South Korea Makes e-Arrival Card Mandatory for All Visitors
South Korea has made the electronic e-Arrival Card mandatory for all foreign nationals entering the country, replacing the paper disembarkation card that visitors previously completed aboard their flight. Travellers flying into Seoul via Incheon International Airport, into Busan via Gimhae International, and through other South Korean gateways must now complete the digital form before they land.
The e-Arrival Card must be submitted within three days prior to arrival. It captures the same data that was previously collected on paper: name, passport details, accommodation address in Korea, contact information, and a customs and goods declaration. Submission is through a dedicated government website or official mobile application, and the process takes under five minutes. Printed confirmation is not required; the record is verified digitally at the immigration desk.
How this interacts with the K-ETA exemption
The K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) requirement remains suspended until 31 December 2026 for travellers from 67 eligible countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, and most EU member states. This means most Western visitors can enter South Korea without a K-ETA - but they are now required to complete the e-Arrival Card in its place.
Travellers who have applied for and hold a valid K-ETA are exempt from completing the e-Arrival Card, as the K-ETA system already collects equivalent data. From 1 January 2027, the K-ETA exemption ends and all previously exempt nationalities will need to apply before travel.
For a full breakdown of what first-time visitors to South Korea need to prepare - from SIM cards and transport passes to cultural customs - our beginner’s guide covers the essentials.
Arrival at the airport
The digital card is scanned at immigration rather than collected by hand, reducing paper processing time. Incheon International Airport, which handles the bulk of international arrivals, has expanded automated passport control lanes to manage the high summer volumes. Travellers who arrive without completing the e-Arrival Card may face secondary processing and longer delays. We recommend completing the form during your outbound journey or in the days before departure.
Demand for flights to South Korea is at a summer high in 2026 after the country recorded 4.76 million inbound visitors in Q1 alone - a 23% increase on the previous year. Incheon is operating near peak capacity, making advance digital preparation more important than usual.