Short answer: a Korea e-Arrival Card and a K-ETA are not the same document. A K-ETA is an electronic travel authorization for eligible visa-free travelers. The e-Arrival Card is an arrival declaration that replaces the paper arrival card. If you enter Korea using a valid K-ETA, you normally do not submit an arrival card. If your nationality is temporarily exempt from K-ETA through December 31, 2026 and you travel without a K-ETA, you normally submit an e-Arrival Card instead.
Checked July 21, 2026
This guide was checked against the official Korea e-Arrival Card guide, declaration navigator, K-ETA temporary-exemption notice and Korea Immigration Service fake-site warning. Entry rules can change. Use the official navigator for your passport and status, and contact the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 for an individual edge case.
e-Arrival Card vs K-ETA: the simple decision table
| Your status for this trip | K-ETA | e-Arrival Card |
|---|---|---|
| Your nationality currently requires K-ETA and is not exempt | Apply and receive approval before travel | Not required when entering with the valid K-ETA |
| Your nationality is covered by the temporary K-ETA exemption through December 31, 2026 | Not required during the exemption period | Normally required if you travel without a K-ETA |
| You already hold a valid K-ETA and enter using it | Use the valid K-ETA | Not required |
| You hold a valid Korean visa and enter using the visa | Not the document used for that entry | Required |
| You hold a valid Korean Residence Card, Permanent Resident Card or Overseas Korean Resident Card | Not relevant to this arrival-card decision | Not required |
| You are a citizen of the Republic of Korea entering with a Korean passport | Not required | Not required |
This table covers the situations most short-term visitors encounter. Diplomatic or service passports, military status, UN travel documents, APEC Business Travel Cards, seafarer status, flight crew and some group-travel arrangements have separate official categories. Check the official e-Arrival Card Navigator rather than applying a general rule to a special status.
The if/then flow
- If you are a Korean citizen or hold a valid Korean residence card, you do not submit an arrival card.
- If you hold a valid Korean visa for this entry, submit an e-Arrival Card. This remains the rule even if you also happen to hold a K-ETA, because visa holders enter through the visa process.
- If you will enter with a valid K-ETA, you do not submit an e-Arrival Card.
- If you are exempt from K-ETA and do not hold one, submit an e-Arrival Card unless the official guide lists another exclusion for your status.
- If none of those descriptions clearly fits, enter your nationality, passport type, destination and valid documents in the official navigator before you make a decision.
Important: an e-Arrival Card cannot replace a visa or a required K-ETA. It records arrival information; it does not grant travel authorization. This article explains the official document flow, not whether a particular traveler is admissible to Korea.
What is the Korea e-Arrival Card?
The e-Arrival Card is the online version of the arrival declaration that a traveler would otherwise complete on paper. The official guide states that the electronic and paper declarations have the same validity. Once you successfully submit the electronic version, you do not also complete a paper arrival card.
The service is free. You can submit it from three days before your arrival in Korea, calculated in Korea Standard Time. It remains valid for 72 hours from submission and loses validity once you complete Korean immigration inspection. If you leave Korea and later re-enter, you must submit a new arrival declaration for the new entry when one is required.
You do not have to carry a printed e-Arrival Card at immigration. The official site sends an issuance number by email, and knowing that number can be helpful. Saving the completion PDF immediately is still a sensible part of the official workflow, especially because the service has published notices about occasional email delays.
What is K-ETA?
K-ETA stands for Korea Electronic Travel Authorization. It is for citizens who can enter Korea without a visa and who are required to receive electronic travel authorization. It is separate from both a visa and an arrival card.
The practical distinction is timing and purpose. A traveler who needs K-ETA must receive that authorization for the trip. An e-Arrival Card is completed close to arrival and supplies passport, flight and stay information for the entry declaration. Completing the arrival card does not cure a missing travel authorization.
K-ETA temporary exemption through December 31, 2026
The Ministry of Justice extended the existing temporary K-ETA exemption for the countries already covered by the measure. The extension runs from January 1 through December 31, 2026, Korea Standard Time.
This does not mean that every visa-free nationality in the world is automatically exempt. The official K-ETA notice says travelers can check whether the exemption applies during the K-ETA application flow: after scanning the passport biodata page, an exemption pop-up appears for an eligible passport. The official e-Arrival Card Navigator can also direct a traveler based on nationality and passport type.
A traveler covered by the temporary exemption may still choose to apply for K-ETA and pay the K-ETA application fee. The official notice identifies skipping the separate arrival-card declaration as one benefit of holding K-ETA. An existing K-ETA remains usable until its own expiration date, and an already issued K-ETA is not refunded simply because the temporary exemption was extended.
The common 2026 mistake: “K-ETA exempt” does not mean “exempt from every arrival form.” A temporarily K-ETA-exempt visitor traveling without K-ETA is generally in the e-Arrival Card group.
Who normally submits an e-Arrival Card?
The official declaration guide lists the following common visitor categories among those subject to the arrival declaration:
- Travelers entering with a valid Korean visa.
- Citizens of countries temporarily exempt from K-ETA when they travel without a K-ETA.
- K-ETA-eligible travelers who are exempt because of age: those under 17 or over 65, as described by the official navigator.
- Certain diplomatic or service passport holders who are exempt from K-ETA.
- Certain special-status travelers, including listed SOFA service members, UN travel-document holders, valid ABTC holders and specified seafarer categories.
Do not assume that the word “exempt” always means exempt from the arrival card. In the official structure, many people who are exempt from K-ETA are precisely the people who submit an arrival declaration.
Who normally does not submit one?
- Citizens of the Republic of Korea. A dual national who has Korean nationality must undergo immigration inspection with a Korean passport, according to the official target guide.
- Holders of a valid Korean Residence Card, Permanent Resident Card or Overseas Korean Resident Card.
- Travelers entering with a valid K-ETA. The important exception is a person who also has a Korean visa and is entering through that visa; the official guide says that visa holder must complete the arrival card.
- Certain group-visa, visa-free group-tour and foreign flight-crew categories listed on the official subject guide.
Special group programs can change or have route and date conditions. Use the official subject guide or navigator instead of relying on an old travel-forum list.
How to submit the official Korea e-Arrival Card
Before you start
Prepare the items listed by the official service:
- a valid passport;
- a valid email address;
- your arrival date and arriving flight or vessel information;
- the address and contact information for your place of stay; use the Korean address search guide if your booking shows only an English address; and
- your departure date and departing flight information, if available. The departure flight field is optional.
Step 1: use the only official website
Go directly to www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr. Do not begin from a sponsored lookalike result, a paid “expedited” service or an unofficial form. The official service charges nothing.
Step 2: submit within the correct window
Start from three days before your scheduled arrival in Korea, using Korea Standard Time. Do not submit weeks in advance. The card expires automatically 72 hours after submission, so filing too early does not create a valid declaration for a later trip.
Step 3: choose the correct declaration type
The individual or small-group flow accepts up to nine people. The group declaration supports up to 1,000 people and is available on a PC. A group representative can enter shared flight, purpose and accommodation information, then add and check each traveler’s passport details.
The English version of the official procedure currently states that a person aged 14 or younger cannot act as the representative declarant. Use an eligible adult representative when submitting for children, and verify every child’s passport information before submission.
Step 4: enter and verify your email
Agree to the terms and enter the representative email address as instructed. Effective May 6, 2026, the official service introduced a verification-code step for user authentication during submission. Use an inbox you can open while completing the form.
Step 5: add passport information
Photograph or upload the passport biodata page. The system can read the passport and fill fields automatically, but you remain responsible for checking that every name, date and passport number is correct. If the scan does not work properly, the official procedure allows manual entry.
Step 6: enter the travel information
Enter the arrival and departure details, purpose of entry, occupation and place-of-stay information accurately. A traveler with a valid Korean visa may be able to link visa information such as the place of stay and contact details. Review the result rather than assuming the linked or scanned data is perfect.
Step 7: review before submitting
Compare the completed form with the passport and booking details. The official service warns that false information can lead to penalties or entry restriction, including when inaccurate information is submitted by a representative for someone else.
Step 8: submit and save the result
After submission, save the PDF containing the submitted information and issuance number. The service also sends submission information by email when the address is provided. You are not required to present a printed copy during immigration inspection, but keeping the PDF and issuance number makes it easier to confirm what you submitted.
Can you edit an e-Arrival Card?
Yes. Before Korean immigration inspection, the official site allows you to check and edit details such as the purpose of entry, place-of-stay information and departure date. The arrival date can be changed only within three days of the original declared date.
If the 72-hour validity period passes before you enter Korea, the declaration loses validity automatically. Submit a new one within the correct window rather than trying to use an expired result. Completing immigration also ends the card’s validity, so a later re-entry requires a new arrival declaration when applicable.
Fake-site warning: the e-Arrival Card is free
Korea Immigration Service issued a warning on March 9, 2026 after fake websites impersonating the e-Arrival Card service were found. The notice is unambiguous:
- The only official e-Arrival Card website is www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr.
- The official e-Arrival Card does not charge a fee.
- A site asking for payment information is not the official service.
Check the domain before uploading a passport image or entering personal information. A professional design, search-engine placement or use of the words “Korea arrival card” does not make another domain official.
Troubleshooting
The verification or confirmation email is delayed
The official service reported occasional delays or failures affecting Gmail, Outlook.com, Hotmail.com and QQ.com. It recommends using another email address to avoid delivery problems, or saving the completed e-Arrival Card immediately after submission. Do not close the result page before saving the PDF.
The passport scan fails
Use a clear image of the biodata page and check every populated field. If the scan still does not work correctly, use the manual passport-entry option provided by the official procedure.
Your hotel, purpose or departure flight changed
Use the official Check/Edit function before immigration inspection. The official guide allows updates to the purpose of entry, stay information and departure date. Remember that the arrival date has the narrower three-day correction limit.
You submitted more than 72 hours before entry
The declaration is no longer valid 72 hours after submission. Complete a new e-Arrival Card within the permitted three-day window.
You have both a K-ETA and a visa
The official navigator says that visa holders undergo immigration processing with the visa. A valid visa holder is therefore subject to the e-Arrival Card even if the person also holds K-ETA.
You cannot tell whether your passport is exempt
Use the official navigator. For an unusual immigration status or a result that does not fit your documents, contact the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 in Korea or +82-2-1345 from overseas. Do not use a general blog article as personalized immigration advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Korea e-Arrival Card free?
Yes. The official service is free. Korea Immigration Service says the only official domain is e-arrivalcard.go.kr and that a website requesting payment information is not the official service.
When can I submit it?
From three days before your arrival in Korea, calculated in Korea Standard Time. It expires 72 hours after submission, so do not complete it weeks before departure.
Do K-ETA holders need an e-Arrival Card?
Normally no. A traveler entering with a valid K-ETA is excluded from the arrival-card declaration. However, a person entering with a valid Korean visa must complete the arrival card even if that person also has K-ETA.
I am temporarily exempt from K-ETA in 2026. Do I need an arrival card?
Normally yes, if you travel without K-ETA and no other exclusion applies. The temporary K-ETA exemption and the arrival-card requirement are separate questions. Use the official navigator for your passport and status.
Can I voluntarily apply for K-ETA during the temporary exemption?
Yes. The official extension notice says an eligible traveler may still apply and pay the fee to receive K-ETA benefits, including exemption from completing an arrival declaration. An already issued K-ETA remains valid until its expiration and is not refundable because of the exemption extension.
Do Korean visa holders submit an e-Arrival Card?
Yes. The official target guide lists valid Korean visa holders among those subject to the declaration. Entering through the visa process takes priority over also possessing K-ETA.
Do Korean residence-card holders submit one?
No. Holders of a valid Korean Residence Card, Permanent Resident Card or Overseas Korean Resident Card are excluded from the arrival-card declaration.
Do I need to print the confirmation?
No. The official guide says you do not have to carry the e-Arrival Card for immigration inspection. Save the PDF and issuance number anyway; the number can be helpful and email delivery can occasionally be delayed.
Can one person submit for a family?
Yes. The individual or small-group declaration supports up to nine people. The group declaration, available on PC, supports larger groups. The English version of the official procedure currently says a person aged 14 or younger cannot be the representative declarant, so use an eligible adult representative.
Do I need a new card after a side trip to another country?
Yes, when an arrival declaration is required for your re-entry. The card loses validity after Korean immigration inspection, and the official guide says a new declaration is required when re-entering Korea.
Official sources
- Korea e-Arrival Card Guide: timing, fee, validity, editing and required information
- Individuals Subject to Declaration Guide
- Official e-Arrival Card Navigator
- Official e-Arrival Card Declaration Procedure
- User authentication procedure effective May 6, 2026
- Official notice about email delivery delays, March 13, 2026
- Official K-ETA temporary-exemption extension notice
- Korea Immigration Service: Beware of Fake e-Arrival Card Websites, March 9, 2026
Update history: first fully verified edition prepared July 21, 2026. The K-ETA temporary-exemption end date, declaration categories, email-authentication notice and fake-site warning were checked against the official government services. This article provides general document-navigation information, not personalized immigration or legal advice.