As of 2026, the paper arrival cards used when entering Korea have completely disappeared, and all foreign visitors must fill out the e-Arrival Card online.
This system was introduced to shorten immigration processing time and increase traveler convenience, and it is available for free through the official website.
Based on my experience helping many foreign friends enter Korea while working in Hongdae, I will summarize how to get approved at once without mistakes.
Generally, you must complete the form within 72 hours before boarding your flight, so please check your travel schedule carefully.
Check out everything from the required items to the step-by-step input method right now.
- Pre-requirements for Filling Out the e-Arrival Card
- Step-by-Step Online Registration Process Guide
- Key Differences Between e-Arrival Card and K-ETA
- Common Mistakes to Avoid During Completion
- Final Verification Method at the Immigration Desk
Checking Pre-requirements for Filling Out the e-Arrival Card
It is a good idea to have some essential information by your side before starting to fill out the e-Arrival Card.
First of all, you need a valid passport, and if you take a clear photo of the passport photo page, it is convenient because information can be automatically entered through the OCR function.
In addition, you definitely need the exact address and contact information of the accommodation where you will stay in Korea, as well as the flight number you will use.
In my opinion, entering the address accurately in Korean or English is the best way to reduce questions during the inspection.
Generally, a completion confirmation number is sent via email, so please also prepare an accessible email account.
Complete Step-by-Step Online Registration Process Guide
The registration process is much simpler than you think and can usually be completed within about 5 minutes.
| Step | Action | Caution |
| 1. Terms | Agree to terms and conditions | All mandatory items must be checked |
| 2. Passport | Scan passport or manual input | Check if name and passport number match |
| 3. Travel | Input purpose and flight number | Select exact purpose like tourism or business |
| 4. Stay | Input address and contact in Korea | Recommend road name address over just hotel name |
| 5. Submit | Review and submit | Save the received number or QR after completion |
Once completed, the system automatically saves the information, and when you scan your passport at the immigration desk, the information appears linked.
Looking at the cases of acquaintances, there are many cases of being flustered at the arrival hall because they didn’t fill it out in advance, so I highly recommend completing it at least at the airport before departure.
Also, since it is a separate system from Q-CODE for checking health status, care is needed not to confuse the two.
Many people confuse the e-Arrival Card with K-ETA, but these two have completely different purposes.
K-ETA is a ‘travel authorization’ concept received in advance by citizens of countries eligible for visa-free entry, and it is valid for 2-3 years once received.
On the other hand, the e-Arrival Card is an ‘entry declaration’ document that must be filled out every time you enter, and you can think of it as a digital version of the paper form.
If you already have a valid K-ETA, you often don’t need to fill out a separate e-Arrival Card, so check your visa status first.
A tip from Andy in Hongdae is that as of 2026, even for countries where K-ETA is temporarily exempt, the e-Arrival Card must be completed.
Final Checklist for Successful e-Arrival Card Submission
Check the items below once more to avoid wasting time at the airport.
- [ ] Check if the official website (e-arrivalcard.go.kr) address is correct (Watch out for scam sites)
- [ ] Check if passport information matches the actual passport exactly without any errors
- [ ] Secure the zip code or road name address of your stay in Korea
- [ ] Capture the confirmation code or QR code sent via email after completion
- [ ] If there are accompanying family members, check if individual or group forms are completed for each person
If you have completed this entire list, the most cumbersome stage of preparing for entry into Korea is over.
Once you get used to the digital system, you can experience a much more pleasant start to your trip than when you used to write on paper with a pen.
I hope you feel Korea’s convenient IT infrastructure from the moment of entry.
If you are curious about Korean visa information in addition to the e-Arrival Card, please refer to the [Korea E-2 Visa Issuance Guide] article.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about e-Arrival Card
Q1. How much does it cost to fill out the e-Arrival Card?
It is completely free. If a site requests payment, it is not the official website, so stop immediately.
Q2. Do children have to fill it out individually as well?
Yes, all entrants must submit information individually, but a guardian can fill it out on their behalf.
Q3. I entered the address wrong; can I edit it?
If it is before the immigration inspection, you can edit it through ‘Check Submission History’ on the website.
Q4. What if I don’t have a smartphone?
You can fill it out on a PC and print it, or use the dedicated kiosks installed in the airport.
Q5. Do I have to show the QR code during the immigration inspection?
Information pops up automatically when scanning the passport, but it is safe to have a QR code capture in case of system errors.
Supporting the start of your trip to Korea, I hope you have an enjoyable visit with the e-Arrival Card.