Travel Guide Korea

Korea Arrival Checklist: What to Do Before You Fly and on Day One

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osungcta1

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As of 2026-11-12 · Updated 2026-11-12

In short

  1. Before you fly, check whether you need K-ETA, a visa, or neither. The official K-ETA notice of 23 December 2025 extends the temporary exemption from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026 (KST) for the countries and regions already exempt. Confirm your case on the official sites.
  2. Complete the official Korea Electronic Travel Authorization or visa step first, if it applies to you. Then see whether you should submit the e-Arrival Card.
  3. Plan how you will pay in Korea, and declare means of payment over USD 10,000 equivalent to Korea Customs.
  4. Choose an official way from Incheon Airport into Seoul: AREX, airport bus, late-night bus, or a taxi from a designated stand.
  5. Use only official websites for applications, tickets, and rates. This checklist has no affiliate links.

Open the official VisitKorea English website

This page is a hub. It puts the first official steps in one checklist, then links to the detailed guides for K-ETA, the e-Arrival Card, money, and airport transport.

Rules can change. Check the official page again before you book or fly, especially K-ETA, because the current exemption period is time-limited.

Before you fly

Step Confirm on official sites
1. Passport and entry type Visa, K-ETA, or neither
2. K-ETA, if you need it Apply only at k-eta.go.kr
3. e-Arrival Card Submit if your entry type must
4. Money and cash limits Cards, won, and USD 10,000
5. Airport to hotel AREX, bus, or taxi
  1. Passport and entry type. Check whether you need a visa, K-ETA, or neither. Start with www.hikorea.go.kr and the official guides linked below.
  2. K-ETA, if you need it. Apply only at www.k-eta.go.kr. See who is exempt until 31 December 2026 and how to use only the official website.
  3. e-Arrival Card. See whether your entry type should submit the form, usually after K-ETA or a visa is settled. Details: Korea e-Arrival Card.
  4. Money and cash limits. Plan cards and a little won. If you will carry more than USD 10,000 equivalent, prepare to declare it to Customs. See Money in Korea.
  5. Airport to hotel. Check your Incheon Airport terminal, your arrival time, and whether AREX, a bus, or a taxi fits. See Incheon Airport to Seoul.

Save official bookmarks before you travel: www.k-eta.go.kr, www.hikorea.go.kr, the e-Arrival Card page on HiKorea, www.airport.kr, and www.arex.or.kr.

If you are not sure about a rule, call the official 1330 Korea Travel Hotline listed by VisitKorea, or use the contact details on the official site you need.

K-ETA and the e-Arrival Card, in brief

K-ETA is a separate official step from the e-Arrival Card. Do not treat a travel-agency email or a look-alike website as the government form.

The official K-ETA notice (23 December 2025) extends the temporary exemption for countries and regions already exempt, from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026 (KST). Travelers who are exempt can still apply for K-ETA, for a non-refundable fee. The period can change. Re-check the official notice before you fly.

If you still need K-ETA, use only www.k-eta.go.kr. The official fee and processing details are in Use Only the Official K-ETA Website.

After that, check the official e-Arrival Card rules. Some travelers submit the form before arrival; others may still need a paper process, depending on official instructions at the time. The details are in Korea e-Arrival Card: Do You Need to Submit One?.

Open the official K-ETA website

On arrival at Incheon Airport

Follow official airport signs for immigration, baggage claim, and Customs. Have your passport ready, plus any K-ETA or e-Arrival Card record the official site told you to keep.

Declare means of payment over USD 10,000 equivalent to Korea Customs. The Bank of Korea states the same arrival and departure limit. Details and official hours for airport exchange desks are in the money guide.

Then go to the train, bus, or official taxi stand. VisitKorea lists AREX, the airport limousine, and taxis as the main ways into Seoul. Late-night buses also run after many daytime services end, around 23:30 toward central Seoul, according to VisitKorea.

Use designated taxi stands only. The official airport taxi guide warns that illegal solicitation and overcharging by call vans posing as taxis are common.

Read the official VisitKorea airport transportation guide

A simple day-one order

Order Do this
1 Clear immigration
2 Baggage, then Customs
3 Exchange a modest amount
4 Buy a T-money Travel Card
5 Take AREX, a bus, or a taxi
  1. Clear immigration with your passport and any official arrival documents you already submitted.
  2. Collect baggage, then complete Customs. Declare cash or other means of payment over the official limit.
  3. Exchange a modest amount of won at a bank or authorized airport desk if you need cash today. Official 24-hour desks are listed in the money guide.
  4. Buy a T-money Travel Card if you will use buses, subway, or some taxis. The official T-money page lists the Travel Card at 4,000 won.
  5. Take AREX, a ticketed airport bus or late-night bus, or a taxi from a designated stand. Confirm today’s fare on the official page.

For official eSIM and SIM prices from SKT, KT, and LG U+, see Getting Mobile Data on Day One in Korea. VisitKorea and the official Incheon Airport facilities list also show roaming and telecom desks at the airport; confirm hours and prices on those official pages.

Official visitor programs after you arrive

Korea also runs official tourist tax refund and public-transport card programs. Use the official VisitKorea pages and the program’s own site when you shop or buy a pass.

For official tax-refund thresholds and instant-refund caps, see Korea Tax Refund for Tourists. For official transit-card prices and the discontinued Korea Tour Card, see T-money Travel Card vs WOWPASS. For official city-pass prices, see Discover Seoul Pass: Is It Worth It? and Seoul Climate Card Short-Term Pass.

Incheon Airport’s official facilities list shows tax-refund counters. Confirm locations and hours on the airport website before you depart Korea.

Common mistakes

  • Applying for K-ETA on a copycat website, or paying a third party that is not www.k-eta.go.kr.
  • Skipping the official exemption check, or assuming the exemption will still apply after 31 December 2026 without reading a new official notice.
  • Mixing up K-ETA and the e-Arrival Card. They are different official steps.
  • Carrying more than USD 10,000 equivalent and not declaring it to Customs.
  • Accepting an unofficial taxi offer away from the designated stand.
  • Relying on an old blog fare for AREX, buses, or taxis instead of the official page on the day you travel.

FAQ

Q1. What should I do first if I am flying to Korea soon?

Confirm whether you need a visa, K-ETA, or neither on the official immigration sites. Then complete any required form, and only after that submit the e-Arrival Card if official rules say you should.

Q2. Do I still need K-ETA in 2026?

It depends on your nationality and travel dates. The official exemption notice currently runs to 31 December 2026 for eligible visa-free countries. Read the exemption guide and re-check www.k-eta.go.kr before you fly.

Q3. Is the e-Arrival Card the same as K-ETA?

No. K-ETA is an official travel authorization. The e-Arrival Card is an official arrival declaration form. See the e-Arrival Card guide.

Q4. How do I get from Incheon Airport to Seoul?

Official options include the AREX Express or All-Stop Train, airport limousines, late-night buses, and taxis from designated stands. Fares and times are in Incheon Airport to Seoul.

Q5. Should I exchange money at the airport?

You can, at a bank or authorized desk. Some official Incheon Airport exchangers are open 24 hours. You can also exchange later at banks or authorized centers. See Money in Korea.

Q6. Where can I get official help in English?

VisitKorea lists the 1330 Korea Travel Hotline. For airport questions, Incheon Airport’s customer service number on official pages is 1577-2600, 07:00–22:00 year-round.

Printable-style checklist

  • My passport is valid for this trip, and I have confirmed visa, K-ETA, or exemption status on an official site.
  • If I need K-ETA, I applied only at www.k-eta.go.kr and kept the official result.
  • I have checked whether I should submit the e-Arrival Card, and I did so on the official HiKorea page if required.
  • I know the USD 10,000 Customs declaration rule and have a plan for cards and a little won.
  • I know my Incheon Airport terminal and have chosen AREX, a bus, or a designated-stand taxi.
  • I have bookmarked official pages for K-ETA, HiKorea, the airport, and AREX, and I will re-check them before I fly.
Related guides

These guides are separate. Open the one that matches your situation.

  • K-ETA Exemption Until 31 December 2026: Who Does Not Need to Apply — whether you need K-ETA
  • Use Only the Official K-ETA Website — official K-ETA site and fee
  • Korea e-Arrival Card: Do You Need to Submit One? — the arrival declaration form
  • Incheon Airport to Seoul: AREX, Bus, and Taxi Compared — train, bus, and taxi into Seoul
  • Money in Korea: Cards, ATMs, and Currency Exchange for Visitors — won, cards, and official exchange rules
  • Getting Mobile Data on Day One in Korea (eSIM and Official Options) — official carrier eSIM and SIM options
  • Korea Tax Refund for Tourists: Immediate vs Airport, Limits, and Steps — shopping tax refunds
  • T-money Travel Card vs WOWPASS: What Replaced the Korea Tour Card — official transit cards
  • Where to Stay in Seoul for First-Time Visitors (by Area) — official area guides
  • Apps to Download Before You Fly to Korea — official apps to install first
  • Discover Seoul Pass: Is It Worth It? — official attraction pass
  • Seoul Climate Card Short-Term Pass: When It Saves Money (and When It Does Not) — official short-term transit pass
  • Hotel Tax Refund in Korea: Who Qualifies and How to Claim — official hotel refund rules
  • Korea Visa-Free Entry and Visa Types for Visitors — official visa-free and visa-type overview
  • How to Use the Seoul Subway: Tickets, Fares, and Transfers — official subway tickets and fares
  • How to Book KTX as a Foreign Visitor (Official Korail Options) — official train booking
  • Where to Stay in Busan for First-Time Visitors (by Area) — official Busan area guides

Sources（Checked 2026-11-12）

Rules, fares, and official programs can change. Check the official website again before you travel.

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