South Korea is set to introduce a new electronic arrival card, e-Arrival Card for international travelers starting February 24, 2025.

This new system will replace the paper arrival forms with an online process to speed up immigration checks and reduce delays.

With the e-Arrival Card, travelers will fill out their entry details online before arriving in South Korea. They must upload a copy of their passport, enter travel details, and submit the required declaration through the official website e-arrivalcard.go.kr.

After submission, travelers will get a confirmation email and can download the form or take a screenshot for immigration purposes.

During the transition period from February 24, 2025, to December 2025, travelers can choose to use either the paper form or the electronic version. However, from January 2026, only the e-Arrival Card will be accepted.

Not everyone needs to complete the new form. Airline crew, those with a valid K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization), and registered residents of South Korea including Permanent Resident or Overseas Korean Resident Card holders are exempt.

For all other travelers, filling out the e-Arrival Card is mandatory and must be done within three days before arrival. Those who fail to do so may experience delays at immigration.

South Korea’s immigration officials encourage travelers to complete the e-Arrival Card ahead of time to ensure a smooth entry into the country.