· 6-month stamp
/05
Track your stay
Note the 6-month expiry; Korean immigration is strict on overstays.
· check stamp date
/06
Extend or exit
In-country extensions are rare for tourists; visa-runs disallowed. Exit before stamp expires.
· exit on time
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

6 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 6 complete
Canadian passport
Valid 6+ months beyond departure, 1 blank page
K-ETA approval
KRW 10,000, valid 3 years multi-entry
Return/onward ticket
Confirmed flight out within 6 months
Accommodation details
Hotel booking or host address
Sufficient funds
USD 50-100/day recommended
Travel insurance
Recommended though not required
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
K-ETAKRW 10,000 (~USD 8.50)Valid 3 years multi-entry; renew if expired
Visa-free entryFreeUp to 6 months on arrival (Canada bilateral)
Visa extensionKRW 60,000Rarely approved for tourists
Work visa (E-7)KRW 80,000+Sponsored by Korean employer
Overstay penaltyKRW 100,000-30,000,000Plus deportation and re-entry ban
Total estimateUSD 8.50 — USD 8.50incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

K-ETA
Up to 72 hours
Apply at k-eta.go.kr; most approved within hours but allow 3 days.
Visa-free arrival
On arrival
SeS auto-gates or counters. 6-month stamp issued.
Extension request
Difficult for tourists
Most denied; visa-runs to Japan disallowed back-to-back.
Working visa
4-8 weeks
E-1 to E-7, H-1; requires sponsorship and degree/skills.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
K-ETA not obtained
Required for all visa-free entries unless exempt. Airlines deny boarding without K-ETA.
Medium
/02
Visa-run pattern
Frequent in-out trips raise immigration suspicion; secondary inspection possible.
Low
/03
Insufficient funds shown
ICN officers may request proof of accommodation and onward travel.
Low
/04
Overstay
Strict enforcement; multi-year re-entry bans common.
Low
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Carry your visa grant notice or visa-free group documents, hotel address, and return ticket. Entry remains at the border officer's discretion.
/02
Arrival forms
Complete any current arrival, health, or customs declaration required by your airline or Korean immigration before inspection.
/03
Connectivity
Airport SIMs, eSIMs, and transport cards are easy to buy at Incheon, Gimpo, Busan, and major convenience stores.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-05-27
Canada to South Korea route verified
Confirmed 6-month visa-free + K-ETA for Canadian citizens.
2021-09-01 · major
K-ETA introduced
All visa-free travellers must obtain K-ETA online before travel.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do Canadians need a visa for South Korea?—
No - Canadians get a special 6-month visa-free entry. K-ETA is currently required at k-eta.go.kr (KRW 10,000, valid 3 years) unless your country is on the active exemption list.
Why 6 months instead of 90 days?+
What is K-ETA?+
Can I work on visa-free entry?+
Direct flights from Canada?+
What if my K-ETA is denied?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the Canada passport

🇨🇦⇄
Compare the Canada passport
Stack it up against another passport→
🇨🇦◐
Canada visa-free map
See where this passport goes visa-free→
🇨🇦▤
Canada passport power
Global rank and destination breakdown→
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