U.S. Grantee Handbook: Arrival

 

When entering Korea, please make sure to have the following documents in your carry-on bag:

• Passport & printed visa
• Second form of photo ID & passport photo
• Printed award letter & award document
• Korean cash (for transportation, or emergencies)
• ASPE letter and/or personal insurance card (ASPE letter issued by KAEC and emailed to grantee)

If traveling with dependents:

• Printed copy of marriage certificate for a spouse
• Printed copy of birth certificate for a child

 

 

It is also suggested you pack the following items in your carry-on:

• Pen (to fill out paperwork on the plane)
• Smartphone (preferably unlocked)
• Laptop/tablet & cables
• Adapters
• 2~3 outfits in case of baggage delays
• Travel toiletries
• Any prescription medication, along with the printed prescription

 

 

On the plane, you will be given the standard Arrival Card to fill out (an example can be found by clicking here). To complete this form, put the following:

• Occupation: For your occupation, write “Fulbright.”
• Purpose of Visit: Check the “Other” option and write “Fulbright” next to it.
• Address: the address where you will be staying. If you don’t have an established address, you can use the Fulbright Building Address of Baekbeom-ro 28-gil 23, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04156
• Phone Number: Yours, or if you do not have one, the Fulbright Korea office number at 02-3275-4018

While paper arrival cards will be available until the end of 2025, on February 24, 2025, the Korean government launched a new e-Arrival Card system. e-Arrival Cards can be submitted up to three (3) days in advance of an individual’s arrival in Korea. If you would like to submit your arrival card via the internet in advance, please go to www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr

Individuals arriving in Korea are not required to complete a Customs Form unless they have something to declare. An example of a Customs Form (and the types of items that must be declared) is available by clicking here.

 

 

Quarantine Desk: Upon arrival, you will walk by the Quarantine Desk. Your temperature will automatically be checked as you walk by. If your temperature is above normal, you may be stopped by a quarantine officer to discuss your temperature and/or discuss any other symptoms you may have.

Please note that, if you have a temperature/other symptoms (or if you are coming from an area that has had a recent outbreak of infectious disease), you may be asked to complete a Health Declaration and/or a Travel Record Declaration, which must then be submitted to a quarantine officer for review.

Immigration: After Quarantine, you will go through Immigration. At Immigration, you must present your:

• Passport
• Visa
• Arrival Card (or e-Arrival Card confirmation)
• Award Document and/or Award Letter (in some cases)

If you are traveling with family members/dependents, we also recommend having paper copies of your marriage certificate (for a spouse) or birth certificates (for children) on hand in case you are asked for documentation verifying relationship. These documents were a greater consideration during the pandemic, when families might have to quarantine together, but it is still best to have these documents on hand, just in case.

Baggage and Customs: These are done in the standard fashion. Please note on the airport monitors which carousel will be used to deliver your luggage from your flight.

After collecting your bags, but before exiting the baggage area, if you have items to declare, you will need to submit your Customs Declaration Form to officials standing near the exit gates.

To avoid potential issues with Customs, we recommend that you do not bring any of the following with you:

• Animal products (jerky, sausages, cheese, milk, etc.)
• Agricultural products (plants, fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, soil, etc.)
• Additionally, please do not take any food off of your flight; it needs to be properly disposed of by flight staff.

If you are bringing items subject to Customs Declaration with you, they may be permitted into the country, but they will likely need to be inspected prior to a decision being made about whether you can carry them into Korea.

Once you have cleared Customs, you may exit the baggage area to enter the arrival hall.