Korea e-Arrival Card 2026: Do You Need It If K-ETA Is Waived?
TopicEntry requirements
If your nationality is temporarily exempt from K-ETA, you are still generally required to complete an arrival declaration before entering Korea.
For most travelers, the simplest option is the free Korea e-Arrival Card, which you can submit online during the three-day period before arrival.
If you already have a valid K-ETA or a valid Korean Residence Card, you normally do not need to submit an arrival card.
The key point is:
Do You Need an e-Arrival Card?
| Your situation | Arrival declaration needed? |
| Your nationality is temporarily exempt from K-ETA | Yes Unless another exemption applies |
| You have a valid K-ETA | No |
| You have a valid Korean Residence Card | No |
| You are entering Korea with a visa | Yes Generally |
| You are K-ETA exempt but voluntarily obtained a valid K-ETA | No |
Not sure whether you are currently exempt from K-ETA? Check your status on the official K-ETA website rather than relying on an old country list.
K-ETA and the e-Arrival Card Are Different Things
The names make this more confusing than it needs to be.
K-ETA is an electronic travel authorization for eligible travelers entering Korea without a visa.
The e-Arrival Card is the online version of the arrival declaration submitted to Korean immigration.
They are separate systems.
That is why you can be temporarily exempt from K-ETA and still need an arrival declaration.
It also explains why travelers entering visa-free with a valid K-ETA are normally exempt from submitting an arrival card.
What if I am K-ETA exempt but apply anyway?
You can still apply for K-ETA voluntarily while the temporary exemption is in effect.
The application fee is currently KRW 10,000, plus an online payment processing fee, and it is non-refundable.
A valid K-ETA also comes with an exemption from the arrival card requirement.
For most short-term visitors who are already K-ETA exempt, though, paying for K-ETA solely to avoid a free arrival declaration probably adds an extra step rather than removing one.
When Can You Submit the e-Arrival Card?
You can submit it during the three-day period before you arrive in Korea, based on Korea Standard Time.
There is no reason to complete it weeks in advance.
Once submitted, the e-Arrival Card automatically loses its validity 72 hours after submission. Its validity also ends once you complete immigration inspection in Korea.
How to Complete Korea’s e-Arrival Card
The process is short.
| 1 |
Use the official websiteGo to the official Korea e-Arrival Card website. The service is free. Before entering passport details, check that the address is:
The .go.kr ending identifies a Korean government domain. |
That small check matters. Korean immigration authorities have warned travelers about websites that imitate the e-Arrival Card service and charge fees.
| 2 |
Enter your passport and contact informationYou will need a valid passport and an email address. Check that your name and passport details match your passport exactly. |
| 3 |
Add your travel informationEnter your arrival and stay information. The form also asks for travel details related to your trip, with some departure information listed as optional. |
| 4 |
Enter where you are staying in KoreaYou will need to provide your accommodation information in Korea. For most tourists, this will be a hotel, guesthouse or other accommodation. Having the address ready before starting makes the form quicker to complete. |
| 5 |
Check everything and submitReview the information before submitting. You do not need to print the e-Arrival Card for immigration inspection. An issue number is sent to the email address used for the declaration. You are not required to carry the e-Arrival Card itself, although keeping the issue number handy can be useful. |
Can You Still Use a Paper Arrival Card?
As of October 3, 2026, Korea’s official e-Arrival Card guide still refers to the paper arrival card and states that the electronic version has the same validity.
If you submit the e-Arrival Card online, you do not need to fill out another paper arrival card when you arrive.
For most travelers, doing it online before the trip is simply more convenient.
If you are reading this well after the last-checked date at the top of the page, check the official e-Arrival Card guide again before traveling.
Watch Out for Fake e-Arrival Card Websites
This is one part worth checking twice.
Korean immigration authorities have warned travelers about websites impersonating the official e-Arrival Card service.
The real service is free, and the official website is www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr
If a website asks for payment information just to submit an e-Arrival Card, it is not the official service.
Checking the .go.kr government domain is an easy first filter.
What Happens After December 31, 2026?
The current temporary K-ETA exemption runs through December 31, 2026.
That does not automatically mean the exemption will disappear on January 1. The Korean government could extend or change the policy again.
But if you are traveling in 2027, do not assume the rules in this article still apply unchanged.
Before departure, check:
◆whether your nationality is still exempt from K-ETA
◆whether you need to apply for K-ETA
◆whether you still need an arrival declaration
K-ETA and the e-Arrival Card interact with each other, but they are not the same requirement.
If you are entering Korea in 2026 under the temporary K-ETA exemption, the useful rule to remember is:
Once the entry paperwork is done, most first-time visitors have two immediate questions: how to get from the airport into Seoul and how to get mobile data.
For airport transportation, see Incheon Airport to Seoul: AREX, Bus or Taxi?
For mobile data, see Korea eSIM & SIM Cards for Tourists (2026)
Submission timing, electronic and paper declarations, validity, and issue-number guidance.
View the official e-Arrival Card guide
Who needs to submit an arrival declaration and who is exempt.
View the declaration guide
Temporary exemption through December 31, 2026 and voluntary K-ETA applications.
View the official K-ETA notice
Official website address and warning against sites requesting payment.
View the Ministry of Justice warning
