Korea e-Arrival Card: How to File It Online for Free

What to do

File your arrival card on the official site, e-arrivalcard.go.kr, within the 3 days before you land. The Korea Immigration Service runs the site, and the e-Arrival card guide says the service costs nothing. An online card has the same legal effect as the paper form.

You do not have to file before you fly. The official FAQ says you can file any time from 3 days before arrival until you go through immigration.

Who has to file an e-Arrival card?

Every foreigner entering Korea has to give an arrival card unless a specific exemption applies. The eligibility page lists the groups who must file:

• Holders of a valid Korean visa
• Nationals of K-ETA countries who are on the temporary K-ETA exemption list
• Nationals of K-ETA countries aged 17 or under, or 65 or over
• Nationals of K-ETA countries holding diplomatic or official passports
• UN passport holders, APEC Business Travel Card holders and US forces personnel under SOFA
• Seafarers in certain cases, with their families

Who does not need one?

Several groups skip the arrival card completely. The same eligibility page names these:

Group	Arrival card needed?
Korean citizens, including dual nationals entering on a Korean passport	No
Registered foreign residents (alien registration, permanent residence or overseas Korean residence card)	No
Holders of an approved K-ETA	No, unless entering on a visa instead
Group visa holders	No
Crew of a foreign aircraft on duty	No

If you hold a K-ETA but plan to enter on a visa, the page says you still need to file. For the K-ETA rules themselves, see Do I need a K-ETA for Korea?.

How to file, step by step

The filing process page breaks it into five steps:

1. Agree and add your email. Accept the privacy terms and type the lead applicant’s email address twice. A child under 14 cannot be the lead applicant.
2. Enter passport details. Take a photo of the passport or upload a scan. If the scan fails, type the details by hand.
3. Add travel details. This covers your arrival and departure dates, reason for the trip, where you will stay and your job. Visa details can fill in automatically if you hold a valid Korean visa.
4. Check everything. Review passport and travel data and fix errors before you submit.
5. Submit. You get a reference number, and you can save the card as a PDF or print it. A copy also goes to your email.

The FAQ lists what to have ready: a valid passport, an email address you can reach, your flight, your dates and the address where you will stay.

How long does the card stay valid?

The e-Arrival card lapses 72 hours after you submit it. The guide says the card loses effect on its own once that time passes, and you file again for your next entry. Because the filing window also opens 3 days before arrival, a card filed at the very start of the window has little margin left if your flight is late.

Costs, limits and timing at a glance

Item	Official rule
Fee	Free
Earliest filing	3 days before arrival, Korea Standard Time
Latest filing	Before immigration clearance
Validity	72 hours from submission
Phone (mobile web)	Up to 9 people per filing
PC group filing	Up to 1,000 people
Paper form	Not needed once filed online

Can I change the card after filing?

Yes, for most details. The guide says you can look up the card and change your trip purpose, stay details or departure date on the official site until you pass immigration. The arrival date is stricter: you can only move it to a date within 3 days of your first filing.

Common mistakes

• Paying a lookalike site. The immigration service posted a notice warning that sites with similar names may ask for your details or a fee. The real service is free and lives at www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr.
• Counting on the email. A notice from March 2026 says Gmail, Outlook.com, Hotmail.com and QQ.com users may get the email late or not at all. Save the PDF yourself, or use another address.
• Filing too early. You cannot file more than 3 days ahead, and the card expires 72 hours after submission.
• Guessing details. False or inaccurate answers can lead to penalties or refused entry, including when someone files on your behalf.
• Using a phone for a big group. Mobile web stops at 9 people per filing. Larger groups need a PC.

A working phone connection at the airport helps if you need to edit the card on arrival; see eSIM, SIM or pocket Wi-Fi in Korea.

When this does not apply

If you hold an approved K-ETA and enter visa-free, you skip the arrival card. Registered residents and Korean citizens skip it too. Exemption rules change by notice, so check the official page before you fly, then head on to Incheon Airport to Seoul once you are through.