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South Korea Visa for Canada Citizens 2026

Visa Free

Canadian citizens can visit South Korea visa-free for up to 180 days per visit under a bilateral visa waiver arrangement, longer than the standard 90-day exemption most nationalities receive, and are not required to obtain a K-ETA.

Guide last updated September 30, 2026. Always verify with official sources before travel.

What you need

  • Passport valid for the duration of your intended stay
  • Proof of return or onward travel
  • Proof of sufficient funds
  • No K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) is required for Canadian passport holders, unlike most other visa-waiver nationalities, because of the extended Canada-Korea visa waiver arrangement
  • Arrival card (paper or the Q-CODE online health/customs declaration) completed before or at entry

Visa types

  • Visa-exempt short stay: tourism, business, or family visits up to 180 days, no application needed
  • Long-term visas (D-series student, E-series work, F-series residence): required for study, employment, or long-term residence, applied for through the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ottawa or the Korean consulate in Toronto or Vancouver

Entry conditions

  • Up to 180 days per visit (single or multiple entries), no work permitted on the visa-exempt entry
  • Immigration officers may check funds and onward travel plans on arrival
  • Stays exceeding 90 days should be reported to the local immigration office if the traveler wishes certain resident-adjacent benefits, though this is not mandatory for tourism
  • Extensions beyond 180 days require a separate long-term visa

Fees & processing time

  • No fee for the visa-exempt entry, and no K-ETA fee applies to Canadian passport holders
  • Long-term visa fees vary by category, roughly CAD 60-140, with standard processing of 5-10 business days at the embassy or a Korean Visa Application Center

Tips for Canada travelers

  • Do not pay third-party websites offering to process a K-ETA for you, since Canadian passport holders are exempt from that system
  • Keep proof of funds and a return ticket ready, as Korean immigration can be strict on entry
  • If planning a long-term stay for study or work, start the visa application at the Ottawa embassy several weeks ahead
  • Complete the Q-CODE health declaration online before arrival to speed up airport processing

Official links & resources

Always confirm requirements with government or embassy sources before applying.

This guide is for information only. Visa policies change without notice. Travel Visa Stack is not an immigration authority. Always verify with official government or embassy sources before making travel plans.