Travel Visa

South Korea To Ease Entry With E-Arrival Card From February 24

Prepare for more leisurely trips to the Land of the Morning Calm! South Korea is accepting digital creativity and presenting a new electronic landing card (e-Arrival Card) system that will revolutionize the access procedure for foreign guests.

From February 24, 2025, travelers can complete the compulsory form online, ensuring a more efficient and stress-free landing experience.

The program observes similar digital access processes already executed in Cambodia, Malaysia, and, very soon, Thailand. The new e-arrival card intends to facilitate access, making it more efficient for travelers and immigration authorities.

Meaning Of The E-Arrival Card

The e-arrival card is a digital replacement for paper landing forms. It acquires travel dates, flight information, and housing details. It facilitates immigration, decreases processing duration, and reduces delays, ensuring easy access for travelers.

Transition Duration Until December 2025

Based on the Korean Immigration Service, the execution will start with a transition stage. Travelers will have the choice to pick between a paper or electronic landing card until December 2025. Hence, beginning in January 2026, only the online pre-landing choice will be available.

Who Is Required To Complete The E-Arrival Card

Nearly all foreign visitors to South Korea must complete the e-Arrival card. The procedure is free of charge and must be completed within three days of landing.

Exclusions From The E-Arrival Card Condition

Specific travelers are excluded from concluding the e-Arrival card. These have to do with the following:

  • Airline crew members
  • Enrolled residents of South Korea, which includes permanent resident cards and abroad Korean Resident cardholders
  • Valid K-ETA holders

How To Complete The E-Arrival Card

The e-Arrival card will be accessible through the official webpage (e-arrival card.go.kr), which is presently undergrowth. Travelers will be required to observe these stages:

Approve The Terms And Conditions

  • Travelers are required to accept the forum’s terms before continuing.
  • For children under 14, a family member or guardian must present the form on their behalf.

Upload A Copy Of Your Passport

  • Travelers must upload a picture or scanned copy of the passport’s information page.
  • The system will typically extract private information using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology.

Enter Travel Information

  • Date of arrival and flight or ship information.
  • Intended departure date and flight number
  • Reason for staying in South Korea
  • Local housing address and contact information

Present The Declaration

  • When all information is completed, tap “submit.”
  • Travelers can download the e-Arrival card in PDF format or take a screenshot.
  • A verification email will be forwarded to the given email address.

If travelers must make adjustments after the presentation, they can edit their information on the webpage before passing through access control.

With these digital changes, South Korea is improving its border control efficiency while ensuring a more straightforward landing procedure for foreign visitors. Travelers must remain updated on the current policies and ensure they complete the e-Arrival card before travel to prevent access delays.