South Korea: 8 African countries can visit with K-ETA, stay up to 90 days
South Korea allows citizens of eight African countries to enter the country without obtaining a traditional visa in advance, subject to the conditions of its visa-waiver arrangements and, where applicable, the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) system.
The eligible African countries include Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mauritius, Morocco, Seychelles, South Africa and Tunisia.
However, the permitted length of stay is not the same for citizens of all eight countries.
Depending on nationality, visitors can stay in South Korea for 30, 60 or up to 90 days under the country’s visa-free entry arrangements.
Here is what travellers from the eight African countries need to know.
1. Botswana: up to 90 days
Botswana is among the African countries whose ordinary passport holders can enter South Korea without a visa for a stay of up to 90 days.
The Korean Tourism Organisation lists Botswana among the countries covered by Korea’s visa-free entry arrangements for general passport holders.
Travellers should still check the current entry requirements before booking their trip because visa-free eligibility does not remove other immigration conditions.
For eligible travellers required to obtain K-ETA, approval must be secured before boarding a flight or ship to Korea.
2. Morocco: up to 90 days
Moroccan passport holders can also enter South Korea without a visa for up to 90 days under the country’s visa-waiver arrangements.
Morocco is also included among the countries whose nationals are eligible to use K-ETA.
The Korean government explains that K-ETA approval allows eligible visa-free travellers to seek entry without obtaining a conventional visa, but the authorisation itself does not determine how long the visitor can remain in Korea.
The permitted stay remains determined by the relevant visa-waiver arrangement.
3. Seychelles: up to 90 days
Citizens of Seychelles are also entitled to visa-free entry to South Korea for up to 90 days.
Seychelles appears on Korea’s official list of African countries covered by visa-free entry arrangements for general passport holders.
The country is also included among the nationalities eligible for K-ETA.
Travellers should therefore distinguish between the 90-day visa-free stay period and the validity of a K-ETA.
A K-ETA may remain valid for multiple trips, but that does not mean a traveller can stay for the entire validity period on one visit.
4. Mauritius: up to 30 days
Mauritian citizens can enter South Korea without a visa for up to 30 days.
Mauritius is listed among Korea’s African and Middle Eastern visa-waiver countries, with a 30-day stay period for general passport holders.
Mauritius is also on the K-ETA eligible-country list.
This means travellers should not assume that all African countries covered by Korea’s visa-free arrangements receive the same length of stay.
5. South Africa: up to 30 days
South African passport holders can also visit South Korea without a visa for up to 30 days.
South Africa is included on Korea’s official visa-free entry list for general passport holders, with a 30-day permitted stay.
South Africa is also included among the countries whose citizens can use K-ETA.
The 30-day period applies to each qualifying visit under the visa-waiver arrangement. It should not be confused with the validity period of the K-ETA itself.
6. Tunisia: up to 30 days
Tunisia is another African country whose citizens can enter South Korea without a visa for up to 30 days.
The Korean Tourism Organisation lists Tunisia among the African and Middle Eastern countries covered by the visa-waiver arrangement for general passport holders.
Tunisia is also included in Korea’s K-ETA eligible-country list.
7. Lesotho: up to 60 days
Lesotho has a longer permitted stay than South Africa, Mauritius and Tunisia.
Korea allows citizens of Lesotho to enter visa-free for up to 60 days under its visa-waiver arrangement.
Lesotho is also among the African countries listed as eligible for K-ETA.
The 60-day period is the maximum permitted stay under the relevant visa-free arrangement and is separate from how long the K-ETA itself remains valid.
8. Eswatini: up to 30 days
Citizens of Eswatini can enter South Korea without a visa for up to 30 days.
The country appears on Korea’s official list under its former name, Swaziland, in the visa-waiver section for general passport holders.
Eswatini is also included in the K-ETA eligible-country list.
Travellers using an Eswatini passport should therefore follow the current Korean immigration requirements applicable to their nationality.
What is K-ETA?
The Korea Electronic Travel Authorization, commonly known as K-ETA, is an online travel authorisation used by eligible foreign nationals who want to enter South Korea without a traditional visa.
The Korean government is clear that K-ETA is not a visa.
Instead, it fulfils some of the requirements for entering Korea without a visa. Nationals of countries eligible for K-ETA generally need approval before boarding a flight or ship to South Korea, unless they fall under a temporary K-ETA exemption.
The application fee is 10,000 Korean won, with an additional online payment fee, according to the official K-ETA website. The assessment normally takes 72 hours or less, although the government warns that processing can sometimes take longer.
How long is K-ETA valid?
An approved K-ETA is generally valid for three years, or until the holder’s passport expires if that happens earlier.
However, this does not mean the traveller can remain in South Korea for three years.
The Korean government specifically says the validity period of K-ETA is separate from the visa-free period allowed for each nationality.
For example, a traveller whose nationality has a 30-day visa-free stay cannot remain in Korea for three years simply because their K-ETA remains valid.
Is K-ETA currently required for everyone on the list?
Not necessarily.
South Korea has extended its temporary K-ETA exemption for nationals of designated countries and regions until December 31, 2026.
Travellers whose countries are covered by the temporary exemption can enter without applying for K-ETA during the exemption period, although they may voluntarily apply if they want the benefits associated with K-ETA approval, such as being exempt from submitting an arrival card.
The exact exemption status should therefore be checked before travelling.
What about Nigerians?
Nigeria is not among the eight African countries listed for visa-free entry through this arrangement.
Nigerian ordinary passport holders should therefore not assume that they can enter South Korea using K-ETA simply because some African countries are eligible.
Korea’s official tourism information says most foreign nationals need a valid visa unless they qualify for a visa-waiver arrangement or another exemption.
Nigerians planning a trip to South Korea should therefore check the Korean visa requirements applicable to Nigerian passport holders before making travel arrangements.
What travellers should check before flying
Being from one of the eight countries does not automatically guarantee admission to South Korea.
Travellers should confirm their passport validity, visa-free eligibility, K-ETA status where applicable and the permitted length of stay before travelling.
They should also remember that a K-ETA approval is not itself a guarantee of entry. Final admission remains subject to Korean immigration procedures at the port of entry.
The Korean government also warns travellers to use the official K-ETA website when applying because unofficial websites may charge additional fees.
The current arrangement therefore gives eligible African travellers different options depending on their nationality, with the permitted visa-free stay ranging from 30 days for some countries to 90 days for others.
For Nigerians, however, the key point is that Nigeria is not part of this eight-country African group and Nigerian ordinary passport holders should follow the applicable Korean visa process.