The Korea e-Arrival Card is an online entry declaration for foreign travelers entering South Korea.
The official service is free, and the only official website is www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr.
Do not enter your passport or payment information on a website that asks you to pay an e-Arrival Card application fee. The Korean Ministry of Justice warned in March 2026 that fake websites impersonating the official service had been discovered.
You can submit the form from a computer or smartphone within the official three-day submission window before immigration inspection.
This guide was checked against official Korea Immigration Service information on September 4, 2026. Entry requirements can change, so check the official website again before traveling.
Quick Answer: Do I Need a Korea e-Arrival Card?
You generally need to submit an entry declaration if you are a foreign national entering South Korea and do not fall under an exemption.
Travelers who may need to submit the e-Arrival Card include:
- Foreign travelers entering Korea with a valid Korean visa
- Travelers from countries temporarily exempt from applying for K-ETA
- Travelers who are under 17 or over 65 and therefore exempt from applying for K-ETA
- Holders of certain diplomatic or official passports
- Some SOFA military personnel, UN passport holders, ABTC holders, and seafarers
Use the e-Arrival Card Navigator on the official website if you are unsure.
Who Is Exempt?
According to the official Korea e-Arrival Card eligibility guide, excluded categories include:
- Citizens of the Republic of Korea
- Holders of a valid Korean Residence Card
- Holders of a valid Korean Permanent Resident Card
- Holders of a valid Overseas Korean Resident Card
- Travelers who hold an approved and valid K-ETA
- Certain group visa holders
- Eligible visa-free group tourists at designated airports
- Foreign airline crew members entering Korea
Exemptions depend on the documents and immigration status you will use when entering Korea. Do not rely only on your nationality. Check the official navigator using documents that will still be valid on your arrival date.
K-ETA Exempt Is Not the Same as Holding a Valid K-ETA
This is one of the most important distinctions for travelers in 2026.
Korea has extended the temporary K-ETA application exemption for eligible countries and regions through December 31, 2026.
- K-ETA exempt: You do not have to apply for K-ETA, but you are generally still required to submit an arrival declaration.
- Valid K-ETA holder: You are normally exempt from submitting the e-Arrival Card.
There is an additional exception. The official eligibility guide states that travelers who hold a K-ETA but enter Korea using a visa must complete the e-Arrival Card.
If you are uncertain, use the official navigator instead of assuming that K-ETA exemption also means e-Arrival Card exemption.
When Can I Submit the e-Arrival Card?
Submit it within the three-day period shown on the official website before entering Korea.
For example, the Ministry of Justice explains that a traveler arriving on March 31 can submit the form on March 29, March 30, or March 31.
The e-Arrival Card remains valid for 72 hours from the time of submission. If you do not enter Korea within that period, it expires and you must submit a new declaration.
You can also complete the declaration after arriving in Korea, but it must be submitted before immigration inspection. Completing it before your flight can help you avoid delays after arrival.
What Do I Need Before Starting?
- The valid passport you will use to enter Korea
- An accurate email address
- Your expected arrival and departure dates
- Your flight or ship numbers
- Your primary accommodation address and contact number in Korea
- Your purpose of entry and occupation information
If you will stay at several locations, enter your primary accommodation. If you do not have one primary location, enter the first place where you will stay after arriving in Korea.
How to Submit the Korea e-Arrival Card
Step 1: Open the Official Website
Go directly to www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr.
Check that the address ends in e-arrivalcard.go.kr before entering passport information. The official service does not charge an application or processing fee.
Step 2: Choose an Individual or Group Declaration
The portal provides separate options for individual and group declarations. An individual declaration can include up to nine travelers, while the portal provides a separate group function for larger groups.
If you are submitting forms for family members, the official guidance says they should share the same arrival date and flight number.
Step 3: Enter Your Email Address
Accept the required terms and enter an email address you can access. Your issuance number and expiration information can be sent to this address, so check the spelling carefully.
Step 4: Enter Your Passport Information
Upload a clear image of your passport information page or enter the information manually when the system permits it.
When uploading an image, include the entire Machine Readable Zone at the bottom of the passport page. If it is cut off or unclear, the system may not read your information correctly.
Make sure your full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, passport expiration date, and other details match the passport you will present at immigration.
Step 5: Enter Your Travel and Accommodation Information
Enter the arrival, departure, flight or ship, and accommodation details requested by the form. Use confirmed information from your booking instead of guessing.
If your accommodation, occupation, or purpose of entry changes after submission, you can edit the declaration before completing immigration inspection.
Step 6: Review and Submit
Review every field before submitting. Pay particular attention to your passport number, full name, arrival date, flight or ship number, accommodation address, and email address. Incorrect information can delay immigration inspection.
Is the Official e-Arrival Card Free?
Yes. The Korean government’s official e-Arrival Card service is free.
The Ministry of Justice issued a warning on March 9, 2026 after discovering websites impersonating the official service. The warning states that any website requesting payment information is not the official service.
Do not assume that the first sponsored or advertised search result is the government website.
Do I Have to Wait for Approval?
The e-Arrival Card is an entry declaration, not a travel authorization application.
After properly submitting the declaration, you do not need to wait for a separate approval decision. This is different from K-ETA, which is an electronic travel authorization.
Submitting an e-Arrival Card does not guarantee entry. The final immigration decision is made during entry inspection.
Do I Need to Print It?
No. According to the official Ministry of Justice guide, you can complete immigration inspection without presenting a downloaded PDF or screenshot of the e-Arrival Card.
Keeping your issuance number, confirmation email, PDF, or screenshot can still be useful if you need to check or edit the declaration.
Can I Edit the Form After Submission?
Yes. You can check and edit a submitted e-Arrival Card before immigration inspection by using your issuance number or email verification in the official Check/Edit service.
If you submit another declaration using the same personal information before the original expires, only the newest submission will be accessible.
Can Someone Else Submit It for Me?
The official guidance states that a third party may submit the declaration when a traveler cannot complete it because of unavoidable circumstances.
However, the information is treated as if it were provided by the traveler. Incorrect information may cause delays or other problems during entry inspection, so the traveler should check all details.
Do I Need a New Card Every Time I Enter Korea?
Yes. The e-Arrival Card is valid for one entry. You must submit a new declaration when entering Korea again unless you qualify for an exemption at that time.
Before You Fly: Final Checklist
- Confirm whether you must submit an entry declaration.
- Use the official navigator if you are uncertain.
- Use only the official government website.
- Never pay an e-Arrival Card submission fee.
- Prepare your passport, email, travel, and accommodation information.
- Check your passport number before submitting.
- Save your issuance number or confirmation email.
- Submit a new form if the 72-hour validity period expires.
- Recheck the official requirements before departure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Korea e-Arrival Card mandatory in 2026?
Foreign travelers who are required to submit an entry declaration must complete it before immigration inspection. Travelers with a valid Korean residence card, valid K-ETA, or another recognized exemption may not need it. Use the official navigator to confirm.
Do K-ETA-exempt travelers need an e-Arrival Card?
Generally, yes. Temporary exemption from applying for K-ETA is different from holding an approved and valid K-ETA.
Do valid K-ETA holders need an e-Arrival Card?
Valid K-ETA holders are normally excluded. However, a person holding K-ETA who enters Korea using a visa must complete the e-Arrival Card.
How much does the e-Arrival Card cost?
The official service is free. A website requesting payment information is not the official government service.
How early can I submit it?
Use the three-day submission window displayed on the official website. The declaration is valid for 72 hours from submission.
Can I submit the form after arriving in Korea?
Yes, but it must be completed before immigration inspection.
Do I need to print the confirmation?
No. A printed copy, PDF, or screenshot is not required for immigration inspection.
Can I change my hotel after submitting?
You can edit permitted information before immigration inspection through the official Check/Edit service.
Can I complete the forms for my family?
Yes. An individual declaration can cover up to nine travelers. Family members submitted together should have the same arrival date and flight number.
Official Information
- Official Korea e-Arrival Card website
- Official declaration eligibility guide
- Korea Immigration Service fake website warning
- Official K-ETA temporary exemption notice
Last checked: September 4, 2026. Immigration requirements, exemptions, and website procedures may change. Verify the official information again before traveling.
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