K-ETA vs Arrival Card
The K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) is a pre-approval for visa-exempt travelers, while the Arrival Card is a declaration of health/entry info.If your nationality requires the K-ETA (small fee required), you are exempt from the Arrival Card. If you are exempt from the K-ETA, you must fill out the Arrival Card.
Citizens of many countries such as the USA and the UK, are exempt from filling out the K-ETA and only need to fill out the FREE Arrival Card. This has been marked as temporary, but they keep pushing out the temporary exemption period. Currently it's set to end late 2026.
For either form, if your travel plans change, you should update the information before arrival. You can go so on either of the links provided below, or via the link they will send you in an email after you submit the form initially.
Check which form you are required to submit.
If you are a citizen of a country that does not require the KETA, this form will show you that you can go right to the free Arrival Card.
If you are a citizen of a country that requires the KETA form, this form will direct you to the correct page.
E-Arrival Card
Only submit this form if you are exempt from the K-ETA.You can fill in the paper form once you arrive at the airport, or fill it out online up to 72 hours before landing, to avoid filling out a paper card on the plane or at the airport.
There is no fee! It's easy to accidentally click on a third party link disguised as the official government link. If you see a fee, use the link I have provided here. Or possibly if you see a fee of 10,000 South Korean won, you might be on the K-ETA form.
South Korea E-Arrival Card official government page
The landing page for the arrival card shows you the arrival dates available for submission, specifies there is no fee, gives you a link to check which form you are required to submit, and gives you a link to the individual form itself.
South Korea arrival card instructions
Choose your language in the top right corner. On the first page, you must agree to all in order to proceed.
Enter all the information they ask for. Select your airline first and it will automatically add the first two letters of the flight number.
When it comes to the address where you are staying, unless you are writing in Korean, choose English. I usually just Google the address of my hotel and put the first part of it in, minus Incheon, South Korea. Click the find button and if you entered it correctly, and address or more will come up in a drop down for you to select from.
If you are just transiting but have to exit security, I enter the address of the airport.
That's pretty much it. Once you submit it it will likely approve it on the spot with a link to download or print it. You did not however have to bring it with you to immigration. They have it on electronic file.
You will be emailed a link to it in case you need to make changes before your arrival.
K-ETA
South Korea K-ETA Form official government pageThe South Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) is a mandatory travel document for visa-free foreign visitors.
It cannot be submitted more than 72 hours before your arrival, and should be done 24 hours before to be safe.
There is a charge of charge 10,000 South Korean won.
The landing page for the K-ETA shows you the processing time, specifies the fee, gives you a link to check which form you are required to submit, and gives you a link to the individual form itself.
The information I have provided here does not substitute for checking the actual government site for current information.
