EasyTicket Even adult Korean nationals may or may not need to register for automated immigration clearance, depending on their circumstances. Korean nationals aged 17 or older with a Resident Registration Card can use it right away, while children need pre-registration and a legal guardian.
Comparing who can skip the line with automated immigration clearance
Travelers who can use it without pre-registration
Under Ministry of Justice rules, Korean nationals aged 17 or older with a Resident Registration Card can use automated immigration clearance for entry and exit without pre-registering. Registered foreign nationals aged 17 or older with an Alien Registration Card or Domestic Residence Report can also use it right away.
| Eligible traveler | Pre-registration | Usage conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Korean nationals aged 17 or older with a Resident Registration Card | Not required | Entry and exit |
| Korean nationals aged 14 or older without a Resident Registration Card | Required | Must visit an enrollment center in person |
| Korean nationals aged 7 to under 14 | Required | Enroll with a legal guardian |
| Foreign nationals aged 17 or older with an Alien Registration Card or Domestic Residence Report | Not required | Entry and exit |
| Short-term foreign visitors aged 17 or older | Not required | Exit only during the period of stay after providing biometric information on entry |
Exceptions for families traveling with children
Even if your family arrives together, you must enter the clearance gate one person at a time. Children aged 7 to under 14 must pre-register with a legal guardian. Simply completing registration doesn’t mean they can pass through the same gate as their guardian.
How to register at Incheon Airport and what to bring
Registration locations in Terminals 1 and 2
The Incheon Airport Terminal 1 enrollment center is on the third-floor departures level, behind Area F for airline check-in. At Terminal 2, the Immigration Service Center in the right-hand corridor of the Central Government Complex Administrative Center on the second floor provides guidance on automated immigration clearance registration.
Double-check the documents for children
Applicants must visit in person. Bring your passport as a basic requirement. Registered foreign nationals and domestic residence reporters also need an Alien Registration Card or Domestic Residence Report. Korean nationals aged 7 to under 14 must bring a Detailed Basic Certificate and Family Relation Certificate issued within the past three months, along with the legal guardian’s ID. Comparing the list of required documents makes one thing clear: children’s paperwork is the easiest to miss on a family trip.
How to use automated immigration clearance and get through smoothly
Five steps from your passport to your face and fingerprints
At the automated immigration clearance gate, place your passport’s biodata page on the reader and go inside when the entrance door opens. Then scan the registered finger shown on the instruction screen, look at the camera, and leave when the exit door opens. Knowing the sequence once before departure can save you from stopping in front of the gate at Incheon Airport.
What can interrupt recognition
Remove accessories such as hats, masks, and sunglasses that cover your face. Pull your suitcase close to your body so the door can close, and enter one at a time after the person ahead of you has fully exited the waiting area. Use may be restricted if fingerprint quality makes identity verification difficult.
Pre-registration is recommended if more than 30 years have passed since your Resident Registration Card was issued. It’s better to check before departure than lose time on site because of outdated registration information.
The arrival card and the automated clearance gate are separate
Entering Korea with a Korean passport
Korean nationals don’t need to submit an arrival card. Dual nationals also don’t need to fill one out when they undergo immigration clearance with a Korean passport. Automated immigration clearance is a way of processing travelers; it doesn’t create a new exemption from the arrival card requirement.
How to check an e-Arrival card for foreign visitors
Foreign nationals are generally required to submit an arrival card, while registered foreign nationals may skip it. If you’ve submitted an e-Arrival card, it automatically expires 72 hours after submission. If your purpose of entry, stay information, or departure date changes, you can edit it on the official e-Arrival card site before immigration inspection.
Practical ways to reduce waits at Incheon Airport
Wait times vary even when automated gates are available
Automated immigration clearance is available at 12 airports and ports, including Incheon Airport. However, eligibility doesn’t eliminate congestion at the gates or recognition failures. The key is to determine whether you can use it before trying to register for the first time right before departure.
Families traveling with foreign nationals: consider entry and exit separately
Short-term foreign nationals aged 17 or older can use automated gates at departure inspection during their lawful period of stay if they provided fingerprint and facial data on entry. Separate eligibility rules apply to automated entry clearance. Since March 16, 2026, the Ministry of Justice has expanded the list of countries and regions whose foreign nationals can use automated entry clearance to 42. Families with foreign-national members should check before departure whether the rules apply to each person’s nationality.
- I checked my age and whether I have a Resident Registration Card or registration card.
- If registering a child, I prepared the legal guardian’s documents issued within the past three months.
- If I’m a foreign national, I checked the arrival-card and automated-clearance requirements separately.
- I removed anything that could interfere with passport, facial, or fingerprint recognition.
Automated immigration clearance FAQ
Can a 14-year-old without a Resident Registration Card go straight through?
No. Even if they’re 14 or older, they must pre-register if they don’t have a Resident Registration Card. It’s safer to complete this in advance at an airport enrollment center or designated registration location rather than on the day of travel.
Can a child and guardian enter the same automated gate together?
No. The automated immigration clearance gate is used one person at a time. Even when a child is within the eligible age range, confirm the legal guardian’s accompanying registration and the actual gate procedure separately.
Does using automated immigration clearance automatically take care of the arrival card?
No. The arrival-card exemption for Korean nationals and whether foreign nationals must submit an e-Arrival card are separate from automated clearance eligibility. If you have a foreign-national family member, check their passport, immigration status, and e-Arrival card separately.
Automated immigration clearance isn’t a way for everyone to skip the line. It’s a process that saves time when your age and registration status meet the requirements. Check your circumstances against the table and prepare your family’s documents before departure, and getting around Incheon Airport will be much simpler.