South Korea has four key entry documents — and which ones you need depends entirely on your traveler type. Knowing before you board prevents last-minute confusion at the gate Estimate.
① K-ETA — pre-entry authorization
K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) is the online pre-arrival permit for visa-free visitors, introduced in September 2021 Fact. The government fee is KRW 10,000 plus a payment processing fee. An approved K-ETA is valid for three years (or until passport expiry, whichever comes first), and processing takes up to 72 hours Fact.
K-ETA is not a visa. Approval is travel eligibility — not a guaranteed right of entry. The final decision rests with the immigration officer at the port of entry Fact.
Temporary exemption through 31 Dec 2026. Korea has waived the K-ETA requirement for nationals of 22 countries/regions to boost inbound tourism Fact. If your nationality is on the exemption list and you choose not to apply for K-ETA, you will need an e-Arrival Card instead.
② e-Arrival Card — Korea's online arrival form
The e-Arrival Card replaced the old paper arrival card. Complete it online at e-arrivalcard.go.kr before boarding Fact.
Required for: anyone entering without a valid K-ETA — visa holders, and K-ETA-exempt nationals who did not apply Fact.
Exempt: travelers holding a valid approved K-ETA Fact, and registered foreign residents, permanent residents, and overseas Korean nationals with domestic residence registration Fact.
③ Q-CODE — quarantine health declaration
Q-CODE is operated by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) as a quarantine information pre-entry system (qcode.kdca.go.kr) Fact. It is not required for all travelers: Q-CODE applies only to those who have visited, stayed in, or transited a Korea-designated quarantine-controlled area Fact. If that does not describe your recent travel history, you do not need it.
④ Customs declaration
Foreign currency, Korean won, traveler's checks, or other monetary instruments with a combined value exceeding the equivalent of USD 10,000 must be declared at Korean customs on arrival Fact. Failure to declare may result in seizure and penalties.
Which documents do you need? — quick reference
| Traveler type | K-ETA | e-Arrival Card |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-free national — K-ETA applied & approved | ✅ Done | ❌ Exempt |
| K-ETA-exempt nationality — no K-ETA applied | — Not required | ✅ Required |
| K-ETA-exempt — voluntarily applied for K-ETA | ✅ Done | ❌ Exempt |
| Visa holder | — N/A | ✅ Required* |
| Registered foreign resident / Permanent resident | — N/A | ❌ Exempt |
*Exceptions by visa type. Check e-arrivalcard.go.kr Navigator for your specific visa category.