Come January 2026, the new digital system will be the only way foreign tourists can submit their arrival form in South Korea.
Traveling to South Korea soon? Besides getting your visa, K-pop-inspired outfits, and K-drama itinerary ready, the country has announced another travel essential that you must now prepare to start off every trip: the South Korea Electronic Arrival Card.
The e-Arrival Card is a digital online form designed to replace the traditional paper arrival forms that tourists are required to fill out upon arrival in the country. Launched by South Korea’s Ministry of Justice earlier this week, the new digital system has been in place since Feb. 24 and will be the only method for foreign tourists to submit their arrival details by January 2026.
It aims to simplify South Korea’s immigration clearance process and ensure a smoother travel experience for international tourists. With the digital procedure now in place, South Korea aligns itself with Australia, Cambodia, Canada, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and the United States which all have similar systems that streamline arrival procedures for an easier, faster, and more eco-friendly trip.
If you’re planning to visit South Korea, here’s everything you must know about the e-Arrival Card before jetting off to your next Hallyu adventure.
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Who is required to submit the e-Arrival Card?
The short answer: Any foreign traveler entering the country. Under the new digital system, international visitors flying to South Korea for a short-term stay of up to 90 days are required to submit an e-arrival card. The same goes for those staying longer if they do not have a residence permit in Korea.
If you’re traveling with a kid below 14 years old, you or any family member must complete the declaration form on their behalf. For those traveling as a group, a single adult can already apply for multiple people at once.
Meanwhile, there is no need for you to register if you have a valid Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA), you are an airline crew member, or are a registered resident of South Korea, including holders of a Permanent Resident Card and Overseas Korean Resident Card.
When to submit the form
Unlike other countries, tourists can register for South Korea’s e-Arrival card for up to three days before their arrival. This means you can still apply for one even on the day of your arrival itself. Make sure, though, not to submit the form more than the required 72-hour period, as the card will no longer be valid by the time you arrive.
To help minimize confusion on South Kora’s shift from traditional paper to digital arrival form, the ministry is still allowing paper-based arrival cards until December this year. The forms are available at the immigration area of any airport in South Korea.
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How to apply for an e-arrival card
To get things started, visit the e-Arrival Card website, www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr, on your mobile or PC. You can also access the website by scanning the QR code provided by South Korean authorities on this website.
Once you’re there, you will be given the option to apply for an individual e-Arrival Card or register for a group. Select which one applies to you, and proceed to the application.
In the first step, you will be required to read the terms and conditions and agree to them before proceeding. Next, upload a clear photo or scanned copy of your passport’s data page. The system will automatically extract all needed information using Optical Character Recognition.
For the third step, you will be asked to provide your travel details, such as the departure and arrival dates, airlines, flight numbers, purpose of stay in South Korea, local accommodation address, and contact details.
Once you’re done, review the information you provided and submit the form. Then, proceed to check your e-mail for your completed e-Arrival Card. Download the PDF version or take a screenshot before presenting it at immigration on the day of your arrival. If you need to change anything on your e-Arrival Card, you can go back to the website and update it before going through passport control and immigration at the airport.
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