ETA required
South Koreans need a UK ETA
ETA required for travel from 8 January 2025
South Korea (Republic of Korea) is on the ETA national list. Korean Air and Asiana flights from Incheon to Heathrow check it at departure. K-ETA is Korea’s own inbound system — it does nothing for UK travel. Pay £20 only on GOV.UK or the UK ETA app. If you already have UK Indefinite Leave to Remain or a student visa, you travel on that permission, not an ETA. North Korean passports are a completely different, visa-national route and are not in this guide.
South Korean travel facts
| Passport | South Korea |
|---|---|
| Roll-out | ETA required for travel from 8 January 2025 |
| What you need | UK ETA (£20) |
| Stay | Usually up to 6 months as a visitor |
| Work | Not allowed on visit permission |
| Landside transit | ETA required if you pass UK border control |
Mistakes south koreans make
- Paying for a Korean-language ‘UK ETA’ broker. Use the official app.
- Confusing K-ETA (entry to Korea) with the UK ETA.
London notes for South Korean arrivals
Incheon–Heathrow is usually Terminal 2 or 4. Contactless on TfL works with most Korean cards that have the contactless mark, or Samsung/Apple Pay. Do not drive into central London without paying Congestion Charge by midnight rules on TfL’s site.
FAQs
- Is a Korean passport visa-free for the UK?
- For short visits you use an ETA, not a visa. You still need to apply before you fly.
- Does K-ETA help?
- No. K-ETA is only for travelling to the Republic of Korea.
Other passports
Bodhixt is not affiliated with UKVI. Confirm on GOV.UK before you book. Apply via https://www.gov.uk/eta only.