A connection in Incheon is one of the most common reasons people end up on this page, and the answer turns on a single question: do you leave the international transit area?
If you stay airside
Passengers who remain in the international transit area and board an onward flight do not enter Korea. In that case no entry permission applies, because there is no entry.
If you leave the airport
Going through immigration — to collect checked baggage, to stay overnight outside the airport, or to see the city between flights — is an entry. That is when the K-ETA or an applicable exemption matters, exactly as it would for a holiday.
Long layovers are where people get caught
- Baggage that is not checked through to the final destination forces you to enter.
- An overnight connection with a hotel outside the airport is an entry.
- Terminal changes that require re-entry through immigration are an entry.
Decide this before you book, not at the transfer desk. If there is any chance you will leave the airport, apply and have the permission in hand — it is valid for 3 years, so it is not wasted.
Source: K-ETA official portal
More about K-ETA
After you land
K-ETA gets you on the plane. What comes after — arrival card, e-gates, cash, tax refunds, transport, healthcare, emergencies — checked with official sources.
Liquids and power banks
Carry-on liquids: 100 ml containers in one sealed 1 litre bag. Since 20 April 2026, at most 2 power banks per person, and no charging on board.
After the exemption
Many nationalities are temporarily exempt from the K-ETA until 31 December 2026. What that means for trips planned around that date.
If denied
A denial does not automatically mean you cannot travel, but it does mean the online route is closed. What the next step actually is.
Which one do I need?
Similar names, very different rules. Which scheme applies to which destination, what each costs, and the mistakes that come from mixing them up.
Arrival card and e-gates
Without a K-ETA you file an arrival card (online from 3 days before). Since 16 March 2026, visitors aged 17+ from 42 countries can register for e-gates.