South Korea Arrival Card 2026: How to Fill It In & Entry Tips

With a population of 51.8 million, South Korea is a peninsula with just one land border, with North Korea to the north, and is otherwise surrounded by water. Despite its relatively small size, the country has plenty to offer, with its rich culture and 17 sites classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In 2024 alone, 16.37 million international tourists visited South Korea.

However, South Korea can be a little confusing for visitors. There are two different registration systems to be aware of: the Korea Electronic Arrival Card (E-Arrival Card) and the Korea Electronic Travel Authorisation (K-ETA). We explain what they are, which rules you need to know, and what applies to UK visitors to South Korea.

🤔 What is the South Korea Electronic Arrival Card?

The South Korea Arrival Card is an arrival card for foreign visitors to the country. Since 1 January 2026, it has only been available in electronic form, meaning it must be completed online. The Arrival Card is issued by South Korea’s Ministry of Justice and is free of charge.

The electronic E-Arrival Card has been available since 24 February 2025, including for passengers arriving at Seoul Incheon Airport. The South Korea Arrival Card is available for both individual travellers (1–9 people, including family members) and travel groups (2–1,000 people).

Now, all you need is our Trip.com South Korea Arrival Card guide:

✈️ South Korea Arrival Card vs K-ETA: what's the difference?

The Arrival Card is a standard entry formality, while the Korea Electronic Travel Authorisation (K-ETA) is an entry authorisation. In other words, travellers apply in advance for permission to enter South Korea. However, this is not the only difference:

⁉️ Do British citizens need a K-ETA in 2026?

In short, NO! However, there is a big 'but'. The South Korean Ministry of Justice explicitly points out that a K-ETA is required for all citizens of a country that benefits from visa-free entry. This includes UK, US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Singapore, in addition to numerous EU states.

However, the South Korean government has launched an initiative to boost tourism, which waives the K-ETA requirement for residents of 67 countries. These 67 countries include the UK and the US. This measure to waive the K-ETA requirement has been extended until the end of 2026.

🤨 I have a K-ETA: Do I also need a South Korea Arrival Card?

No, if you possess a K-ETA, you do NOT need an Arrival Card. The South Korean Ministry of Justice points this out several times. This important point is highlighted in the explanatory video, for example, and is also mentioned multiple times on the E-Arrival Card website (both in English). This will also be confirmed to you as a result in the “E-Arrival Card Navigator” tool if you click on “K-ETA holder”.

💻 In what format is the Korea Arrival Card completed?

Since 1 January 2026, the South Korea Arrival Card can only be applied for or created online. This means the classic paper forms are no longer available. The Arrival Card is created directly on the official website of the South Korean Ministry of Justice. You should allow about 5-10 minutes for the entire process.

💰 How much does the South Korea Arrival Card cost?

The Arrival Card is free of charge for you, so unlike the K-ETA, you do not need to make any payments, nor will you be asked to make one. As you will notice when you first open the official E-Arrival Card website (link in English), there is already a warning waiting for you on this topic.

Fake websites are increasingly posing as the E-Arrival Card website and demanding payment from visitors. If you are asked to make a payment, you have therefore definitely ended up on one of these fake websites.

⚠️ Who needs a South Korea Arrival Card?

While the official video description for the South Korea Arrival Card emphasises that it is required by all foreigners, there are exceptions. We will look at these separately in a moment. Generally speaking, however, the statement is correct, as an Arrival Card is not required by Korean citizens.

For British citizens, the current rule is that they require an Arrival Card. However, this only applies as long as the K-ETA requirement is suspended. Should the currently applicable exemption expire on 31 December 2026 and NOT be extended again, the K-ETA requirement will apply once more from 1 January 2027.

This would simultaneously mean that British citizens no longer need an Arrival Card, but must instead go through the paid K-ETA process.

☝️ These travellers are exempt from the Korea E-Arrival Card

There are several clearly defined exemptions from the Korea Arrival Card, including South Korean citizens. However, they are not the only travellers who do not need an E-Arrival Card. The following groups are also exempt from completing an Arrival Card before entering South Korea:

• K-ETA holders
• Airline crew members
• Foreign nationals staying in South Korea long term or permanently, such as visa holders or Korea Residence Card holders
• Transit passengers who remain in a transit area, such as at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, and do not formally enter South Korea
• Group travellers with an e-visa from China, the Philippines, Vietnam or Indonesia

❓ How do you fill in the South Korea Arrival Card?

The South Korea Arrival Card is completed online. Since the beginning of 2026, there has been no paper version of the arrival card. You therefore need a PC, Mac, smartphone or tablet to complete your Korea Arrival Card.

Unlike Singapore, there is also no dedicated app. Even on a smartphone, you must complete the Arrival Card directly on the official website of South Korea’s Ministry of Justice. There are two options: an individual application or a group application. Trip.com explains how both options work in the following sections.

❗️ What information do you need for your South Korea Arrival Card application?

To simplify the process of creating a Korea E-Arrival Card, we recommend having all the required details to hand in advance. Once you have done this, you can create your arrival card in just 5-10 minutes. So, let's take a look at what details you need to provide and what information you will therefore need:

• ✅ Your travel details, consisting of arrival and departure dates, flight information, method of travel (by ship or plane), etc.
• ✅ Your passport, as you'll need to take a photo and upload it
• ✅ Your personal details such as date of birth, citizenship, passport number, etc.
• ✅ Your profession, the reason for your trip, place of residence, and email address

📋 How to complete the Korea E-Arrival Card online: A step-by-step guide by Trip.com

You complete the application for your South Korea arrival card by selecting from predefined answers or the situation that applies to you from a drop-down menu. Only a few fields (e.g., the hotel address) actually need to be filled in by you.

We’ll explain exactly how it all works right here:

• 1️⃣ Step: Open the official website of the Korean Ministry of Justice to apply for the Arrival Card
• 2️⃣ Step: Select “Individual” or “Group Arrival Card” and click on “Submit”
• 3️⃣ Step: On the next page, accept the T&Cs by ticking the box and enter your email address
• 4️⃣ Step: Next, upload a photo of the first page of your passport
• 5️⃣ Step: Now start filling in the fields by entering your personal details, selecting your method of travel, etc.
• 6️⃣ Step: At the end, you will receive an email confirming that your e-Arrival Card has been successfully created
• 7️⃣ Step: The information you provided will be displayed to the immigration officer when your passport is scanned, so you don't need to present a QR code or similar

📋 How to complete the Korea E-Arrival Card on a mobile device: A step-by-step guide by Trip.com

You can create your South Korea Arrival Card not only with a PC or Mac, but also with a smartphone or tablet. However, bear in mind that there is no official app for iOS or Android devices. Therefore, you must proceed in a similar way to that described above:

• 1️⃣ Step: Open a browser app of your choice on your smartphone or tablet (e.g. Chrome or Safari)
• 2️⃣ Step: Load the official Korea E-Arrival Card website now
• 3️⃣ Step: Tap “Individual” or “Group Arrival Card” and then “Submit”
• 4️⃣ Step: Next, take a photo of the first page of your passport and upload it
• 5️⃣ Step: Now, gradually fill in the individual fields regarding yourself and your travel details
• 6️⃣ Step: At the end, you will receive a confirmation email again

⏰ When do I need to apply for the Korea e-Arrival Card?

The Korea e-Arrival Card can be completed within 3 days before your arrival in South Korea. The official website shows the available entry dates under “Dates Available for Entry Declaration” in the top-left corner, so you can easily check when you can submit your card.

🛃 Can I apply for a Korea e-Arrival Card after arriving at the airport?

Yes. The e-Arrival Card can be submitted online up to the point of immigration. This means you could complete it on your smartphone or tablet after leaving the aircraft at Incheon Airport. However, we recommend not leaving it until the last minute. To be safe, complete your e-Arrival Card 2–3 days before arriving in South Korea.

🛂 South Korea entry requirements for British citizens

Due to the current K-ETA suspension, which is in effect until the end of 2026, British citizens only need to apply for the Arrival Card before travelling to South Korea. British citizens can enter South Korea visa-free for up to 90 days for short-term business or tourism. The following documents are required for this:

• A passport (for tourist stays of up to 90 days, it must remain valid until the date you leave South Korea)
• A child's passport, which must also meet the same validity requirements

💡 Tips for your trip to South Korea

Finally, we have put together a few tips for your trip to South Korea, and they are as follows:

• Fingerprints and a photo are taken as part of immigration checks when entering South Korea.
• Always carry some Korean won in cash, especially if you plan to try South Korea’s street food.
• Wi-Fi is widely available throughout South Korea.
• Take extra care when travelling in winter, as temperatures in South Korea can get very cold.

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