Canadian passport · South Korea

Do Canadians need a visa for South Korea?

By the Visa Almanac editorial teamChange logUpdated 1 Nov 2026

In brief

No. Canadian passport holders can visit South Korea visa-free (6 months).

South Korea visa-free stay for Canadians: 6 months. Official rule. Source: Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada, checked 1 Nov 2026.

South Korea visa fee for Canadians: none for visa-free entry.

Conditions: temporary K-ETA exemption until 31 Dec 2026: no K-ETA needed, but submit the free e-Arrival Card online within 3 days before arrival (a K-ETA, KRW 10,000, stays optional and replaces the card).

it has been decided to extend the temporary exemption period for the application of K-ETA for certain countries, including Canada, by one additional year, until December 31, 2026. ... ※ (Exempt countries/regions) Canada is exemptEmbassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea)

Checked 1 Nov 2026Source: Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea)Report a change

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ContentsIn brief

In brief
At a glance
Do Canadians need a visa?
Visa types
Fee
Processing time
Documents
What changed
FAQ
Sources

At a glance

Access	Visa-free · 6 monthstemporary K-ETA exemption until 31 Dec 2026: no K-ETA needed, but submit the free e-Arrival Card online within 3 days before arrival (a K-ETA, KRW 10,000, stays optional and replaces the card)
Stay	6 months
Validity and entries	A K-ETA is valid for 3 years (or until your passport expires, if sooner) and can be used for several trips.⁶
Official fee	None for visa-free entryA K-ETA costs KRW 10,000 per person (about USD 7–8) plus a card fee of about 3%, and is not refunded.⁵
Official processing	Where a K-ETA is required, get it before boarding; a decision usually takes 72 hours or less.⁶
Where to apply	Nothing to apply for to visit visa-free
Before arrival	Without a K-ETA, submit Korea's e-Arrival Card online, free of charge, within 3 days before you arrive.⁴

Do Canadians need a visa for South Korea?

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea) lists Canada among the countries whose nationals can visit without a visa. Stay: 6 months. Conditions: temporary K-ETA exemption until 31 Dec 2026: no K-ETA needed, but submit the free e-Arrival Card online within 3 days before arrival (a K-ETA, KRW 10,000, stays optional and replaces the card).

“it has been decided to extend the temporary exemption period for the application of K-ETA for certain countries, including Canada, by one additional year, until December 31, 2026. ... ※ (Exempt countries/regions) Canada is exempt”
Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea) · checked 1 Nov 2026

Conditions and exceptions

Canadians can stay in South Korea without a visa for up to 6 months.
CANADA Allowed Period of Stay : 06 MonthsMinistry of Justice of the Republic of Korea · checked 1 Nov 2026
You may still apply for a K-ETA during the exemption, for example to skip the arrival card, but the fee is then charged.
However, even nationals of countries eligible for the exemption may still apply for K-ETA if they wish to receive the benefits associated with K-ETA approval, such as exemption from completing an arrival card upon entry into the Republic of Korea. In such cases, an application fee will be charged.Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), notice of 18 December 2025 · checked 1 Nov 2026

South Korea visa types for Canadians

A K-ETA is valid for 3 years (or until your passport expires, if sooner) and can be used for several trips.
Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea · checked 1 Nov 2026

Fee

Visa-free entry costs nothing.

A K-ETA costs KRW 10,000 per person (about USD 7–8) plus a card fee of about 3%, and is not refunded.
Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea · checked 1 Nov 2026

These are government fees as the official sources state them. Agencies add their own service fees; those are not visa fees, and we don't list them.

Processing time

Where a K-ETA is required, get it before boarding; a decision usually takes 72 hours or less.
Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea · checked 1 Nov 2026

Documents and entry checks

Without a K-ETA, submit Korea's e-Arrival Card online, free of charge, within 3 days before you arrive.Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea · checked 1 Nov 2026

What changed

1 Apr 2023Canada was one of 22 countries and regions exempted from the K-ETA from 1 April 2023, at first until 31 December 2024. Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea (K-ETA official website), notice of 29 March 2023 · checked 1 Nov 2026 · read from an archived copy of 2 Apr 2023
1 Nov 2026Canadians do not need a K-ETA until 31 December 2026: Korea has extended its temporary K-ETA exemption for Canada to that date. Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), notice of 18 December 2025 · checked 1 Nov 2026
1 Nov 2026Checked against the official sources on this page: the rule above still holds.

FAQ

Is South Korea visa-free for Canadians now?

Yes: visa-free (6 months). Conditions: temporary K-ETA exemption until 31 Dec 2026: no K-ETA needed, but submit the free e-Arrival Card online within 3 days before arrival (a K-ETA, KRW 10,000, stays optional and replaces the card). Checked on 1 Nov 2026 against the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea).

How much does a South Korea visa cost for Canadians?

Visa-free entry costs nothing. A K-ETA costs KRW 10,000 per person (about USD 7–8) plus a card fee of about 3%, and is not refunded.

Can I get a South Korea visa in 7 days?

There is nothing to apply for to visit visa-free (6 months). Where a K-ETA is required, get it before boarding; a decision usually takes 72 hours or less.