Korea Entry Guide 2026: Arrival Card, Customs & Incheon

On a first flight to Korea, the stressful part is rarely the itinerary—it is usually whether you need K-ETA, how to file the arrival card, and which way to walk after landing at Incheon.

Below follows VISITKOREA, the official e-Arrival Card site, and the common airport flow for a 2026 Taiwan-passport visitor perspective. Rules change—recheck official sources before you fly.

Official links

• VISITKOREA: visa & entry rules
• Korea e-Arrival Card
• K-ETA official site
• Hi Korea
• Incheon Airport to Seoul · Korea eSIM

Taiwan visitors: visa, K-ETA, and e-Arrival Card

Per VISITKOREA’s Taiwan / Hong Kong / Macao visitor section (see the site for the page update date):

• Visa-free entry, maximum stay about 90 days (confirm current rules)
• Through 31 December 2026, Taiwan is among the temporary K-ETA exemption groups
• Even when K-ETA is waived, you still must file the free e-Arrival Card before arrival

K-ETA and the e-Arrival Card are two different systems: one is travel authorization; the other is an arrival declaration. Completing one does not complete the other.

How to file the e-Arrival Card

1. Open e-arrivalcard.go.kr (free)
2. Using Korean time, file within 3 days before arrival (official window: arrival day / 1 day before / 2 days before)
3. Enter passport, flight, and lodging / stay details, then submit
4. If details change, use the official lookup / edit flow before immigration (limits on changing arrival date, etc., are on the site)

Official reminder: submission expires after about 72 hours; it also expires after you pass immigration. File again for each new entry.

Incheon Airport arrival flow (typical order)

1. Deplane: follow Arrival / Immigration signs; confirm Terminal 1 or Terminal 2
2. Quarantine (if applicable): most asymptomatic travelers may not need Q-Code under current rules; follow health authority instructions if symptomatic or from a designated area
3. Immigration: passport + submitted e-Arrival Card; follow the officer’s instructions
4. Entry confirmation slip: foreign visitors often receive a computer-printed sheet—keep it for reference
5. Baggage claim: check the carousel number on the screens
6. Customs: nothing to declare → green channel; declare or selected for inspection → red / directed channel
7. Arrivals hall: buy a transit card, exchange currency, connect to AREX / bus / taxi

Customs and packing reminders

• Cash, securities, and similar items above the legal threshold must be declared (use Korea Customs’ current limit)
• Consular notices: to prevent African swine fever, do not bring pork products from Taiwan—penalties are severe
• Weapons, drugs, some lighters, and controlled items are prohibited; liquid rules follow security and airline policy

Three things to do right after arrival

1. Enable your travel eSIM / confirm mobile data (forms, rides, maps all need it)
2. Buy / top up T-money (usually needs KRW cash)
3. Pick transport based on your hotel: see Incheon → Seoul compared

For Taiwan visitors in 2026, remember: visa-free + (through year-end) often no K-ETA, but file the e-Arrival Card ahead → clear immigration, baggage, and customs at Incheon → then head into the city. Opening VISITKOREA and e-arrivalcard.go.kr once more before departure is safer than trusting an outdated guide.