What this article covers
We prepared it on 29 October 2026 from the K-ETA website, notices of Korean embassies, a Ministry of Justice notice and the Medical Korea site of the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI).
We did not read an official visa page of the Korea Visa Portal or of a Korean embassy for a specific country. So this article does not cover visa fees, how much money you must prove, whether C-3-3 can be applied for online, or the visa-free period for each nationality. Look these up for your own passport on the official sites listed below.
Korea's medical visas
KHIDI lists two medical visas.
| Visa | For | Length of stay |
|---|---|---|
| C-3-3 (short-term) | Treatment and travel together of 90 days or less. KHIDI gives cosmetic and plastic surgery as examples. | Up to 90 days |
| G-1-10 (long-term) | Treatment in a hospital or rehabilitation facility, or recuperation, that needs 91 days or more. The patient's spouse and children can come as carers, with a one-year stay and multiple entry. | Within 1 year |
KHIDI describes two ways to apply:
- Apply yourself at a Korean embassy or consulate. KHIDI lists the visa application form, a copy of your passport, a diagnosis document, a document from the Korean clinic confirming your appointment, and proof of funds for treatment and stay. The consulate may ask for more, for example proof of a family relationship.
- Through the clinic. The Korean clinic or a registered agency applies online to the immigration office for a visa issuance certificate. You then take it to the consulate.
Ask your clinic whether it offers the second route and which documents it needs from you.
KHIDI's page also lists visa-free entry as a route for medical visitors. It gives one blanket stay period for all visa-free countries, which looks outdated, because visa-free periods differ by nationality. We do not repeat it. Check the Korea Visa Portal (visa.go.kr) or your Korean embassy for the rule that applies to your passport.
If you hold a Korean visa, you do not need a K-ETA.
K-ETA: status as of October 2026
The K-ETA is an online authorization that the Ministry of Justice runs. Since 1 April 2023 many nationalities have been temporarily exempt. A notice on the K-ETA site, dated 23 December 2025, extended the exemption for one more year, to 31 December 2026 (Korean time). The extension covers the countries already exempt.
The Korean embassies in the United States and Spain published notices of the same extension, and an EY tax alert lists the same 22 jurisdictions.
The 22 exempt countries and regions
| Region | Countries and regions |
|---|---|
| Asia | Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macao |
| Americas | United States (including Guam), Canada |
| Europe | United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Austria |
| Oceania | Australia, New Zealand |
Some travel websites give a larger number of countries. The official notices say 22 for the temporary exemption, so we use 22.
Who else does not need a K-ETA
According to the K-ETA FAQ, these travellers do not need one:
- holders of a Korean visa and registered foreigners
- travellers aged 17 or under, or 65 or over, on the day they enter Korea, whatever their nationality
If you are exempt but apply anyway
Exempt travellers can still apply for a K-ETA. A fee is charged, and the main benefit is skipping the arrival card (see below). The K-ETA site shows the current fee. It says decisions usually come within 72 hours.
Apply only on k-eta.go.kr or in the official K-ETA app. The official site warns about look-alike agency and phishing sites.
After 31 December 2026
We found no announcement. On 29 October 2026 the K-ETA notice board showed no notice about 2027. Some travel websites say the K-ETA requirement returns on 1 January 2027. We could not confirm that on an official page. If your trip falls after 31 December 2026, check the K-ETA site and your embassy's notices before you book.
The arrival card
A Ministry of Justice notice of 18 February 2025 says that, in principle, every foreigner entering Korea submits an arrival card. You can file the online e-Arrival Card (e-arrivalcard.go.kr) from 3 days before arrival, Korean time. Holders of a valid K-ETA are exempt.
The notice says paper cards were accepted "until December 2025". We found no official statement of what applies since then. Check the e-Arrival Card site before you fly.
A short checklist
- Look up the entry rule for your passport on the Korea Visa Portal or your Korean embassy's site.
- If you need a visa, ask your clinic about an appointment confirmation or a visa issuance certificate.
- If you need a K-ETA, apply on the official site only, and leave time for the decision.
- Check the arrival card rule.
- Check all of it again shortly before departure, because the rules change.
FAQ
Do I need a medical visa for a cosmetic procedure in Korea?
It depends on your nationality, the length of your stay and the purpose of your visit. KHIDI lists a short-term medical visa (C-3-3) for treatment and travel of up to 90 days, and also lists visa-free entry as a route. We did not read the Korea Visa Portal, so check it or your Korean embassy for your passport.
Do I need a K-ETA in 2026?
As of 29 October 2026, 22 countries and regions, including the United States, Japan and Taiwan, are exempt until 31 December 2026. Travellers aged 17 or under or 65 or over, and holders of a Korean visa, do not need one either. Others who enter without a visa should check the K-ETA site for the fee and processing time.
Will the K-ETA be required again from 2027?
Not confirmed. The K-ETA notice board showed nothing about 2027 on 29 October 2026. Some travel websites say the requirement returns on 1 January 2027, but we found no official notice. Check the K-ETA site and your embassy's notices before booking a trip after 31 December 2026.
Can the clinic arrange my visa?
KHIDI says a Korean medical institution or a registered agency can apply online to the immigration office for a visa issuance certificate. You then take the certificate to the Korean consulate. Ask your clinic whether it does this, and which documents it needs from you, such as a diagnosis document and proof of funds.
Do I still fill in an arrival card if I have a K-ETA?
Not according to a 2025 Ministry of Justice notice, which says holders of a valid K-ETA are exempt from the arrival card. Other foreign visitors file the e-Arrival Card online, from 3 days before arrival. Exempt travellers can apply for a K-ETA, with a fee, mainly to skip the card. The paper-card rule after December 2025 is not confirmed.
Sources
- Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), Medical Korea: Medical Visa (checked 2026-10-29)
- Ministry of Justice, K-ETA official site: notice on the extension of the temporary K-ETA exemption (2025-12-23)
- Ministry of Justice, K-ETA official site: FAQ, who is exempt from applying (2026-06-11)
- Ministry of Justice, K-ETA official site: application home with fee, processing time and notices (checked 2026-10-29)
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA (MOFA): Notice on Extension of K-ETA Temporary Exemption (2025-12-29)
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Spain (MOFA): notice on the temporary K-ETA exemption, 1 April 2023 to 31 December 2026 (2025-12-23)
- EY Global Tax News: Korea extends temporary Electronic Travel Authorization exemption until 31 December 2026 (2026-01-05)
- Ministry of Justice, Korea Immigration Service: notice on the e-Arrival Card system (2025-02-18)
Rules checked on 29 October 2026. Visa and K-ETA rules change. Confirm them on the official sites before you travel.