Korea e-Arrival Card 2026: How to File It, and Do You Still Need K-ETA?

The step most travellers miss before a 2026 Korea trip is not the visa - it is the e-Arrival Card. Many nationalities, including Taiwan passport holders, are currently exempt from K-ETA, but most travellers still have to file the e-Arrival Card within 72 hours of arrival. This guide covers how to file it, who is exempt, and when Q-Code actually applies.

Information checked July 2026. Entry rules change, so confirm on the official Korean government sites before you travel.

Korea entry requirements 2026 at a glance

• 🛂 Visa: many nationalities, including Taiwan, get visa-free short-stay entry of up to 90 days
• 🎫 K-ETA: the temporary exemption for eligible countries runs to 31 December 2026
• 📝 e-Arrival Card: required for most travellers, filed within 72 hours of arrival
• 🩺 Q-Code: usually not required on a direct flight with no symptoms and no transit through a designated quarantine-priority area

In other words, the e-Arrival Card is the item to watch this year. It replaced the paper arrival card you used to fill in on the plane, and it has a time window.

How to file the Korea e-Arrival Card

The official site is e-arrivalcard.go.kr and it is free. Use the official address rather than an agent or an ad link.

What to prepare:

• A valid passport (six months validity is the usual recommendation)
• Your inbound flight details
• Address in Korea (first night only) and a local contact number
• A working email address

There is a practical catch: the filing window is within 72 hours of arrival, so you cannot do it far in advance. Most people remember the day before departure, and by then the hotel address and phone number usually need looking up in a booking email. Having data makes this much easier - install a Korea eSIM before you fly and you can also pull the confirmation up on arrival.

Who is exempt from the Korea e-Arrival Card?

Not everyone has to file. You are exempt if any of the following applies:

• You hold a valid, unexpired K-ETA
• You are registered for SeS automatic immigration and it is still valid
• You hold a Korean alien registration card

Here is the part that trips people up: travellers from K-ETA-exempt countries generally do not hold a valid K-ETA, precisely because they did not have to apply for one. So in practice most of them still need to file the e-Arrival Card.

When is Q-Code required for Korea?

Q-Code is Korea's health and quarantine declaration system. On a direct flight, with no symptoms, and with no stopover or transit through an area on Korea's quarantine-priority list, it is generally not required.

Check the official guidance if either of these applies:

• You stopped over or transited through a designated quarantine-priority area before arriving
• You develop a fever, cough, sore throat or similar symptoms during the trip

The official system is qcode.kdca.go.kr. The list of designated areas is updated periodically, so travellers with a connecting flight should check again shortly before departure.

Is SeS automatic immigration worth registering for?

SeS (Smart Entry Service) lets eligible travellers use the automated gates, and registered users who remain valid are exempt from the e-Arrival Card. Registration requires meeting the age requirement, completing one manual immigration clearance first, then enrolling fingerprints and a facial scan at a registration centre.

Smart Pass is a different thing: it is Incheon Airport's facial-recognition service for departure security screening. It does not replace the e-Arrival Card.

Rule of thumb: if you visit Korea several times a year, SeS is worth it. For an occasional trip, the standard process is fine.

Korea entry FAQ

Do I need K-ETA for Korea in 2026?

Travellers from countries covered by the temporary exemption, including Taiwan, do not need K-ETA. The exemption currently runs to 31 December 2026, so check the official site for anything beyond that date.

When should I file the e-Arrival Card? Can I do it early?

It must be filed within 72 hours of arrival, so filing far in advance is not possible. The day before departure is a good time, and save the PDF or a screenshot to your phone.

If K-ETA is waived, does that mean I skip the e-Arrival Card?

No. The exemption applies to people who hold a valid K-ETA. Travellers from waiver countries usually do not hold one, so most of them still need to file the e-Arrival Card.

Is Q-Code mandatory?

On a direct flight with no symptoms and no transit through a designated quarantine-priority area, it is generally not required. Check the official guidance if you have a stopover or feel unwell.

Will I have a problem at immigration without mobile data?

You can save the completed e-Arrival Card as a PDF or screenshot and show it offline. In practice you will still want data for the subway, taxis, contacting your accommodation, or amending details at short notice - so arrange a Korea eSIM before you fly.

Bottom line

The key point for 2026: no K-ETA does not mean nothing to do. Most travellers still file the e-Arrival Card, and it sits inside a 72-hour window before arrival. Gather your flight and accommodation details once the trip is booked, file the day before you leave, save the confirmation, and you can walk straight out of Incheon.

Related reading