Korea Electronic Arrival Card: How and When to Submit It

South Korea's e-Arrival card is a free online replacement for the paper arrival card, not a visa or K-ETA application. If you are required to submit an arrival card, complete it on the official government website from three days before arrival, including the day you land. Do not pay a third-party site to do it.

First, check whether you need it

The e-Arrival card follows the same basic obligation as the old paper card. Korea Immigration says foreign nationals are generally subject to the arrival-card requirement, but registered foreigners, valid K-ETA holders, airline crew and some other categories are exempt. Your visa status and nationality can affect other entry requirements, so do not treat this form as a complete entry checklist.

Use the official e-Arrival card portal. The site explicitly warns about imitation services that request payment. The government service is free. If a website asks for card details merely to file an arrival declaration, leave it and check the URL carefully.

When to submit

You can submit from three days before arrival in Korea. In practical terms, use Korean time and submit on arrival day, one day before or two days before. The submitted information is valid for 72 hours, so filing it a week early does not work. If you do not arrive within that period, submit a new card.

Complete it when your flight and first-night address are settled. You can use a computer or mobile browser. Filing it at home gives you time to correct passport spelling, look up your accommodation address and avoid airport Wi-Fi problems.

What to prepare

Have these details ready:

• A valid passport and its biographical information.
• Flight or vessel arrival details and planned departure information.
• Purpose of visit, Korean address and a contact number.
• An email address for confirmation and later retrieval.

The official process asks you to accept the terms, enter passport details, add travel and stay information, review it and submit. Keep the confirmation email, PDF or screenshot available. Immigration guidance says you can download a PDF or take a screenshot after submission, although an officer can normally retrieve the filed information electronically.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not confuse the e-Arrival card with a K-ETA, visa, customs declaration or health form. They have different purposes. A K-ETA holder may be exempt from the arrival card while still needing to meet all normal entry conditions. Conversely, completing an arrival card does not grant permission to enter.

Enter the address of your first accommodation, not a vague city name. If a hotel booking changes after submission, use the portal's lookup and edit function where available, or complete the form again if required. For minors, a parent or guardian can submit; group and assisted submission options exist, but verify every traveller's passport details individually.

At immigration, present your passport and answer questions normally. The electronic form reduces paper handling; it does not eliminate inspection. For the latest exemptions and procedures, rely on the Korea Immigration guidance, not social-media screenshots from an earlier policy cycle.