South Korea — verified 18 August 2026
No — Canadians do not need a visa for a short visit to South Korea.
The Government of Canada lists a tourist visa as not required, and Canadians are exempt from the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) until 31 December 2026. The Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms the exemption was extended by one year to that date. From 1 January 2027, Canadians will need a K-ETA again before a visa-free visit.
An ordinary Canadian passport does not need a visa for South Korea.
Canadians do not need a visa for South Korea, and are exempt from K-ETA until 31 December 2026. From 1 January 2027 a K-ETA is required again — that date is the thing to diarise.
When it is worth using us
- You hold a passport other than Canadian — most nationalities are not visa-exempt, and that is the application we actually help with.
- You are travelling for work, study, or any commercial activity: those need a visa regardless of nationality.
- You are staying longer than a short visit, or you have been refused entry before.
- You are travelling on or after 1 January 2027 and want the K-ETA handled rather than discovered at the airport.
How it works
1.We check whether you need anything at all
For an ordinary Canadian passport on a short holiday before 2027, the honest answer is that you need nothing from us. We will tell you that rather than sell you a service.
2.If you do need a visa, we prepare it
Correct visa category, complete supporting documents, and the application checked against your passport before it goes to the Consulate General in Toronto.
3.A person reviews it before submission
A specialist checks everything. The consulate decides — nobody can promise you an outcome, and anyone who does is not telling you the truth.
What you need
- Passport valid beyond your expected departure from South Korea
- Proof of onward or return travel
- For visa applications: purpose-specific supporting documents, which vary by category
- For a K-ETA from 2027: passport bio page, a photo, and your accommodation details
Government fee. There is nothing to pay for visa-free entry. K-ETA carries a small government fee when it becomes required again, and consular visa fees vary by category — both at cost, never marked up.
Apply direct, if you prefer
These are the official government sites. They are the only places you should enter your passport details, and they charge the real fee with no markup. We would rather you use them and come back to us when the paperwork is genuinely hard.
Frequently asked questions
Do Canadians need a K-ETA for South Korea?
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Not until 31 December 2026. The Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended the temporary K-ETA exemption for Canada by one year, to 31 December 2026. From 1 January 2027 a K-ETA is required again for visa-free visits.
Do Canadians need a visa for South Korea?
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Not for a short visit such as tourism, visiting family, or attending business meetings. Commercial activity, work and study need a visa regardless of nationality.
Should I apply for a K-ETA anyway?
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You can. Korea allows exempt travellers to apply voluntarily, and an approved K-ETA means you do not have to complete an arrival card on entry. There is a fee, so it is a convenience trade rather than a requirement.
I am a permanent resident of Canada on another passport — am I exempt?
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No. The exemption follows your passport, not your residency. Check your own nationality's requirement — and this is exactly the case we can help with.
Talk to us about your South Korea trip
We are not selling South Korea online yet — we only put a buy button on a service once we have run it end to end ourselves. Call or come into the Markham office and we will tell you honestly what your trip needs, including when the answer is nothing.
Mon–Fri, 9:30am–5pm
Checked against official sources on 18 August 2026: Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada — extension of temporary K-ETA exemption to 31 December 2026; Government of Canada travel advice — South Korea (entry and exit requirements). Entry rules change without notice — confirm on the official site before you travel.
Markham Visa & Document Services is a private company. We are not affiliated with any government, embassy, consulate, or official visa application centre. We provide visa application assistance and document services only.