Last verified: September 20, 2026 · official filing window, exclusions, edit function and paper-card route rechecked
Korea's e-Arrival Card is free. Check whether you need it, then file within the official three-day window using the passport and first-stay information for this trip.
Passport · email address · Korean arrival date and flight/vessel information · purpose of entry · first accommodation name, address and contact information
1. Check Whether You Need to Submit One
| Your entry position | e-Arrival Card |
|---|---|
| Entering with a valid K-ETA | Generally excluded from the arrival-card submission requirement |
| Valid Korean Residence Card holder | Generally excluded |
| Visa holder without another listed exclusion | Generally required |
| Visa-free traveler using the 2026 K-ETA temporary exemption | Generally required unless another exclusion applies |
Special categories also exist. Use the official target guide rather than forcing an unusual case into this table.
Visa/K-ETA: travel authorization route
e-Arrival Card: arrival and stay information for immigration
Customs declaration: goods, currency and restricted items
2. File From Three Days Before Arrival
The official service opens the filing window three days before your Korean arrival date, counted in Korea Standard Time. The submitted card expires after 72 hours or when Korean immigration inspection is completed, whichever occurs first.
Use the arrival date shown on the itinerary for Korea, not the date you leave home. This matters on overnight flights and trips that cross the International Date Line.
3. Use the First Place You Will Actually Stay
If the trip has several hotels, prepare the first Korean accommodation. Copy the property name, address and telephone number from the booking confirmation rather than reconstructing the address at the form.
For a private home, guesthouse or other accommodation, ask the host for the exact address and contact information in advance.
4. Review Passport Data After the Scan
The official site can read passport information from an image, but automatic entry still needs a human check. Compare the full name, passport number, nationality, date of birth and passport expiry against the physical document.
Use the same passport that appears in the airline booking and visa or K-ETA record, where applicable.
5. Update the Record When the Trip Changes
The official e-Arrival service allows travel information to be changed before immigration inspection. If the flight, purpose, first stay or departure plan changes, open the submitted record and align it with the current trip.
The official guide limits arrival-date changes to the filing window associated with the original submission. If the new arrival falls outside that range, follow the current service instructions rather than assuming the old submission remains valid.
Keep the issue number or confirmation email accessible offline. A printed copy is not normally required, but a saved PDF or screenshot prevents an airport connection problem from becoming a document-search problem.
6. Use Only the Free Government Site
The official domain is e-arrivalcard.go.kr. The Korean government currently displays warnings about look-alike commercial services that charge for a filing the government provides free.
Do not enter passport or card details into a site simply because it appears above the government result in search.
7. The Paper Arrival Card Has Not Disappeared From the Official Route
Korea's current official guide states that the electronic and paper arrival declarations have the same effect. If an e-Arrival Card is submitted, a second paper declaration is unnecessary.
That wording is different from claims that every paper arrival card was abolished in 2026. If you cannot use the electronic service, follow the current official or airport instructions for the paper route.
Customs remains separate. Travelers carrying goods, currency or restricted items that trigger a customs declaration must use the Korea Customs process in addition to any arrival-card requirement.
Two short Korea desserts
A clean official performance break after the pre-arrival form.
A city-focused travel film for the hours after immigration.
- Korea e-Arrival Card — Official Main Site
- Korea e-Arrival Card — Filing Guide
- Korea e-Arrival Card — Target Guide
- Korea Customs Service — Travelers
The arrival card does not replace a visa, K-ETA or customs declaration.
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