Korea Extends Travel Authorisation Exemption for Hongkongers Until December 31

The Republic of Korea announced that HKSAR and BN(O) passport holders who wish to visit the country do not need to apply for the Korea Electronic Travel Authorisation (K-ETA) until December 31, 2025, for trips that are 90 days or less. The exemption, which is granted to nationals of 22 countries and regions with visa-free access to Korea, was supposed to end on December 31, 2024, but has been extended for an additional year. 

What is K-ETA?

The Korea Electronic Travel Authorisation or K-ETA is a travel permit that citizens of 22 countries and regions who are visa-exempt must obtain before they travel to Korea. It costs KRW 10,000  (about HK$53) per person, and is valid for multiple visits in a three-year period. 

Visitors who have K-ETA do not need to fill out an arrival card when they arrive in Korea. Eligible passport holders from the following countries do not need K-ETA until the end of this year:

In addition, nationals of countries with visa-free access to Korea do not need to apply for K-ETA if they are under 17 years old or over 65 years old. However, there are 59 other countries that require K-ETA, for which they need to produce a valid passport, a bank card to pay the application fee, and a recent digital photograph.  The approval process usually takes seven days, but can take up to two months in certain cases.

Which Other Countries Have Electronic Travel Authorisation?

HKSAR and BN(O) passport holders need to apply for digital travel permits for countries like  Canada and Australia. Starting January 8, 2025, they must also apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK. Later this year, eligible passport holders from Hong Kong will need a similar permit called ETIAS to enter all Schengen countries and three other European nations.

Image credits: SeanPavonePhoto via Canva

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