South Korea is implementing for the first time an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system for overseas visitors from September, as the Covid-19 pandemic forces open the way for a policy previously opposed by the country's tourism industry, Reuters reports.

The justice ministry said the system will be a long-term way to pre-emptively head off any contagious disease as well as limit the number of undocumented immigrants, which had risen in the years before the pandemic.

Justice Minister Park Beom-kye told Reuters the system will help sharply cut customs and processing times for travellers and make it a lot more convenient, he added. Before travelling, visitors will need to fill out an online application and pay a 10,000 won ($8.64) fee.

An ETA will be valid for two years with multiple entries.