Passport & Document Rules
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date from Korea, and it must contain at least one blank page for the arrival stamp. Emergency travel documents are not accepted for visa-waiver entry — you must hold a regular machine-readable passport.
- Passport valid 6+ months beyond departure
- At least 1 blank page
- K-ETA approval (if required for your nationality)
- Return or onward flight ticket
- Proof of accommodation for first nights
- Sufficient funds (immigration may ask)
K-ETA, Visa, or Neither?
Your entry path depends on nationality. Visa-waiver nationals generally need either a K-ETA or — during temporary exemption periods — nothing pre-arrival. Everyone else needs a visa issued at a Korean embassy before travel.
| Nationality | Requirement | Max Stay |
|---|
| US, UK, CA, AU, NZ | K-ETA or exempt | 90 days (180 for CA) |
| EU member states | K-ETA or exempt | 90 days |
| Japan, Singapore, HK | K-ETA or exempt | 90 days |
| China, India, Vietnam | C-3 visa required | 30-90 days |
| Russia, Philippines | C-3 visa required | 30-60 days |
Exemption status changes year to year. Always check k-eta.go.kr before booking.
Arrival Process at Incheon
Incheon International Airport (ICN) handles the majority of Korea's international arrivals. The process is efficient — most travelers clear immigration in 20-40 minutes during normal periods. Korean e-gates are available for holders of Korean ARCs and travelers on the SES (Smart Entry Service) program.
- Disembark and follow signs to Immigration (입국심사)
- Fill out the paper or digital Travel Record Card (if still required for your nationality)
- Present passport and K-ETA confirmation at the booth
- Fingerprint and photo for first-time arrivals
- Collect checked luggage
- Submit customs declaration (paper or electronic)
- Exit through green (nothing to declare) or red (declare) channel
Use the Incheon Airport app or the Q-CODE health declaration portal if active. It saves 5-10 minutes at the health desk.
Customs & Duty-Free Limits
Korea's duty-free allowance for arriving travelers is US$800 total value of goods, one bottle of alcohol up to 1 liter (under US$400), 200 cigarettes, and 60ml of perfume. Cash over US$10,000 equivalent must be declared. Agricultural products, fresh produce, and most meat items are prohibited.
Undeclared items over the duty-free limit trigger penalties of 30-60% of the declared value. Korean customs uses baggage scanners extensively.
- Allowed: personal electronics, clothing, non-prescription medicine (30-day supply)
- Prohibited: fresh meat, fruits, vegetables, illegal drugs, counterfeit goods
- Declare: alcohol over 1L, cash over US$10K equivalent, commercial quantities
- Restricted: prescription drugs (bring prescription), CBD products (mostly banned)
Passport & Document Rules
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date from Korea, and it must contain at least one blank page for the arrival stamp. Emergency travel documents are not accepted for visa-waiver entry — you must hold a regular machine-readable passport.
- Passport valid 6+ months beyond departure
- At least 1 blank page
- K-ETA approval (if required for your nationality)
- Return or onward flight ticket
- Proof of accommodation for first nights
- Sufficient funds (immigration may ask)
K-ETA, Visa, or Neither?
Your entry path depends on nationality. Visa-waiver nationals generally need either a K-ETA or — during temporary exemption periods — nothing pre-arrival. Everyone else needs a visa issued at a Korean embassy before travel.
| Nationality | Requirement | Max Stay |
|---|
| US, UK, CA, AU, NZ | K-ETA or exempt | 90 days (180 for CA) |
| EU member states | K-ETA or exempt | 90 days |
| Japan, Singapore, HK | K-ETA or exempt | 90 days |
| China, India, Vietnam | C-3 visa required | 30-90 days |
| Russia, Philippines | C-3 visa required | 30-60 days |
Exemption status changes year to year. Always check k-eta.go.kr before booking.
Arrival Process at Incheon
Incheon International Airport (ICN) handles the majority of Korea's international arrivals. The process is efficient — most travelers clear immigration in 20-40 minutes during normal periods. Korean e-gates are available for holders of Korean ARCs and travelers on the SES (Smart Entry Service) program.
- Disembark and follow signs to Immigration (입국심사)
- Fill out the paper or digital Travel Record Card (if still required for your nationality)
- Present passport and K-ETA confirmation at the booth
- Fingerprint and photo for first-time arrivals
- Collect checked luggage
- Submit customs declaration (paper or electronic)
- Exit through green (nothing to declare) or red (declare) channel
Use the Incheon Airport app or the Q-CODE health declaration portal if active. It saves 5-10 minutes at the health desk.
Customs & Duty-Free Limits
Korea's duty-free allowance for arriving travelers is US$800 total value of goods, one bottle of alcohol up to 1 liter (under US$400), 200 cigarettes, and 60ml of perfume. Cash over US$10,000 equivalent must be declared. Agricultural products, fresh produce, and most meat items are prohibited.
Undeclared items over the duty-free limit trigger penalties of 30-60% of the declared value. Korean customs uses baggage scanners extensively.
- Allowed: personal electronics, clothing, non-prescription medicine (30-day supply)
- Prohibited: fresh meat, fruits, vegetables, illegal drugs, counterfeit goods
- Declare: alcohol over 1L, cash over US$10K equivalent, commercial quantities
- Restricted: prescription drugs (bring prescription), CBD products (mostly banned)