Korea retired its paper arrival card at the end of 2025, and the Korea e-Arrival Card that replaced it is free, quick and strict about timing. You can file from 3 days before arrival, counted in Korean time, and a submitted card lasts 72 hours. Know who’s exempt and when to submit, and it takes care of itself.
Who Must File, and Who Is Exempt
Since January 2026 the Korea e-Arrival Card is the only accepted arrival form, but not everyone files. The South Korea entry requirements guide explains how it fits with K-ETA and visas; check the current rules for your case.
- Most short-stay visitors. The card is required for stays under 90 days. If no exemption applies to you, file it.
- K-ETA holders. Travellers with a valid K-ETA are exempt. That’s the main reason some exempt nationals apply for one anyway.
- Group e-visa holders. C-3-2 group-tourist e-visa holders from China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, and group visas from Cambodia and India, are exempt. Your agency should confirm it.
- Residents and crew. Registered residents and airline crew don’t file. Everyone else should check.
- K-ETA-exempt nationals. If your country is exempt from K-ETA in 2026, as Singapore is, and you haven’t applied for one, the e-Arrival Card is how you declare your arrival.
Have Your Address and Return Flight Ready
The form asks for a handful of details, so keep them to hand. Photograph your passport’s bio page and the passport details fill in automatically. Then add your arrival and departure dates and flight numbers, the address and phone number where you’re staying in Korea, and your occupation.
There’s nothing to pay, because the card is free. You also don’t need a printed or electronic copy at the immigration desk.
Plans change, and the system allows for it. You can update details on the website before passport control, even on the day you arrive.
Check the current form on the official site before you travel, as fields can change.
The 72-Hour Window Runs on Korean Time
Timing is the one part of the e-Arrival Card that catches people out.
- Opens 3 days out. You can submit from 3 days before arrival by computer, phone or QR code. Earlier attempts won’t go through.
- Counted in Korean time. The 3-day window follows Korean time, not your departure city’s. Check the time difference if you’re filing late at night.
- Lasts 72 hours. A submitted card is valid for 72 hours, so a long delay means filing again. Keep the booking reference for your flights to South Korea handy.
- Fixable on the day. You can update details on the website before passport control. Do it in the arrivals hall if plans shift.
Free, Official and Easy to Fake
Here’s the trap: because the Korea e-Arrival Card is free, any site asking for payment is a warning sign. The only official site is e-arrivalcard.go.kr, and fake versions exist.
Korea’s Immigration Service warned on 9 March 2026 that fake websites impersonating it had been found, so type the address yourself rather than trusting a search result or an ad.
The same caution applies to the K-ETA, which is issued only at k-eta.go.kr or the official app; that site warns of agencies charging inflated fees.
Bookmark both official addresses before your trip, and never enter card details on an e-Arrival Card form.
One Person Can File for the Whole Family
Families and groups don’t have to file one by one, as long as they travel together.
- One card per traveller. Every traveller needs a card, children included. Count heads before you start.
- One filer for the group. One person can submit for everyone arriving on the same flight on the same day. File separately for anyone arriving on another flight.
- Size limits. A single declaration can add up to 9 companions, and the group form covers 2 to 1,000 people. Larger tour groups use the group form.
- Minors under 14. A guardian must submit their declaration. In practice, parents file for the whole family.
When a K-ETA Beats Filing Every Trip
If you visit Korea often, the sums can favour a K-ETA, even when your nationality is exempt. Exempt nationals may still apply and pay for its benefits, and K-ETA holders don’t file an arrival card.
The fee is KRW 10,000 (about US$7) plus a 3% card fee, and an approval lasts 3 years, or until your passport expires, with multiple entries.
So the choice is simple. For a single trip, the free e-Arrival Card is the obvious route. For several trips within three years, a K-ETA saves filing each time.
The K-ETA application guide sets out what to prepare and how long approval takes.
Prices in this guide are approximate and were last checked on 4 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit the e-Arrival Card on the day I land?
Yes. The window opens 3 days before arrival, so the day you land is inside it, and you can still update details on the website before passport control. Filing a day or two earlier is less stressful, though, especially if you’ll arrive tired after a long flight.
Do Singaporeans need an e-Arrival Card in 2026?
Usually, yes. Singapore passport holders are exempt from K-ETA until 31 December 2026, and travellers without a valid K-ETA aren’t on the e-Arrival exemption list. Unless you’ve applied for a K-ETA anyway, file the free card within 3 days of arrival.
What if my flight is delayed past 72 hours?
File again. A submitted card is valid for 72 hours, so an arrival outside that period needs a new submission. It’s free and quick, and you can do it on your phone before you reach passport control. Rules can change, so confirm on the official site before you travel.
Does a group-tour visa holder file the card?
Not if you hold a C-3-2 group-tourist e-visa from China, Indonesia, the Philippines or Vietnam, or a group visa from Cambodia or India. Those travellers are exempt. Ask your tour operator to confirm which visa you’re on before you travel.
Do I need it if I’m staying longer than 90 days?
No. The e-Arrival Card is required only for stays under 90 days. Longer stays usually involve a different visa and registration process, so check the current rules for your visa type with the Korean embassy before you fly. Rules can change, so confirm on the official site before you travel.
Booking Your Flight and Stay
Once you know your form and window, book flights you can file around and a first stay whose address you can enter.
