Planning a trip to South Korea? Whether you need an e-Arrival Card depends on your immigration status and the valid documents you will use to enter. Being temporarily exempt from K-ETA does not automatically mean you are exempt from the arrival declaration.
The government service is free. Before your flight, check your eligibility, the available submission dates and the information you need. This guide explains the public instructions; it is not an account of a completed application or an individual immigration decision.
What is the Korea e-Arrival Card?
It is South Korea's online arrival declaration system. Travelers who need an arrival declaration can provide their information electronically before immigration inspection. It is a separate process from obtaining a visa or K-ETA.
Prepare a valid passport, a working email address, arrival date and flight number, departure plans, accommodation address in Korea and contact details. The form also asks about your visit and occupation. Have your booking details ready so you can check what you enter.
Who needs to submit it?
Foreign travelers generally need an arrival declaration unless an exemption applies. Use the official navigator for your actual situation rather than assuming everyone needs the same documents.
| Your situation | What to check |
|---|---|
| Temporarily exempt from applying for K-ETA, with no other declaration exemption | An arrival declaration is generally still required |
| Valid approved K-ETA used for visa-free entry | Generally exempt from the arrival declaration |
| Valid Korean residence card, permanent resident card or overseas Korean resident card | Check the residence-card exemption rules |
| Entering using a visa, even if you also hold K-ETA | The official guide says an e-Arrival Card is required |
| Crew member or another special category | Check the exact official exemption; do not assume all crew qualify |
Keep the distinction between K-ETA exemption and holding an approved K-ETA clear. They are different situations. Your visa requirements must also be checked separately.
When should you submit it?
The official FAQ describes a three-calendar-day submission window including the arrival date, based on Korean Standard Time. Do not interpret “three days before arrival” as an extra day earlier than the example shown by the government.
| Illustrative arrival date | Submission dates using the official FAQ's counting method |
|---|---|
| November 10, 2026 | November 8, 9 or 10 |
This is an explanatory date example, not a confirmed travel booking. Check the official homepage's available arrival dates when completing your own declaration.
The 72-hour validity period after submission is a separate condition. A declaration expires after 72 hours or once immigration inspection is completed. If you do not enter within its validity period, submit a new declaration. Do not reuse a previous trip's declaration for a new entry.
What should you prepare?
| Item | Practical check before opening the form |
|---|---|
| Passport | Use the valid passport you will travel with |
| Check that you can receive the submission notice | |
| Arrival | Have the Korean arrival date and flight number ready |
| Accommodation | Copy the actual hotel or host address and contact details from your booking |
| Departure plans | Prepare the departure date and follow the form's instructions for flight information |
How to complete the application
- Open the official e-Arrival Card website. Select English if needed.
- Choose individual submission if appropriate for your party.
- Read the terms and enter a reachable email address if you agree to proceed.
- Enter your passport information. If you upload the passport page for recognition, check the extracted details against the passport.
- Provide the requested arrival, departure, accommodation and other travel information.
- Review the details and submit.
These steps summarize the published procedure; wording and layout may change. The service supports passport-image recognition and manual entry, but automatically filled information still needs checking.
The submission details, including the issue number, can be saved as a PDF and are sent by email as described by the service. You are not required to bring a printed declaration to immigration inspection. Keeping the issue number accessible may help with checking your submission.
Roadpick does not accept passport uploads, issue numbers or arrival declarations. Enter that information only on the official government service.
Is the Korea e-Arrival Card free?
Yes. The official government service charges no e-Arrival Card fee. Its domain is www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr. If a page requests payment, stop and check both the website address and which procedure you have opened. Do not confuse the free arrival declaration with a paid K-ETA application or a third-party service.
How is it different from K-ETA?
| Topic | K-ETA | e-Arrival Card |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Electronic travel authorization for travelers covered by its rules | Arrival declaration for immigration inspection |
| Fee | An application fee applies when applying | Official service is free |
| Temporary exemption | Applies to designated nationalities through December 31, 2026, under the current notice | K-ETA temporary exemption does not itself remove this requirement |
| Valid approved K-ETA | Check that it applies to the passport and entry method you are using | Generally removes the declaration requirement for visa-free entry, with exceptions such as visa-based entry |
Check your nationality and travel circumstances before departure. The 2026 temporary exemption is not a visa waiver for every passport. Do not assume it continues into 2027 without a new official announcement.
Official K-ETA temporary-exemption notice
Frequently asked questions
Can I submit the form on my phone?
Yes. The government service supports mobile browsers as well as desktop browsers. Its FAQ says mobile submission supports up to nine people at once. Follow the service's representative and group-submission rules.
Do I need to pay?
No. Submitting the e-Arrival Card through the official government service is free.
Can I change my hotel information after submitting?
The official guide allows certain details, including accommodation information, to be checked and edited before immigration inspection. Changes are subject to its rules; the arrival-date field has a separate restriction. Check the current instructions if your itinerary changes.
Do all travelers need both K-ETA and the e-Arrival Card?
No. Valid K-ETA holders entering without a visa are generally exempt from the declaration. Travelers using a temporary K-ETA exemption may still need a declaration. Check the eligibility guide rather than applying for both automatically.
What if I forgot to submit before my flight?
The official FAQ allows electronic submission after arrival but before immigration inspection. Prepare in advance when possible, and follow the current airport instructions. This guide does not guarantee that a particular paper-form option will remain available.
What to read next
The following are future Roadpick article ideas. They are not yet linked as published guides:
- How to use NAVER Map in Korea
- Incheon Airport to Seoul transportation guide
- Korea tax refund and shopping guide
- K-ETA eligibility explained
Official sources and review date
- Official e-Arrival Card guide: fees, issue number, validity and edits
- Official eligibility guide: declaration and exemption categories
- Official FAQ: submission-date example and mobile use
- Official submission procedure: information entry and submission
- K-ETA temporary-exemption notice
Last checked: November 1, 2026. This operator-supplied draft was checked against the public government instructions, with the submission-date example and visa-entry exception clarified. Images are reference material, not evidence of a completed application. This page does not update automatically.
Entry requirements can change and depend on nationality, passport, immigration status and travel purpose. Check the official government service for your circumstances before departure.