The paper arrival card you used to fill out on the plane to Korea is gone. Since the start of 2026, every short-term visitor submits an e-Arrival Card online instead — and doing it right takes about five minutes.
The short answer: fill out Korea's free e-Arrival Card on the official e-Arrival Card website (e-arrivalcard.go.kr) within three days before you land. Enter your passport details, flight number, travel dates, purpose of visit, and your accommodation address in Korea, then save the confirmation. The card stays valid for 72 hours. Registered Korean residents, valid K-ETA holders, and airline crew do not need one.
Entry rules change — double-check with the official K-ETA site or Korean embassy before your trip.
Photo: Bonnielou2013, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What is Korea's e-Arrival Card?
Korea's e-Arrival Card is the digital entry declaration that replaced the paper arrival cards handed out on flights. It launched on February 24, 2025, and the paper form was discontinued on January 1, 2026 — in 2026 the online card is the only option.
The system belongs to Korea's Ministry of Justice and exists to speed up immigration: officers no longer scan paper forms one by one, so the line moves faster. Submission is free — the official service never asks for payment — and the website works in seven languages: Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Russian.
Who needs to submit it, and who is exempt?
Foreign nationals visiting Korea for short stays of up to 90 days must submit the card — tourists, business travelers, and other short-term visitors. A few groups are exempt.
| Must submit | Exempt |
|---|---|
| Tourists and other short-term visitors (stays up to 90 days) | Registered residents of Korea, including permanent resident card and overseas Korean resident card holders |
| Business travelers on short trips | Holders of a valid K-ETA |
| Visitors entering for family visits, conferences, or short study | Airline crew members |
| Certain tourist and student groups designated by the authorities |
When should you submit the e-Arrival Card?
Submit it within the three days before your arrival, counted in Korean Standard Time. The portal only offers arrival dates inside that window, so doing it a week early does not work.
Once submitted, the card is valid for 72 hours. If you do not enter Korea within 72 hours — after a long delay, for example — the card expires and you must submit a new one. The practical move: fill it out the day before you fly, when your flight details are final.
Photo: Narubaru7, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How do you fill it out, field by field?
The form takes about five minutes if you have your passport and booking confirmation open. Here is each section in order.
1. Choose individual or group declaration
The portal offers an Individual or a Group declaration. One person can submit for several travelers at once — that is how families file together. Enter a representative email address twice; the confirmation and edit links go there, so a typo locks you out of your own form.
2. Enter your passport details
You can scan the passport photo page with your phone camera and the form fills itself in, or type everything manually. Either way, compare every character against the passport: the classic errors are the letter O versus the digit 0, extra spaces in the name, and the date of birth in the wrong order.
3. Enter your arrival and departure details
Add your scheduled arrival date and your flight number (or vessel number for ferries). Copy the flight number exactly from your booking — the marketing and operating flight numbers can differ on codeshares. Then give your scheduled departure date from Korea; for connecting flights, use the final segment that leaves the country.
4. State your purpose and occupation
Pick the purpose that matches your actual trip — tourism, business, visiting family, study, or other — and the closest occupation category. Keep the purpose consistent with the visa or visa-free basis you are entering on.
5. Enter your accommodation address
This is the field people get wrong most often. Copy the Korean address and phone number straight from your hotel or host booking confirmation. If the booking shows a road address, building name, and room details in an unfamiliar order, enter them in the order shown — do not rearrange or abbreviate.
6. Review and submit
Read the whole form once against your passport and booking before tapping submit. After submission, save the PDF and the issue number, and keep the confirmation email. You do not need to print anything — the data is already linked to your passport — but the issue number is how you check or edit the form later.
What are the most common mistakes?
Almost every problem at the counter traces back to one of these errors:
| Mistake | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| Typos in the passport number | Compare every character with the passport page; watch O versus 0 |
| Wrong email address | Type it twice carefully — confirmations and edit links go there |
| Wrong flight number | Copy it from your airline booking, not from memory |
| Incomplete or rearranged accommodation address | Copy the address exactly as shown on your booking confirmation |
| Submitting too early | Submit only within three days before arrival (Korean time) |
| Purpose that does not match your visa | Enter the real purpose of the trip and keep it consistent |
Photo: Narubaru7, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What if you forgot to submit it?
Do not panic. If you forgot to submit the e-Arrival Card before your flight, you can still do it on your phone at the airport before reaching the immigration counters. Recent guidance notes that failing to submit before boarding does not by itself prevent entry — but it slows you down at busy terminals. Submit it while you wait in line and you will still be fine.
How do families submit the card?
Use the group declaration option to file for everyone traveling together. Children under 14 cannot submit for themselves — a family member or another adult completes the form on their behalf. Each trip needs its own card, so a family returning to Korea later in the year files again.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to print the e-Arrival Card?
No. A PDF download or screenshot is fine for your own reference, but nothing needs to be printed or shown. Your details are already linked to your passport.
I have a valid K-ETA. Do I still need the e-Arrival Card?
No — valid K-ETA holders are exempt. If your K-ETA has expired, you need the card like any other short-term visitor.
Can I change my e-Arrival Card after submitting it?
Yes. Check your submission with your issue number or email verification, and if your plans change — new flight, new hotel — submit a new form with the updated information.
What if my flight is delayed past the 72-hour validity?
The card expires. Submit a fresh e-Arrival Card with your new arrival details before you reach immigration.
Do transit passengers need an e-Arrival Card?
Not if you stay inside the international transit area without clearing immigration. If you enter Korea — even for a layover tour — submit the card.
Related guides
K-ETA Explained: Who Needs It and How to Apply