South Korea introduces e-arrival card system for international travelers

Hong Kong residents will no longer need to submit paper forms upon arrival in South Korea starting Monday (Feb 24), as the country introduces an e-Arrival Card for international passengers to streamline the immigration process.

It is reported that foreign travelers can complete and submit the arrival forms online within three days before arrival, replacing the traditional paper-based arrival forms.

Local authorities stated that implementing the e-arrival card system will reduce immigration clearance time and ease airport congestion, effectively increasing the number of foreign tourists entering the country.

According to the application website, the process requires a photo of the passport bio-page, entry date, flight details, purpose of entry, intended accommodation address, and contact information.

Travelers can use either a paper form or an e-arrival card until December of this year. However, only the online arrival forms will be available starting January 2026.