Singapore passport holders remain visa-free for stays of less than 90 days in the Republic of Korea, and the temporary K-ETA waiver for Singapore continues until 31 December 2026.
That was re-checked on Saturday (Aug 29) against the MFA Singapore South Korea page and Visit Korea’s visa guidance, last updated 21 April 2026.
The form that still sits next to that, leaving Changi, is the free Korea e-Arrival Card. It is not a visa.
Filing opens within three days before arrival, in Korean Standard Time, at e-arrivalcard.go.kr.
K-ETA WAIVER
MFA Singapore states that Singapore passport holders are not required to apply for visas for short-term entry of less than 90 days. Travellers are told to check the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Singapore for the latest entry requirements.
The official K-ETA eligibility list, checked 29 August, names Singapore with an allowed period of stay of 90 days.
Visit Korea lists Singapore among nationalities temporarily exempt from K-ETA until 31 December 2026. The K-ETA notice dated 23 December 2025 says the Ministry of Justice extended the exemption from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026 (KST) for countries and regions already on that list.
A traveller who still applies for K-ETA, so the arrival card is not required, pays 10,000 won, about US$7 to US$8, on k-eta.go.kr. The fee is not refundable. An approved K-ETA does not guarantee entry. The immigration officer at the port of entry still decides.
E-ARRIVAL CARD
Korea’s official e-Arrival Card portal, checked 29 August, is a free online entry declaration. The card has the same validity as the former paper arrival card.
Filing is available starting three days before arrival. After 72 hours from submission, validity is lost. A new card is required for every entry.
The portal asks for a valid passport, a valid e-mail address, the date of entry and inbound flight number, accommodation in Korea, and the date of departure. The outbound flight number is optional.
An issuance number is sent by e-mail. The official guide says the card does not have to be presented at inspection, though the number is useful.
Purpose of entry, stay information or departure date can be edited on the official site before immigration. The arrival date can be corrected only within three days of the first submission.
A smartphone filing can cover up to nine people. A PC group filing can cover 2 to 1,000.
The e-Arrival Card is a separate system from K-ETA. The official guide states that directly.
OFFICIAL SITE
Korea’s Immigration Service warned on 9 March 2026 that fake websites impersonating the service have been found. The only official address is https://www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr. Any website that asks for payment information is not official.
Hi Korea carries the same 9 March 2026 warning. The card itself has no fee.
CHANGI TO SEOUL
Singapore Airlines’ current promo fares, bookable from 21 August to 10 September 2026 on singaporeair.com, list Seoul from S$568 return in economy, taxes included. Outbound travel is selected periods through 31 July 2027. Blackout periods may apply. The advertised fares are return bookings only.
Busan is listed from S$618 on the same page, checked 29 August. Those figures can move once a date is searched. The Singapore Airlines promo fares to 74 destinations sit in the same booking window.
The stay from Changi remains a visa-free visit of less than 90 days on a Singapore ordinary passport. The e-Arrival Card is the extra form, not a substitute for that rule. The same split, a visa-free stay plus a digital card, is how Vietnam entry requirements for Singapore passports now work on some inbound airports.
MFA also requires foreigners in Korea to carry a passport or alien registration card at all times. Failure to produce it to law enforcement is a chargeable offence.
Trip registration sits at eregister.mfa.gov.sg. MFA points travellers back to the Korean embassy in Singapore before departure. Japan travel rules for Singapore visitors remain a separate visa-free lane, with Visit Japan Web optional rather than an arrival-card substitute.
Checked 29 August 2026 against MFA Singapore, Visit Korea, k-eta.go.kr, e-arrivalcard.go.kr, Korea’s Immigration Service notice of 9 March 2026, and Singapore Airlines’ offers page.
