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Do Mexican citizens need a visa for South Korea?
Mexico 
South Korea Mexico passport holders do not need a traditional visa for South Korea, but must get an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) online before departure.
No visa, but an eTA is required
- Entry requirement
- eTA required
- Maximum stay
- Check on entry
- Apply before travel
- Yes
- Last updated
- February 2026
How to apply
Checked November 2026⚠️ The official K-ETA site warns that K-ETA is available only at www.k-eta.go.kr or the official K-ETA app, and that look-alike agency or phishing sites charge high fees. Use only the official links below.
K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) - for visa-free nationals
- Fee
- KRW 10,000 (about USD 7-8) plus a small online payment charge; non-refundable
- Valid for
- 3 years or until the passport expires, whichever is sooner; multiple entries
- Processing
- Usually within 72 hours; no expedited service, so apply well before boarding
At the border
- Visa-free nationals must hold an approved K-ETA before boarding, unless their country is on the temporary exemption list.
- Travellers without K-ETA submit an arrival card; the official Korea e-Arrival Card (e-arrivalcard.go.kr) is free and can be filed from 3 days before arrival.
- K-ETA holders do not need to submit an arrival card.
- Permitted visa-free stay length depends on nationality (check the K-ETA eligibility list).
- Visa fees are non-refundable even if the application is refused.
Recent changes
- December 2025: the K-ETA temporary exemption for currently listed countries was extended for all of 2026 (1 January to 31 December 2026, KST); exempt travellers may still apply voluntarily to skip the arrival card.
Official source: Korea Immigration Service (Ministry of Justice) - Korea Visa Portal · Not yet confirmed officially: Exact list of K-ETA temporarily exempt countries (official site shows it only during application), e-Arrival Card launch date (not stated on the official page read), Passport validity rule (no fixed minimum stated on the pages read), consularVisa.processing time
What Mexico passport holders need to do
- Apply on the official government website or app before you book non-refundable travel.
- Pay the fee and wait for approval, which usually arrives by email within minutes to a few days.
- Travel with the same passport you used in the application.
Mexico is one of 48 passports in the “eta required” group for South Korea. See the full South Korea visa requirements for every passport.
Other easy destinations in Asia for Mexico passport holders
South Korea is one of 6 destinations in the “eta required” group for the Mexico passport, which ranks #19 worldwide with a mobility score of 137. Of 50 destinations in Asia, 29 need no visa arranged in advance; the easiest are listed below.
| Destination | Requirement | Max stay |
|---|---|---|
 Georgia | Visa-free | 360 days |
 Hong Kong | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Iran | Visa-free | 15 days |
 Israel | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Japan | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Kazakhstan | Visa-free | 30 days |
 Kyrgyzstan | Visa-free | 60 days |
 Macau | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Malaysia | Visa-free | 30 days |
 Palestine | Visa-free | – |
 Philippines | Visa-free | 30 days |
 Singapore | Visa-free | 30 days |
Frequently asked questions
Do Mexican citizens need a visa for South Korea?
Mexico passport holders do not need a traditional visa for South Korea, but must get an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) online before departure.
Do South Korea citizens need a visa for Mexico?
South Korea passport holders can enter Mexico without a visa for up to 180 days.
South Korea visa requirements for other passports
Data last updated February 2026. This page covers short visits such as tourism. Rules can change at short notice and differ for work, study or long stays. Confirm with the embassy or official immigration website of South Korea before you book.