Does a Taiwan passport need a K-ETA? Not until 31 December 2026
Taiwan passport holders currently travel to Korea without a K-ETA — but the measure has an end date, and the current notice runs only to 31 December 2026. Here is what the exemption covers, what still has to be completed on arrival, and how to plan a trip that falls in early 2027.
What is a K-ETA, and how long is Taiwan exempt?
The Korea Electronic Travel Authorization is Korea's online clearance for travellers from visa-free countries. Since 2023 Korea has temporarily waived it for a group of jurisdictions including Taiwan, and the waiver has now been extended twice, currently to 31 December 2026.
The Korean Mission in Taipei put it plainly in a Chinese-language notice dated 29 December 2025: Korea's Ministry of Justice has extended the K-ETA exemption for the countries and regions currently covered — Taiwan expressly included — by a further year, from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026. The Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs notice carries the title "Extension of Temporary Exemption from K-ETA (until December 31, 2026)".
Separately, Taiwan's Bureau of Consular Affairs lists Korea as visa-free for up to 90 days (list updated 23 July 2026). Visa-free entry and the K-ETA are two different systems; at present neither requires an application.
| Item | Position until 31 Dec 2026 |
|---|---|
| K-ETA application | Temporarily waived for Taiwan travellers |
| Arrival card | Still required: paper, or the e-Arrival Card filed within 72 hours of departure |
| Travellers holding a valid K-ETA | May use it, and are exempt from the arrival card |
| Travellers registered for SeS | Exempt from the arrival card |
| From 1 January 2027 | Not yet announced — confirm before departure |
What the K-ETA exemption does not remove
Skipping the K-ETA does not mean skipping everything. The arrival card remains, with a choice between paper and the online version.
- ・SKT is Korea's largest carrier, with the widest coverage
- ・A native network rather than roaming — low latency, fast and stable
- ・Works across Seoul, Busan and Jeju; refund guaranteed if the signal is unstable or the plan goes completely unused
Travelling to Korea in early 2027? What to do now
- Build a check into the timeline. The current waiver ends on 31 December 2026, so a New Year or winter-holiday trip is worth confirming once when you book and once before you fly.
- Get familiar with the e-Arrival Card. Whether or not the K-ETA returns, the arrival card stays, and knowing the fields in advance saves time at the airport.
- Avoid agency sites. The official K-ETA portal is the Korean government's own k-eta.go.kr; search results are full of resellers charging more.
Choosing a Korea plan: the case for a native network
| Option | Suits | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| SKT native eSIM | Most travellers; working the moment you land | A native network rather than roaming, so latency is low; the handset must support eSIM |
| Local physical SIM | Longer stays needing a Korean number | Airport queue, and keeping your original SIM safe |
| International roaming | Transits and very short trips | Higher rates; confirm the daily cap first |
| Pocket Wi-Fi | Groups sharing one connection | An extra device to charge, and nobody has data once the group splits up |
Daily life in Korea runs through apps: Naver Map for navigation, Kakao T for taxis, online waiting lists at popular restaurants. A dropped connection stops all three. Plan comparisons are in our Korea eSIM guide, and the field-by-field walkthrough is in the Korea e-Arrival Card guide.
Korea K-ETA: frequently asked questions
Do Taiwan passport holders need a K-ETA right now?
No. Korea has extended the temporary K-ETA exemption covering 22 countries and jurisdictions, Taiwan among them, through 31 December 2026. Short tourist visits on a Taiwan passport need no K-ETA during that period.
Will the exemption continue after 2026?
The published end date is 31 December 2026, and no decision beyond it has been announced. For trips in early 2027, check the Korean authorities' latest notice again before departure.
Without a K-ETA, what still has to be done on arrival?
The arrival card. You can complete a paper card on the aircraft or in the arrivals hall, or file the e-Arrival Card online within 72 hours of departure and show the QR code or PDF on arrival.
What about travellers who already hold a K-ETA?
A valid K-ETA can still be used, and holders are exempt from the arrival card. Travellers registered for SeS automated clearance are likewise exempt.
Can I still apply for a K-ETA voluntarily during the exemption?
Yes. Anyone who wants the arrival-card exemption that comes with K-ETA approval may apply and pay the fee. For a straightforward short holiday the exemption alone is sufficient.
How should I arrange data for Korea?
Navigation, ride-hailing and restaurant queueing all run through apps, so data is needed from the moment you land. The Peanutmo Korea native eSIM runs on SKT, Korea's largest carrier with the widest coverage, with unlimited data and no throttling, across Seoul, Busan and Jeju.
- ・QR code emailed within about 10 minutes, so you can install before you leave
- ・Refund guaranteed if the signal is unstable or the plan goes completely unused
- ・LINE support at @peanutmo, 10:00–17:00 (UTC+8)
Installation takes about three minutes with our step-by-step setup guide.
Related reading
The step that remains after the K-ETA waiver, field by field.
SKT coverage and speed, and how to pick duration and data.
Korea's second city: transport, where to stay and how to plan the days.
Real usage figures for navigation and ride-hailing apps.
