Do all foreigners need to provide fingerprints when entering Korea?

Yes. All international visitors aged 17 or older entering Korea through any port or airport are required to go through mandatory fingerprint and facial recognition registration at immigration. This applies regardless of visa type. Exemptions are granted to: foreign government officials and international organization representatives (and their family members), and visitors arriving with an official invitation from the central government of Korea.

What is the e-Arrival card for Korea and do I need to fill one out?

An arrival card is required for most international visitors entering Korea. However, travelers who hold a valid residence card (including permanent residence cards), K-ETA, or e-Group visa are exempt. The e-Arrival card lets you complete this form online before you land — submission is accepted within 3 days of your arrival date (Korea Standard Time, GMT +9). Once submitted, no printed copy is needed at immigration. Fill it out at www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr (available in Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Russian).

How does the automated immigration gate (Smart Entry Service) work in Korea?

Korea's Automated Immigration System (Smart Entry Service) is available to foreigners aged 17 or older who have already registered their biometric information (fingerprints and photo) upon a previous arrival. The procedure is: (1) Scan your passport at the auto-gate. (2) Enter the gate. (3) Scan your registered fingerprint. (4) Look at the camera for facial recognition. The automated departure gate is also available at certain airports for foreigners on visa-waiver status (B-1 or B-2) or short-term visas of 90 days or less.

Do I need to fill out a customs declaration form when entering Korea?

All passengers entering Korea who have items to declare are required to fill out a customs declaration form. Passengers without any items to declare do not have to fill out the form as of May 1, 2023. When traveling with family members, only one form per family is needed. Effective August 1, 2023, the online declaration form system has been expanded to sea ports and airports nationwide and passengers may submit their customs declaration form via the Korea Customs Declaration for Travelers mobile app (Android and iOS) or their website (m.customs.go.kr/tms). Upon submission of the online declaration form, passengers will recieve a QR code, which must be scanned at the "Goods to Delcare" gate. The form must be completed in Korean or English.

What is the duty-free allowance when entering Korea?

Each traveler entering Korea is allowed the following duty-free amounts: total purchases up to USD 800 in value; alcohol up to USD 400 in value, 2 bottles, and 2 liters total; cigarettes up to 200 cigarettes (no price value limit); perfume up to 100 ml (no price value limit). Note: travelers aged 19 and younger cannot claim tax exemption for alcohol or cigarettes.

What is a Q-Code and who needs one to enter Korea?

A Q-Code is a health declaration QR code required for travelers entering Korea from designated Quarantine Inspection Required Areas. Before arrival, travelers from these areas must access the Q-Code website, enter their passport details, entry information, vaccination records, test results, and health status, then submit to receive a QR code to show upon arrival. The Q-Code website is qcode.kdca.go.kr/qco/index.do. Travelers from non-restricted areas do not need a Q-Code.

What documents do I need to prepare before arriving in Korea?

Before arriving in Korea, prepare the following: (1) Arrival card — required for most visitors; can be completed online at www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr up to 3 days before arrival. Holders of a valid residence card, K-ETA, or e-Group visa are exempt. (2) Customs declaration form — required if you have items to declare; can be submitted via mobile app or website for Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 and Gimpo Airport. (3) Q-Code — required only if traveling from a designated Quarantine Inspection Required Area. For further assistance, contact the 1330 Korea Travel Hotline at +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay).

Immigration- VISITKOREA

Immigration Clearance

Any inbound foreign visitor who is age 17 or older entering the Republic of Korea (herein after Korea) through any port or airport is required to go through a mandatory fingerprint and facial recognition registration process. The registration process is waived for the following persons: foreign government officials and international organization representatives, as well as their family members; and visitors with an official invitation from the central government of Korea..

Manned Immigration Clearance Procedure

1. Wait in the foreign passport holders queue for an available immigration officer.
2. Submit arrival card and passport to immigration officer.
* Biometric information (fingerprints & photo) required for foreigners who are age 17 or older.

Automated Immigration System (Smart Entry Service)

1. Automated Immigration System is available to foreigners who are age 17 or older who have registered their biometric information upon arrival, including foreign residence card holders.
2. Automated Immigration System upon departure is available at certain airports for foreigners age 17 or older who have provided their biometric information (fingerprints & photo) upon arrival and have entered Korea on a visa waiver (B1 & B2 status) or short-term visa (90 days or less).

Automated Immigration Clearance procedure

1. Scan your passport
2. Enter the auto-gate
3. Scan your registered fingerprint for verification
4. Look at the camera for facial recognition

Document Preparation

You can expedite your arrival process by completing the required forms on the plane before landing.

1. Arrival Card

Visitors entering Korea are required to submit an arrival card, except for those who hold a valid residence card (including permanent residence cards), K-ETA, and e-Group visa.

* e-Arrival card: Travelers can fill in and submit their arrival card online in advance. E-Arrival card submission is accepted within three days of your arrival in Korea based on KST (GMT +9). For instance, if you are arriving on January 31, the earliest you can turn in your submission is on January 29. Although submitted e-Arrival card can be screen-captured or downloaded as a PDF, it is not required for presentation upon immigration clearance as long as it has been successfully submitted online. Visit the e-Arrival card website for more information.
- E-Arrival card website: www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Russian)

2. Customs Declaration Form

1) All passengers entering Korea with items to declare are required to fill out a customs declaration form. While all individual travelers must fill out a form, only one form per family is required when traveling with family members. Travelers who have a postal shipment must fill out two forms to submit one upon customs clearance during baggage claim and the other to the airline staff, who will clear customs upon arrival of the shipment on behalf of the traveler. Please contact your airline for details in regards to receiving postal shipment.

2) Passengers entering Korea through Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 or Gimpo International Airport can submit their customs declaration form on the mobile app or website starting August 1, 2022.

< Submitting Customs Declarations Form Online >
1. Download and install the Korea Customs Declaration for Travelers app (Android, iOS) (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
2. Fill out personal information (name, phone number, address, passport number, etc.)
3. Fill out declaration form (check customs declaration information)
4. Receive QR code
5. Scan QR code at auto-gate upon arrival

* Customs Declaration form submission is available before arriving Korea via the app/web (mobile app functions on board the plane without online connection)
* Only available for passengers entering Korea through Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 or Gimpo International Airport
* Customs Declaration form submission is also available on the official website (Korean, English, Japanese, English)
* Families need to submit only one form
* Form must be filled out in Korean or English

Tax Exemption Regulation per Person
- Each traveler is limited to purchases valued up to USD 800 in total
- Alcohol: Limited up to the value of USD 400, 2 bottles, 2 liters in total per person
- Cigarettes: Limited to 200 cigarettes; no price value limit
- Perfume: Limited to 100 ml; no price value limit
* Travelers ages 19 and younger cannot receive tax exemption for alcohol or cigarettes

3. Q-Code

1) Travelers entering Korea from Quarantine Inspection Required Area must be issued a Q-Code in advance. (See Quarantine Inspection Required Areas) 2) Before arrival, access Q-Code and input passport, entry and duration of stay, vaccination record, testing, and health status information
3) Double check information and submit to receive a QR code
4) Show QR code upon arrival
- Q-Code website: cov19ent.kdca.go.kr

More Info

Incheon International Airport Immigration Guide: www.airport.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Korea Immigration Service website: www.immigration.go.kr (Korean, English)
Korea Customs Service website: www.customs.go.kr (Korean, English)
1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay)

< FAQ >

Q1. Do all foreigners need to provide fingerprints when entering Korea?: A. Yes. All international visitors aged 17 or older entering Korea through any port or airport are required to go through mandatory fingerprint and facial recognition registration at immigration. This applies regardless of visa type. Exemptions are granted to: foreign government officials and international organization representatives (and their family members), and visitors arriving with an official invitation from the central government of Korea.
Q2. What is the e-Arrival card for Korea and do I need to fill one out?: A. An arrival card is required for most international visitors entering Korea. However, travelers who hold a valid residence card (including permanent residence cards), K-ETA, or e-Group visa are exempt. The e-Arrival card lets you complete this form online before you land — submission is accepted within 3 days of your arrival date (Korea Standard Time, GMT +9). Once submitted, no printed copy is needed at immigration. Fill it out at www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr (available in Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Russian).
Q3. How does the automated immigration gate (Smart Entry Service) work in Korea?: A. Korea's Automated Immigration System (Smart Entry Service) is available to foreigners aged 17 or older who have already registered their biometric information (fingerprints and photo) upon a previous arrival. The procedure is: (1) Scan your passport at the auto-gate. (2) Enter the gate. (3) Scan your registered fingerprint. (4) Look at the camera for facial recognition. The automated departure gate is also available at certain airports for foreigners on visa-waiver status (B-1 or B-2) or short-term visas of 90 days or less.
Q4. Do I need to fill out a customs declaration form when entering Korea?: A. All passengers entering Korea who have items to declare are required to fill out a customs declaration form. Passengers without any items to declare do not have to fill out the form as of May 1, 2023. When traveling with family members, only one form per family is needed. Effective August 1, 2023, the online declaration form system has been expanded to sea ports and airports nationwide and passengers may submit their customs declaration form via the Korea Customs Declaration for Travelers mobile app (Android and iOS) or their website (m.customs.go.kr/tms). Upon submission of the online declaration form, passengers will recieve a QR code, which must be scanned at the \'Goods to Delcare\' gate. The form must be completed in Korean or English.
Q5. What is the duty-free allowance when entering Korea?: A. Each traveler entering Korea is allowed the following duty-free amounts: total purchases up to USD 800 in value; alcohol up to USD 400 in value, 2 bottles, and 2 liters total; cigarettes up to 200 cigarettes (no price value limit); perfume up to 100 ml (no price value limit). Note: travelers aged 19 and younger cannot claim tax exemption for alcohol or cigarettes.
Q6. What is a Q-Code and who needs one to enter Korea?: A. A Q-Code is a health declaration QR code required for travelers entering Korea from designated Quarantine Inspection Required Areas. Before arrival, travelers from these areas must access the Q-Code website, enter their passport details, entry information, vaccination records, test results, and health status, then submit to receive a QR code to show upon arrival. The Q-Code website is qcode.kdca.go.kr/qco/index.do. Travelers from non-restricted areas do not need a Q-Code.
Q7. What documents do I need to prepare before arriving in Korea?: A. Before arriving in Korea, prepare the following: (1) Arrival card — required for most visitors; can be completed online at www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr up to 3 days before arrival. Holders of a valid residence card, K-ETA, or e-Group visa are exempt. (2) Customs declaration form — required if you have items to declare; can be submitted via mobile app or website for Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 and Gimpo Airport. (3) Q-Code — required only if traveling from a designated Quarantine Inspection Required Area. For further assistance, contact the 1330 Korea Travel Hotline at +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay).

This page was last updated on March 7, 2025, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here.