South Korea Entry Preparation Guide (Passport, Visa, K-ETA, Q-CODE)

This is a pre-departure guide for foreign travelers preparing to visit South Korea. Here is key information you must check before departure, including passport validity rules, visa exemption requirements, K-ETA application procedures, and online arrival card and Q-CODE registration to help speed up quarantine and immigration.

Passport and VisaCovers passport validity requirements, visa exemption conditions, and visa issuance guidelines for entering South Korea.

To ensure safe entry into South Korea, check your passport type, remaining validity, and visa requirements first.

Passport Validity Rules:
- In principle, you can enter South Korea even if your passport has less than 6 months of validity remaining, and you can stay up to the expiration date of your passport.
- However, if you obtain a K-ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), it is valid for up to 3 years. If your passport validity is shorter than 3 years, the K-ETA will only be valid until your passport expires. Therefore, if you renew or re-issue your passport, you must apply for a new K-ETA.
- Notice for Single-Use Passports: A single-use passport (emergency passport, temporary passport, etc.) allows only one international departure. If you hold a single-use passport, you cannot enter South Korea even if it has sufficient validity remaining.
Visa Regulations:
- Foreigners entering South Korea need a valid passport and a visa issued by a Korean Embassy or diplomatic mission, or an e-Visa issued through the Visa Portal.
- When Visa Issuance Is Exempted:
  - Citizens of countries with visa exemption agreements with South Korea
  - Travelers holding a valid re-entry permit or those exempt from re-entry permits
- Travelers from visa-waiver countries who wish to enter South Korea without a visa must apply for and receive approval for a K-ETA before boarding.

Important Notes for Unaccompanied Minors (Under 18) Entry & Booking:

Entry Restrictions: There are no legal restrictions banning minors from traveling alone without parents or legal guardians when entering South Korea.
Flight Requirements: Generally, travelers aged 12 and older can board international flights alone. However, rules on solo travel and required documents vary by airline and route, so check with your airline before booking.
Accommodation Booking: Many accommodation facilities (such as hotels) in Korea allow unaccompanied minors to stay under the condition of submitting a consent form signed by a parent. Rules vary by property, so check eligibility and required documents with the hotel before booking. For details, check the Korea Accommodation Types & Booking Guide.

K-ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)Provides information on K-ETA application procedures, fees, and validity period for visa-free travelers.

K-ETA is an online system where visa-free foreign travelers submit personal and travel details to receive travel authorization before boarding a flight or ship bound for South Korea.

Application and Processing Time:
- You must apply before boarding a flight or ship. Screening is usually completed within 72 hours, but it may take longer depending on the situation. Once your itinerary is confirmed, it is safer to apply well in advance.
Validity Period:
- Valid for 3 years from the date of approval. However, if your passport expires in less than 3 years, the K-ETA is valid only until the passport expiration date. If your passport details do not change, you can enter multiple times during the validity period without reapplying.
Application Fee:
- KRW 10,000 (approx. USD $7–8, plus a 3% online card processing fee). This fee is non-refundable even if the application is denied.
Entry Procedure Benefit:
- Foreign travelers entering with an approved K-ETA do not need to submit a paper arrival card upon arriving in South Korea.
Application Tip:
- Applying through the mobile app lets you scan passport information and photos easily using the electronic passport's NFC feature.

Essential Precautions When Applying for K-ETA:

Use Official Website & App: Apply only through the Official South Korea Government Website or official mobile app. Check the URL carefully to avoid unofficial agency sites or phishing sites requesting payment.
Validity of Entry Approval: K-ETA is not an official visa, but a pre-screening entry authorization. Final entry permission is determined by an immigration officer upon arrival at the airport or port in South Korea.
Reapplication Required for Personal Info Changes: Even if time remains on your validity period, you must apply for a new K-ETA and get approval if your passport is reissued or personal details change (e.g., name, gender, date of birth).
Updating Travel Info: If your purpose of entry, accommodation address in Korea, or contact details change, update them in the 'Check Results' section on the official website before entry.
Temporary Exemption & Rechecking Visa Requirements: K-ETA is temporarily exempt for visitors from certain countries and regions such as the US (including Guam), Canada, the UK, France, Germany, and Australia. However, travelers entering without a K-ETA must submit a paper arrival card upon arrival.
Visa policies can change, so always double-check the latest rules before departure, as visa requirements may apply if visa-waiver agreements are suspended.

Electronic Arrival Card Registration (Online)Learn how to complete the online electronic arrival card conveniently before entering South Korea.

South Korea has phased out handwritten paper arrival cards and introduced a convenient online electronic arrival card system through the website. However, travelers who already hold a valid K-ETA do not need to register an electronic arrival card separately.

Official Website and Fees:
- You must use the Official South Korea Government Website. Filling out and submitting the form is completely free. Be careful of unauthorized third-party sites charging fees.
Registration Timeframe:
- You can complete and register online from 3 days prior to arriving in South Korea. If not completed in advance, you can fill it out on your smartphone at the airport before passing immigration, but to prevent delays, it is recommended to submit it at least 1 day before arrival.
Submission Confirmation & Storage:
- After completing registration, a confirmation file will be sent via email or displayed on screen. Since internet connection may be unstable at immigration, we strongly recommend taking a screenshot or saving it as a PDF file on your smartphone.
Proxy Registration for Minors:
- Children under 14 cannot register by themselves. An accompanying parent or guardian must register on their behalf as a family representative.

Q-CODEQuarantine and Health Questionnaire

A pre-entry system to register your health status online before entering South Korea for faster quarantine clearance upon arrival at the airport.

Who Needs Q-CODE Registration:
- Passengers who have visited, stayed in, or transited through key quarantine management areas.
- Travelers visiting general quarantine management areas who show suspected symptoms such as cough or fever.
- If you have not stayed in or transited through quarantine management areas and have no symptoms, you do not need to register a Q-CODE.
How to Submit:
- Submit your health information on the KDCA Q-CODE (Quarantine Information Pre-entry System) website before entry, and present the generated QR code to the quarantine desk upon arrival at the South Korean airport.
- If not registered in advance, you must fill out a paper health questionnaire on the plane or in front of the quarantine desk and submit it manually.

KDCA Q-CODE Official Website

Quarantine management area designations can change, so check the latest updates on the Q-CODE Official Website Notice Board.

Penalty Warning: Submitting false quarantine information or failing to submit required details may result in a fine of up to KRW 10 million under the Quarantine Act, so fill it out accurately.