Korea e-Arrival Card 2026: How to Apply (Step-by-Step) + K-ETA Rules

Since January 1, 2026, Korea replaced the old paper arrival card with a digital one: the e-Arrival Card (전자입국신고). Almost every foreign traveler now has to submit it before landing — and there’s a lot of confusion online about whether it’s the same as K-ETA, how much it costs, and when to file. This guide clears it up and walks you through the application step by step, with notes specific to arriving at Busan’s Gimhae airport.

⚡ Quick answer: The e-Arrival Card is mandatory from 2026, and it’s free. Submit it on the official site e-arrivalcard.go.kr starting 72 hours (3 days) before arrival. If you already hold a valid K-ETA, you’re exempt and don’t need it. After submitting you get a QR code — save it and show it at immigration. Ignore any site charging a fee; only the official .go.kr page is real.

What is the e-Arrival Card?

The e-Arrival Card is Korea’s digital arrival declaration — the online replacement for the white paper form flight attendants used to hand out before landing. Instead of filling in a card on the plane, you complete it online in advance, and immigration reads a QR code. It collects your basic details: passport info, flight, dates, and where you’re staying in Korea.

It is free, and it is run by the Korea Immigration Service at e-arrivalcard.go.kr. That’s the only official site.

Who needs it — and how it differs from K-ETA

This is where most travelers get confused. The e-Arrival Card and K-ETA are two different things:

	e-Arrival Card	K-ETA
What it is	Arrival declaration (replaces paper form)	Pre-travel entry authorization (like US ESTA)
Cost	Free	~10,000 KRW + fee
When	From 72h before arrival	At least 72h before departure
Official site	e-arrivalcard.go.kr	k-eta.go.kr
Who files	Travelers without a valid K-ETA	Depends on nationality

The key rule: if you hold a valid K-ETA, you are exempt from the e-Arrival Card. They do not stack.

For 2026, Korea has extended a temporary K-ETA exemption for citizens of dozens of countries (including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, most of the EU, Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore) through December 31, 2026. Travelers 17 and under or 65 and over are also exempt from K-ETA regardless of nationality. But here’s the catch: all of those exempt travelers still have to submit the e-Arrival Card. So in practice, most short-term tourists in 2026 file the free e-Arrival Card — not K-ETA.

If you’re unsure whether your nationality needs a visa at all, see our entry & visa notes in the travel FAQ.

How to apply for the e-Arrival Card, step by step

The whole thing takes about 5–10 minutes on a phone or computer.

1. Go to the official site — e-arrivalcard.go.kr only. Switch the language to English at the top. ⚠️ Do not use third-party sites that show up in ads and charge $20–$100 “service fees” for a free government form.
2. Enter your passport details. You can upload a photo of your passport’s photo page to auto-fill your name, number, nationality, and birth date — or type them in. Make sure the spelling matches your passport exactly.
3. Add your accommodation in Korea. Enter your hotel/guesthouse address and a contact number. If you have a Busan hotel booked, use that address — see our where to stay in Busan guide if you haven’t booked yet.
4. Add your flight and travel dates. Flight number, arrival date, and departure date.
5. Add travel companions (optional). You can include up to 9 people — spouse, kids, friends — so families file once, not separately. Each person still needs their passport info entered.
6. Review and submit. Check everything, then submit. You’ll get a QR code plus a confirmation email with a reference number and expiry time. Save the QR to your phone and/or download the PDF.

That’s it. If you spot a mistake, log back in with your reference number and edit it before you arrive.

Because you may need to submit or edit this on the go, having mobile data the moment you land is worth setting up ahead of time:

After you land: what happens at Gimhae Airport (Busan)

Arriving at Gimhae International Airport (PUS), the flow is simple:

1. Follow signs to Immigration on the 1st floor.
2. At the automated kiosk or the officer’s desk, present your e-Arrival Card QR code along with your passport. (Fingerprints and a photo are taken as usual.)
3. Collect your luggage, clear customs, and you’re out into the arrivals hall.

No paper form to scramble through on the plane. From there, see our full Gimhae Airport to downtown Busan guide for the light rail, limousine bus, and taxi options — or, for a late flight with heavy bags, a pre-booked pickup meets you right at the terminal:

Common mistakes to avoid

• Paying a third party. The e-Arrival Card is free on e-arrivalcard.go.kr. Sites charging “processing fees” are middlemen — skip them.
• Filing too early. The window opens 72 hours (3 days) before arrival, not weeks ahead.
• Confusing it with K-ETA. If you have a valid K-ETA you don’t file the e-Arrival Card at all; if you don’t, you do. Don’t pay for a K-ETA you don’t need.
• Typos vs your passport. Name and passport number must match exactly, or the kiosk may flag you.
• Forgetting the QR. Save it offline (screenshot + PDF) in case airport Wi-Fi is slow.

Before you go: the rest of your Busan prep

Sorting entry is step one. Next, line up the essentials so you’re ready the moment you land: our first-time in Busan guide covers the big picture, essential apps for Busan travel gets your phone ready, and the eSIM & Wi-Fi guide sorts your data. Flying in from Taiwan? See the Kaohsiung to Busan guide.

Immigration rules can change — always confirm the latest details on the official site, e-arrivalcard.go.kr, before you travel. Some links above are affiliate links; booking through them supports Busan Bible at no extra cost to you.