Official System: Korea e-Arrival Card (전자입국신고)
2026 Quick Answer
All foreign nationals entering the Republic of Korea who are subject to arrival declaration—including valid Korean Visa holders (even if also holding a K-ETA), visa-free nationals from the 22 K-ETA temporarily exempt countries entering without a K-ETA, K-ETA age-exempt travelers (under 17 or 65 and older) without a K-ETA, diplomatic/official passport holders without a K-ETA, APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) holders, UN Laissez-Passer holders, active-duty US military under SOFA Article 8, disembarking foreign seafarers, and transit passengers clearing Korean immigration landside. Travelers must submit the Korea e-Arrival Card (전자입국신고) (Within 3 calendar days prior to arrival based on Korea Standard Time (KST Today D, D+1, D+2) up until clearing immigration). This digital declaration replaces: Paper Republic of Korea Arrival Card (selective coexistence with paper card active).
Follow this exact countdown schedule before arriving in South Korea so your QR code is ready prior to airline check-in.
| Timing Before Arrival | Window Status | Required Traveler Action |
|---|---|---|
| Before 3-day official window | Too Early | Prepare your passport and itinerary, or pre-submit early with NomadicMart (from $29) so our queue files automatically as soon as the window opens. |
| Within 3 calendar days prior to arrival based on Korea Standard Time (KST Today D, D+1, D+2) up until clearing immigration | Window Open | Ideal submission window. Complete your Korea e-Arrival Card (전자입국신고) with passport, transport, and accommodation details to receive your digital confirmation. |
| 24 hours to 3 hours before departure | Priority Window | Submit immediately before airline check-in closes and save a screenshot or PDF of your e-Arrival Card confirmation offline. |
| At departure gate / South Korea arrival | Final Cutoff | Airlines and border control officers verify e-Arrival Card completion prior to boarding or at the port of entry. |
Compliance tip: Submission window is strictly 3 days based on Korea Standard Time (KST, UTC+9): KST Today (D), Tomorrow (D+1), and Day after Tomorrow (D+2), and remains valid for 72 hours for a single entry.
Compliance tip: Even if a traveler holds BOTH a valid Korean Visa and a valid K-ETA, Korean Visa rules take precedence and they MUST submit an e-Arrival Card (or paper card).
Compliance tip: Representatives submitting an Individual declaration (up to 9 declarants) or PC Group declaration (2 to 1,000 declarants via Excel template) must be aged 14 or older; children under 14 must be added as companions under an adult/14+ representative.
Compliance tip: Arrival flight numbers must match ^[A-Z0-9]{2}[0-9]{3,4}$ — 1- or 2-digit flight numbers must be left-padded with '0' to 3 digits (e.g., KE1 -> KE001, JQ53 -> JQ053).
Eligible Passports: S.E.S. automated biometric gates are an inspection channel, not an independent arrival card exemption. Most S.E.S. users (ROK citizens, registered ARC/PR holders, valid K-ETA holders) are already exempt; submitting an e-Arrival Card does not automatically enroll a visitor in S.E.S. unless biometrics are registered.
How Airport Clearance Works: S.E.S. automated biometric gates are an inspection channel, not an independent arrival card exemption. Most S.E.S. users (ROK citizens, registered ARC/PR holders, valid K-ETA holders) are already exempt; submitting an e-Arrival Card does not automatically enroll a visitor in S.E.S. unless biometrics are registered.
| Code | Port of Entry | Mode | 2026 Operational Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICN | Incheon International Airport (ICN) — Terminal 1 & Terminal 2 | Air | Primary international hub; official transit address: 272 Gonghang-ro (T1) / 446 Je2terminal-daero (T2), Jung-gu, Incheon (Zip 22382) |
| GMP | Gimpo International Airport (GMP — Seoul) | Air | Seoul city airport; official transit address: 112 Haneul-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Zip 07505) |
| PUS | Gimhae International Airport (PUS — Busan) | Air | Southern Korea international hub; official transit address: 108 Gonghangjinip-ro, Gangseo-gu, Busan (Zip 46718) |
| CJU | Jeju International Airport (CJU) | Air | Jeju Island international gateway; official transit address: 2 Gonghang-ro, Jeju-si (Zip 63115) |
| TAE | Daegu (TAE), Cheongju (CJJ), Muan (MWX) & Yangyang (YNY) International Airports | Air | All 17 Republic of Korea airports are supported by the Korea e-Arrival Card |
| KR-6 | Busan International Passenger Terminal & Incheon International Ferry Terminal | Sea | Select 'Sea (S)' means of travel and enter arrival vessel name (all 102 ROK seaports supported) |
| KR-7 | Jeju, Pyeongtaek, Donghae, Sokcho & Gunsan International Seaports | Sea | International cruise and ferry ports; select 'Sea (S)' means of travel |
Start your declaration on e-arrivalcard.go.kr within 3 calendar days of arrival based on Korea Standard Time (KST Today D, D+1, or D+2). Representatives must be aged 14 or older.
Upload a photo of your passport bio-data page to auto-fill your MRZ details or manually enter your name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and expiry date.
Enter your arrival flight number (pad 1–2 digit flight numbers with leading zeros to 3 digits, e.g. KE001), expected departure date, purpose of visit, Korean hotel/road address (5-digit zip), contact phone, and occupation.
Receive your 14-digit Registration Number (`regNo`) and Issuance Confirmation PDF by email. Your declaration links directly to your passport number in the Ministry of Justice database—no paper printout is required.
Regional & Border Corridor Advisory (Asia-Pacific):
Submission window is strictly 3 days based on Korea Standard Time (KST, UTC+9): KST Today (D), Tomorrow (D+1), and Day after Tomorrow (D+2), and remains valid for 72 hours for a single entry. Even if a traveler holds BOTH a valid Korean Visa and a valid K-ETA, Korean Visa rules take precedence and they MUST submit an e-Arrival Card (or paper card). Representatives submitting an Individual declaration (up to 9 declarants) or PC Group declaration (2 to 1,000 declarants via Excel template) must be aged 14 or older; children under 14 must be added as companions under an adult/14+ representative. Arrival flight numbers must match ^[A-Z0-9]{2}[0-9]{3,4}$ — 1- or 2-digit flight numbers must be left-padded with '0' to 3 digits (e.g., KE1 -> KE001, JQ53 -> JQ053). No official mobile app exists (use mobile web at e-arrivalcard.go.kr), and carrying a printed PDF is not required at immigration as the submission links electronically to your passport number.
If you are entering visa-free with a valid K-ETA and do NOT hold a Korean visa, you are EXEMPT from the Korea e-Arrival Card (update your address/purpose at k-eta.go.kr instead). However, if you hold BOTH a valid Korean Visa and a K-ETA, you MUST submit an e-Arrival Card.
Yes! If you are from one of the 22 K-ETA temporarily exempt countries/regions (such as the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, or Germany) and choose NOT to apply for an optional K-ETA, you MUST submit the free Korea e-Arrival Card within 3 days before arrival.
The Korea e-Arrival Card system requires arrival flight numbers to have a 2-character airline code followed by 3 or 4 digits (`^[A-Z0-9]{2}[0-9]{3,4}$`). Left-pad 1- or 2-digit flight numbers with zeros so the numeric part is 3 digits long (e.g., enter `KE001` instead of `KE1`, or `JQ053` instead of `JQ53`).
No. Under Korean privacy regulations, a declaration representative must be at least 14 years old on the KST submission date. Travelers under 14 must be added as additional declarants (companions) on a parent's or adult representative's declaration.
Use the official airport road address: for Incheon Terminal 1 enter Postal Code `22382`, `272 Gonghang-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon`; for Incheon Terminal 2 enter Postal Code `22382`, `446 Je2terminal-daero, Jung-gu, Incheon`, and write `Incheon Airport (Transit)` in the detailed address field.
No. Your e-Arrival Card is linked directly to your passport number in the Korea Immigration Service database. Simply present your passport to the immigration officer upon arrival.