All visitors to South Korea complete an arrival card at immigration, either on paper distributed on the flight or digitally via the Visit Korea website, before departure. Here is exactly what to write.
South Korea’s arrival card (also called the disembarkation card or immigration card) is a short form required from all non-Korean visitors at immigration. It collects basic information about your trip, your personal details, the purpose of your visit, your address in Korea, and flight information. The process is quick, but having the right information ready avoids fumbling at the immigration desk.
Quick answer: The paper form is distributed on your flight. You need your passport, your hotel address for the first night in Korea, your departure flight number, and the total amount of cash you are carrying (if over USD 10,000, this must be declared separately). Fill it out on the plane.
Who Needs to Fill Out the Korea Arrival Card
All foreign nationals arriving in South Korea must complete an arrival card. Korean nationals and overseas Koreans (F-4 visa holders) are exempt. There are no exceptions based on nationality; whether you are a visa-exempt visitor from Canada or a visa holder from another country, the card is required.
How to Complete the Korea Arrival Card
Personal Information
- Family name and given name: As it appears on your passport. All capitals.
- Date of birth: Day/Month/Year format.
- Nationality: As stated on your passport.
- Passport number: Exactly as printed on your passport.
- Gender: Male or Female.
Flight Information
- Flight number: The number of the flight you arrived on (e.g. KE072, AC63). Check your boarding pass.
- Flight from: The city or airport you departed from on your final leg (not your origin city if you had a connection).
Purpose of Visit
Select the most appropriate box: Tourism/Transit, Business, Study, Employment, or Other. For holiday travellers, Tourism is always correct regardless of any secondary activities.
Address in Korea
Your accommodation address for the first night. Write the hotel name and address in English. If staying with a private individual, write their full address. Serviced apartment and Airbnb addresses work just by writing the property address.
If you have not yet booked accommodation for the first night, write the address of any hotel in the area you plan to stay. You may be asked about it at immigration, but specific hotel confirmation is not always verified.
Contact in Korea
A phone number you can be reached at in Korea, your holafly local e-SIM number if you have one, or the hotel phone number if not.
Signature
Sign and date exactly as you would on official documents. Unsigned cards are returned.
Cash Declaration
If you are carrying more than USD 10,000 equivalent in cash or monetary instruments (traveller’s cheques, money orders), you must complete a separate customs declaration. The arrival card has a checkbox for this. Tick it and proceed to the customs declaration desk after immigration. Failing to declare large amounts of cash can result in confiscation.
Most tourists carry well under this threshold. If you are unsure what counts, see the Korea what not to bring guide for customs rules.
Digital Option: Visit Korea Pre-Registration
The Korea Tourism Organization operates a Visit Korea pre-registration system at visitkorea.or.kr that allows you to submit your arrival card information digitally before your flight. You receive a QR code to show at immigration. This is an optional paper; cards are still accepted, but can speed up the process at Incheon Airport on busy arrival mornings.
K-ETA vs Arrival Card: What is the Difference?
These are two separate things. The K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) is a pre-travel authorization that was required before COVID and has since been suspended for most Western nationalities. See the K-ETA guide and the Korea Q-CODE guide for the current status. The arrival card is a separate document required at the immigration desk upon arrival, regardless of whether you need a K-ETT.
What Happens at Incheon Airport Immigration
After landing at Incheon, follow the signs to immigration. Join the line for foreign nationals (not Korean citizens). When called to the desk, hand over your passport and arrival card. The officer will scan your passport, check your biometrics (fingerprints and photo are taken from all visitors), ask a brief question about your visit, stamp your passport, and hand everything back. The process takes under 2 minutes for most visitors.
After immigration, collect your baggage and proceed to customs. Most tourists walk through the green (nothing to declare) lane. See the Korea what not to bring guide for what triggers the red lane.
Then go straight to the AREX train for Seoul, see the Incheon Airport to Seoul guide for all transport options and costs.
