Arriving in Korea: Immigration and Customs at Incheon (2026)

1Step 1 — Follow the arrival signs

Leave the aircraft and follow the 입국ipgukArrivals signs. If you are connecting to another flight without entering Korea, follow 환승hwanseungTransfer instead. At some gates you take the airport's shuttle train to the main terminal first.

2Step 2 — Quarantine

You first pass 검역geomyeokQuarantine. Most travelers just keep walking. If you visited a quarantine-management region and have symptoms such as fever or cough, you must report it. You can do this online through Q-CODE from 7 days before arrival, or at a kiosk on site. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) warns of fines of up to KRW 10 million for not reporting or for false reports.

3Step 3 — Immigration

At 입국심사ipguk simsaImmigration, join the 외국인oeguginForeigners lanes. Hand over your passport. If you are 17 or older, you place both index fingers on the scanner and look at the camera. Korean law requires this for foreign visitors, with narrow exceptions such as diplomats.

The officer may ask short questions:

• What is the purpose of your visit?
• How long will you stay?
• Where are you staying?
• Do you have a return ticket?

Answer briefly and truthfully. Show your booking or ticket if asked. K-ETA approval, a visa or an arrival card does not guarantee entry. The officer makes the final decision.

Automated gates: some visitors can use 자동출입국심사jadong churipguk simsaSmart Entry Service instead. As of October 2026, the Ministry of Justice offers this to visa-free visitors aged 17 or over from 42 countries, who register at a center in the arrivals area at Incheon or Jeju airport. Eligibility depends on nationality, so check the signs and the HiKorea website.

4Step 4 — Baggage claim

Check the belt number on the screens after immigration, then go down to 수하물 찾는 곳suhamul channeun gotBaggage claim. If your bag is missing or damaged, report it before you leave the baggage claim area. Incheon Airport's website has a page on lost and damaged baggage.

5Step 5 — Customs

At 세관segwanCustoms there are two kinds of lanes:

• 신고물품 없음singo mulpum eopseumNothing to declare: no form needed. Officers may still inspect your bags.
• 신고물품 있음singo mulpum isseumGoods to declare: hand in a declaration on paper or through the Korea Customs Service mobile declaration.

You have goods to declare if you carry any of the following:

• Means of payment worth more than USD 10,000 in total. This includes foreign currency, Korean won and checks.
• Goods over the duty-free allowance. See the table below.
• Meat products, fruit, vegetables, plants or seeds.
• Medicines that may be misused, and narcotic or psychotropic drugs.

6Step 6 — Animal and plant quarantine

Food and plants are checked by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) at the airport. Do not bring raw meat, ham, sausages or jerky. If you have them anyway, declare them. Undeclared meat products can bring a fine of up to KRW 10 million. That rule has applied since 1 June 2019 because of African swine fever. Declare fresh fruit, vegetables and seeds for inspection. Banned produce is destroyed on the spot, and soil is banned outright. The APQA gives mango, papaya, orange, lychee and grapes as examples of banned produce.