Canada eTA for South Korean Citizens
South Korean citizens traveling with a valid passport issued by the Republic of Korea generally need a Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) when flying to Canada or when a flight itinerary passes through a Canadian airport. This page concerns Republic of Korea passports. It is written for travelers planning business visits and technical meetings, short holidays, study tours, visits to family and friends, and trips that connect through a Canadian airport on the way to another destination.
Online Application
Maximum Validity
Processing Fee
When eTA Is Generally Required
Eligibility: Can South Korean Citizens Obtain a Canada eTA?
Yes, South Korean Citizens Can Obtain an eTA
Canada's entry requirements list the Republic of Korea among the countries whose citizens generally need an eTA for air travel. The requirement is tied to the passport you travel on. It does not depend on where you live, your profession, or any grouping of countries to which your country belongs. This guide applies to passports issued by the Republic of Korea. Please check that the passport in your hand is one of those documents before you start.
✓ When an eTA Is Generally Required
- ✓ Flying to Canada on a valid Republic of Korea passport
- ✓ Transiting through a Canadian airport on a longer journey
- ✓ Business visits and technical meetings
- ✓ Tourism, study tours and short holidays
- ✓ Visits to family and friends in Canada
✗ Usually Not Required for Land or Sea Arrival
- ✗ Arriving by car or bus at a land border crossing
- ✗ Arriving by train
- ✗ Arriving by boat, ferry or cruise ship
In most cases only. A valid passport is still required.
Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents
Canadian citizens do not need an eTA or visitor visa. Canadian citizens, including dual Canadian citizens, generally need a valid Canadian passport to travel to Canada by air. Canadian permanent residents do not need an eTA or a visitor visa. They must travel with appropriate Canadian permanent-resident travel documentation, such as a valid permanent resident card or permanent resident travel document.
U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents
U.S. citizens are exempt from the eTA requirement and do not need to apply. They should carry appropriate identification, such as a valid U.S. passport, when travelling to Canada. Lawful permanent residents of the United States are also exempt from the eTA requirement. They must carry appropriate travel documentation, including a valid passport or equivalent acceptable travel document from their country of nationality, and valid proof of U.S. permanent-resident status.
Your Republic of Korea passport is the document the eTA is linked to. Confirm that it will remain valid for the whole of your trip and that it is the same document you will present at the airport. Most avoidable problems start with a detail that was copied from the wrong document, so the sections below focus on accuracy.
What You Need Before Applying
Passport Validity
Check the expiry date on your passport before you plan the trip. It should remain valid throughout your stay in Canada. If it expires soon after your planned return, renew it before you apply. The eTA is tied to the passport number you enter, so a renewal generally means a new application.
Personal Details to Have Ready
- • Full name exactly as printed on the passport data page
- • Passport number, date of issue and date of expiry
- • Date and place of birth
- • Current residential address and a contact email address
- • A telephone number where you can be reached during the process
Background and Travel Information
- • Your occupation and the name of your employer or institution
- • Earlier trips abroad, including any previous visits to Canada
- • Planned arrival and departure dates
- • Accurate answers to the background questions in the form
The background questions are a standard part of the eligibility check. Base each answer on your actual situation, and consult the help text beside any item you find confusing. An inaccurate answer can cause problems later, even when the purpose of your trip is entirely legitimate.
Processing Fee
The Processing Fee for this application is $35. The amount appears in the application before the payment step, so you can plan your costs. Have a valid payment card ready when you reach that step, and keep the payment confirmation with your records.
How to Apply, Step by Step
Step 1: Confirm Your Passport and Route
Decide which passport you will travel on, and write down every flight in your itinerary. Any leg that lands in or departs through a Canadian airport falls under the eTA rule. If you hold Canadian citizenship, use the Canadian passport for travel to Canada rather than starting an eTA application.
Step 2: Open the Passport Data Page
Keep the passport open while you complete the form, and copy each detail from the physical document. Romanized spellings of names can differ between documents, so the passport is the reference for every field, not an older form or a copy saved on a phone.
Step 3: Complete the Form in One Sitting
Work through every section in order. Leaving the form and returning later can lead to data being lost or entered in the wrong field. Most applicants need around twenty to thirty minutes.
Step 4: Check the Summary Before You Submit
Compare the summary with the passport line by line. Confirm the passport number, the expiry date, the date of birth and the name. After submission, corrections may not be possible, so a mistake can mean a new application and a second payment.
Step 5: Pay and Keep Your Reference
After submission you will reach the payment step, where the $35 Processing Fee is collected. Keep the confirmation page, the reference number and the email that follows. These records are the basis for following up on your application.
Accuracy Checks That Prevent Delays
Name Order and Romanization
The passport prints your name in a specific order and spelling. Enter the family name and given names in the fields and order used on the data page, and keep hyphens and spacing exactly as printed. Do not substitute a spelling you have used on other documents unless it is the spelling printed in the passport.
Dates in the Correct Format
A day and month entered in the wrong order can make the record look inconsistent with your passport. Check the date format the form uses before entering your birth date and passport dates, and confirm the year, because a single digit error is easy to miss.
New or Replacement Passports
If you recently received a replacement passport, use the new document throughout the application. An eTA linked to a passport you no longer carry will not support your trip. Record which passport number belongs to which application, so that the authorization and the document you show always match.
What Happens After You Submit
Processing times vary, and there is no guaranteed timeframe for a decision. Some applications may require additional documents or review before a decision can be made, and those cases can take longer.
Approval is not guaranteed. Build your schedule so that it does not depend on an assumed decision date. Hold off on non-cancellable bookings until you have an approved eTA, and watch your inbox, including spam folders, for requests for information.
If an application is not approved, read the notice carefully and note any reason it gives. Where an error can be corrected, a new application may be the right step. Where the issue is different, consider another route before you attempt to travel to Canada.
Validity and Passport Linkage
An eTA is electronically linked to the passport used in the application. That link is the reason the passport number entered in the form must be exact, and the reason the document you carry on the trip must match it.
If you obtain a new passport, a new eTA is generally required. An earlier authorization attached to an earlier passport does not carry over to the replacement document, even if its stated validity has not ended.
An approved eTA may be valid for up to five years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. This is a maximum, not a promise. Rely on the validity shown with your approval, rather than on an assumed five-year period.
A valid eTA may support repeated visits to Canada during its validity period, subject to the rules for visitors and to the decision made at the border on each occasion.
Planning by Purpose of Visit
Business and Technical Visits
Business visitors commonly attend trade shows, visit suppliers or clients, or take part in technical meetings and training. Visits of this kind are generally consistent with visitor status when they are genuine business activities. Carry the invitation, the agenda or the event registration, and be prepared to say who you will meet. Paid work for a Canadian employer requires a separate check before you travel.
Study Tours and Short Courses
Some travelers visit Canada for a short study tour, a site visit or a conference that involves attending sessions. These trips should be described accurately on the form. An eTA covers a visit, but enrolling in a course of study for a longer period can require a different authorization, so check that point before you book a course.
Tourism and Family Visits
Canada's cities, national parks and winter landscapes attract many holiday visitors, and visits to relatives are a common reason for travel. Keep hotel reservations or your host's details, and be ready to explain the relationship. A letter of invitation can support the visit but does not replace the eTA. Choose a length of stay you can justify, and align the return booking with it.
Travel Preparation
Sequence Your Bookings
Apply first, wait for the decision, and then purchase flights that cannot be refunded. If the outcome is not an approval, you can change your plans without losing the cost of tickets. Always compare the approval with the passport you plan to carry before paying for travel that depends on it.
Transit Through Canada
A journey that stops in a Canadian airport on the way to another country requires an eTA for that stop. Confirm whether your baggage will be checked through or collected in Canada, allow enough time to move between terminals, and know your connection point before you land.
Documents and Backups
Carry the passport in your hand luggage together with a printed copy of your eTA confirmation and your accommodation details. Save digital copies on a device you can open offline, and leave a copy of your itinerary with someone at home.
Money and Connectivity
Let your bank know about the trip so that card payments are not blocked. Carry a second payment method, check how your card handles purchases made abroad, and arrange mobile data before arrival. Save offline maps and the contact details for your accommodation.
Arrival and Admission
An eTA does not guarantee entry to Canada. The approval lets you board, while the officer at arrival determines whether you are admitted. Officers may ask about your purpose, your accommodation, your onward travel and how you will support yourself during the visit.
Answer each question clearly and honestly. Keep your passport and eTA confirmation easy to reach, and follow the instructions you are given. If a question is unclear, ask for it to be repeated rather than guessing.
Visitors are normally allowed to stay in Canada for up to six months at a time. The actual authorized period is determined at entry and can be shorter than six months, so do not book fixed onward travel that depends on receiving the full period.
Length of Stay and Return Planning
Decide on a realistic length of stay before you complete the form, and make sure the dates in your itinerary support that plan. A stay that is much longer than the trip you describe can create questions at the border, while a return ticket that does not match the form can be confusing to explain on arrival.
Build a small margin into your return plans. The authorized period is determined when you arrive, so a return flight booked for the last possible day leaves no room for a shorter authorization or for a delay. Refundable or changeable fares give you flexibility if your plans change, and they are worth comparing before you commit.
Working With a Host in Canada
If you are staying with someone, a short letter from your host is a practical aid. It can state the host's full name, address and telephone number, your relationship, the dates of your visit and who will cover your accommodation. Keep the letter brief and factual, and sign it so that its contents match what you entered in the form.
Agree the dates with your host before you apply, and tell them if your plans change. A host who is surprised by a late arrival or an early departure can make it harder to answer questions at the border, so clear communication protects both of you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Canada eTA for South Korean Citizens
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Once your dates are fixed and the passport details are checked against the data page, you are ready to begin.
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