What is the UK ETA for South Korean Citizens?

The UK Electronic Travel Authorization (UK ETA) is a digital travel permit for short visits to the UK and is not a visa. Initially introduced in October 2023 for Qatari citizens, this system is going to make a huge difference in your travel and entering the United Kingdom as a South Korean citizen. From January 8, 2025, the current visa-free travel arrangement for South Korean passport holders will be replaced by the new system which opened applications on November 27, 2024.

The UK ETA is more of a pre-travel security check, meant to reduce border reception congestion for travelers from visa waiver countries such as South Korea, but also improve border security. The ETA intends to shorten the processing time at the airport and to decrease long queues at immigration by conducting security screenings before travellers arrive.

The ETA allows South Koreans to travel to the UK for short visits of up to 6 months for the following purposes:

  • Tourism and leisure travel.
  • Visiting family and friends.
  • Business activities for short periods.
  • Short-term studies
  • Visiting on the creative Worker visa concession for up to three months.
  • Short-term permitted paid engagements for people such as musicians, sportspeople, and academics.
  • Transiting through the United Kingdom, even when not going through border control.

The UK ETA is a new system, which actually has an effect on how you enter the country. You will have to apply for this digital permit instead of the previous means you may be familiar with. In this guide, we’ll tell you about all things UK ETA for Korean citizens you need to know for an easy, smooth journey.

Statistics on South Korean Visitors to the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is an important tourism and travel market in South Korea. Data from VisitBritain’s website in 2023 shows that the UK had 182,000 South Korean visits with an average spend of £218.8 million when visiting in 2023. In fact, visits by South Korean travelers came at an average spend of £1,204 per visit. These statistics outline how big South Korea’s international travel market is and just how big South Korea’s tourism market for the UK could be.

Advantages of the UK ETA

South Korean travelers will be pleased to hear that the UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) provides them with several compelling benefits that streamline and improve the travel experience:

Straightforward Application Process

All a South Korean citizen would need to do is log onto their device to apply and complete the process in under 20 minutes. Within three days, most applications are processed while many travelers receive a decision in hours.

Cost-Effective

At £78, the UK ETA represents value for travelers through its two-year multiple-entry validity. Unlike single-entry travel permits, this authorization allows South Korean citizens to make unlimited visits to the UK over a two-year period, staying in each instance for a maximum of six months. As it is long-term and flexible, a traveler can make several trips to the UK without paying extra amounts on applications, meaning the ETA is a cost-efficient option for those who visit the UK often for tourism, business, or short-term studies.

Convenience

The ETA for the UK can also provide travelers with more long-term convenience. It simplifies international travel by reducing the number of administrative steps taken by South Korean citizens as applying can be done online in a matter of minutes. The ETA being a pre-travel digital clearance reduces the likelihood of delays and facilitates a smoother entry process.

UK ETA Eligibility Criteria for South Korean Citizens

South Korea is one of the countries eligible for the UK ETA. Applicants who apply for the UK ETA from South Korea need to meet certain requirements:

  • Citizenship Requirement It is the standard that travelers have a valid South Korean passport to apply for the ETA for the UK. Your passport needs to still be valid for at least six months after the date you’re expected to leave the UK.
  • Duration of Stay The ETA for the UK is specially made for short-term visits. South Korean citizens can use it for tourism, visiting friends and family, short course study, permitted business activities, medical treatment, and transiting through the UK. But it doesn’t allow for stays longer than six months, work or long study, for which you need a standard visa.
  • Clean Criminal Record An individual with a prior conviction of a serious nature can be refused an ETA. This includes:
    • Convictions that resulted in being sentenced to a term of imprisonment of one year or more.
    • If it hasn’t been 12 months since the date of a conviction.

In cases like that, travelers will have to go through a normal UK visa application procedure and expect it to go through with a more detailed review. This in-depth process allows authorities to do a comprehensive assessment of the individual’s situation.

UK ETA Application Process

The ETA application process is meant to allow for a quick, user-friendly, and secure method of travel authorization. Below is a step-by-step guide for applying for an ETA:

1

Complete the Application Form

The first step is to fill out the online application form for your UK ETA from Korea. This comprehensive digital UK ETA form requires detailed personal information that will be used to process your application.

2

Personal Details Submission

Applicants will have to provide specific personal information including:

  • As it appears on your passport, your full name.
  • Date of birth.
  • Nationality.
  • Number, issue date, and expiration date of the passport.
  • Email address and phone number.
  • Home address.
  • Employment information.
  • Travel purpose, and planned dates of the visit to the UK.
3

Document Upload

When you’re done with the personal details:

  • Provide a clear, high-quality digital copy of your passport.
  • Provide a recent passport-style photograph that meets UK biometric requirements.
  • Make sure all that you have uploaded are legible and all conform to the format and size guidelines specified by the program.
4

Pay the Required Fees

The £78 UK ETA cost can be paid using various electronic payment methods, including:

  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay
5

Receive Your UK ETA

Applicants who successfully complete the processing will be emailed their ETA decision. Most applications are processed within three days, and many receive a decision within hours of submission. The ETA is linked electronically to the applicant’s passport, meaning no physical documentation is required.

Requirements for the UK ETA Application

There are a few requirements that applicants need to have for a successful UK ETA application. To ensure a smooth application process, they must prepare the following documents:

Valid Passport

You will need a South Korean passport with at least six months’ validity beyond the intended stay.

Valid Passport

Personal Photograph

A recent high-quality digital passport photograph of the holder, preferably taken within three months, that meets specific UK ETA requirements mentioned on the application page.

Personal Photograph

Payment Method

A valid electronic payment method for processing the application fees.

Payment Method

Email Address

A working email address to receive application updates and the final ETA decision.

Email Address

UK ETA Fees and Processing Time

The price of a UK ETA is set at £78 to cover government processing fees and our professional fees. Many applications are processed much quicker, but the standard processing time is three working days.

UK ETA Validity and Duration of Stay

The ETA is valid for two years, or until the linked passport expiry date, whichever is sooner. During this period, travelers are allowed to make multiple entries into the United Kingdom subject to their stays not exceeding 6 months.

UK ETA: Renewal and Extension Options

The ETA is not renewable or extendable. It is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. If you want to continue staying in the UK beyond the ETA’s expiration date, you must:

  • Exit the UK
  • Apply for a new ETA from outside the United Kingdom
  • Re-enter the UK with the new ETA

This process ensures that travelers maintain current and valid travel authorization for their visits to the UK.

UK ETA Refusals: Common Reasons and Solutions

While most South Korean ETA applications are successful, there are key reasons for potential issues.

Rejections

Applicants may get a rejection due to:

  • Errors in the application, such as incomplete, inaccurate, or misleading information.
  • Technical issues like incorrect document uploads or system submission problems.

If your application for an ETA is rejected, you should correct the identified issues and reapply for a new ETA.

Refusals

Refusals are more serious than rejections. Your application for an ETA may be refused as a result of:

  • Criminal History: Automatic denial can result from serious criminal convictions, particularly convictions for imprisonment for more than 12 months.
  • Immigration Violations: If you have previously been granted a visa and overstayed, worked without authorization, or broken immigration rules in the UK or other countries, you may be refused an ETA.
  • Financial Concerns: Inability to show that you have sufficient funds, or the intent to return to South Korea.

An applicant who is refused an ETA cannot appeal. They have no other choice but to apply for an appropriate UK visa using standard procedure. This is a more comprehensive review of the traveler’s circumstances and qualifications to enter the United Kingdom.

Traveling with a UK ETA: Important Details

Here are a few key considerations to keep in mind:

  • Your passport is digitally linked to your ETA. Changing passports means getting a new ETA.
  • For your application and entry, always use the same passport; If you have more than one passport, select one and don’t switch it up through the process.
  • At the border, immigration will check your passport and your ETA. 
  • Be ready to answer questions about your visit.
  • Prepare to face the standard immigration checks.
  • Once you pass border control, you can travel across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  • No further internal travel documents will be required to travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, not in 2024. However, if you are a Korean citizen wondering when the UK ETA starts, South Korean citizens won’t need an ETA to enter the UK until the ETA for the UK launch date, which is on January 8, 2025.

Yes, you can travel to the UK on any date during the two-year validity period of your ETA, even if your original dates have changed. However, if your travel purpose changes, check that it still fits the permitted activities for entry on the ETA. You must apply for a new ETA if your passport details change.

Yes, the UK is expanding the ETA system to include citizens of all countries who can enter the UK visa-free. This is part of a wider ambition to modernize border control and security.

Two years or until the passport expiration, whichever comes first.