Last reviewed: August 18, 2026
Quick answer
Korea expanded automated arrival immigration to passport holders from 42 countries and regions in stages, with the full list effective on March 16, 2026. This country-list route is not the same as the rule for registered foreign residents, and nationality alone does not guarantee that a traveler will use an e-gate.
Registered foreign residents aged 17 or older have a separate route that normally allows entry and departure through SeS without prior enrollment. Eligible short-term foreigners aged 17 or older may use automated departure gates after their fingerprints and facial data were collected on entry and while they remain within their lawful stay. US citizens use a separate Korea-US SeS and Global Entry arrangement.
What changed in Korea’s Smart Entry Service in 2026?
The Ministry of Justice opened automated arrival immigration in stages. Eighteen countries and regions entered the program from November and December 2025. Another 24 were added on March 16, 2026, bringing the official total to 42.
This expansion matters because it concerns arrival immigration eligibility for the listed passports. It should not be confused with the broader rules for foreign residents already registered in Korea, short-term visitors leaving Korea, or travelers enrolled in a separate reciprocal program.
Korea SeS eligible countries: the official list of 42
Opened on November 3, 2025
- Germany
- Taiwan
- Hong Kong
- Macao
Opened on December 1, 2025
- Japan
- Singapore
- United Arab Emirates
- Mexico
- Czech Republic
- United Kingdom
- Finland
- France
- Hungary
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- Australia
- New Zealand
Added on March 16, 2026
- Greece
- Denmark
- Latvia
- Romania
- Luxembourg
- Lithuania
- Malta
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Sweden
- Spain
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Ireland
- Estonia
- Austria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Poland
- Norway
- Liechtenstein
- Switzerland
- Iceland
- Canada
The United States is not part of this standard 42-country list. See the separate Korea-US section below.
Which SeS rule applies to you?
| Your situation | Current official rule | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term arrival with a passport from the 42-country list | Automated arrival immigration eligibility was expanded to the listed countries and regions. | Nationality does not guarantee gate use or admission. Follow airport signage and officer instructions. |
| Registered foreign resident, age 17+ | May use SeS for entry and departure without prior enrollment. | Your passport and Korean immigration record must be current, and restrictions may still apply. |
| Short-term foreigner, age 17+, leaving Korea | May use an automated departure gate when fingerprints and facial data were collected on entry and departure is within the lawful stay. | This departure rule does not by itself prove eligibility for automated arrival. |
| Registered foreign resident, age 14–17 | Prior SeS enrollment is required. | Check the current official enrollment-center instructions. |
| Registered foreign resident, age 7–14 | Prior enrollment is required with legal-guardian documents. | Confirm the current document list before visiting. |
| US citizen using the reciprocal program | Use the separate SeS-Global Entry process. | Global Entry enrollment is required before the HiKorea stage. |
How to use a Korean SeS e-gate
HiKorea describes the standard gate sequence in five steps. The exact screen or order of prompts may vary at the airport, so use this as orientation rather than a substitute for the gate instructions.
- Scan your passport.
Place the photo page on the passport reader in the direction shown. - Complete facial recognition.
Remove items that block your face when instructed and look at the camera. - Enter the gate.
Move forward only after the first door opens. - Complete fingerprint recognition.
Place the requested finger on the scanner and follow the displayed prompt. - Exit after approval.
Leave when the second door opens. If the gate stops, wait for an immigration officer.
Where are the expanded automated arrival gates?
The Ministry of Justice specifically identified the following arrival areas for the expanded 2026 operation:
- Incheon International Airport Terminal 1: east and west arrival immigration areas;
- Incheon International Airport Terminal 2: east and west arrival immigration areas;
- Jeju International Airport: arrival immigration gates, operating from March 9, 2026.
HiKorea also maintains a broader directory of SeS airports, ports and enrollment centers. That general directory should not be read as a promise that the 42-country short-term arrival route operates in the same way at every listed location.
US passport holders: SeS and Global Entry are a separate route
The United States is not included in the standard list of 42 countries and regions above. Eligible US citizens use the reciprocal Korea-US SeS and Global Entry arrangement.
- Enroll in the US Global Entry program and obtain the required membership information.
- Follow the current HiKorea SeS-Global Entry application instructions.
- Complete the reviews and enrollment steps shown by the official portals.
Foreign residents already registered in Korea should check the registered-resident SeS rule rather than assume the reciprocal program is their route. Fees, review time and portal screens can change, so this guide does not copy those details.
Open official Korea-US SeS guidance
Why might an e-gate not work?
- your passport cannot be read, is damaged or does not match the immigration record;
- your face or fingerprint cannot be matched;
- your stay period has expired or another immigration restriction applies;
- your passport changed but a required record update was not completed;
- the gate or arrival area is not operating for your route at that time;
- an immigration officer directs you to a staffed counter.
A manual check does not necessarily mean there is a serious problem. Follow the officer’s instructions and keep your passport and relevant residence document ready.
Frequently asked questions
Do citizens of all 42 countries use SeS without registration?
The official materials confirm the 42-country automated-arrival expansion, but the sources checked for this article do not state a universal no-prior-enrollment rule for every traveler in that group. Follow the current airport signs and immigration instructions. The no-prior-enrollment rule is clearly stated for registered foreign residents aged 17 or older.
Is the United States one of the 42 eligible countries?
No. US citizens use a separate reciprocal SeS-Global Entry route and must meet its current requirements, including Global Entry enrollment.
Can any short-term visitor use an e-gate when leaving Korea?
Current HiKorea guidance allows eligible short-term foreigners aged 17 or older to use automated departure gates when fingerprints and facial information were collected on entry and they depart within their lawful stay. Restrictions can still apply.
Can foreign residents in Korea use SeS?
Registered foreign residents aged 17 or older may normally use SeS for entry and departure without prior enrollment. Younger registered residents have prior-enrollment rules. Keep your passport and immigration record current.
Does an eligible passport guarantee entry into Korea?
No. SeS is an immigration-processing method, not permission to enter. Visa, K-ETA or exemption rules where applicable, passport validity and the final immigration decision remain separate.
Can I use the 42-country arrival route at every Korean airport?
The 2026 Ministry of Justice material specifically confirms expanded arrival operations at Incheon Terminals 1 and 2 and Jeju arrivals. Check the current official directory and airport instructions rather than assuming identical operation at every generic SeS location.
Official references
- Korea Immigration Service — March 16, 2026 expansion announcement
- Ministry of Justice — official 42-country list and arrival locations
- HiKorea — current SeS eligibility rules
- HiKorea — how to use SeS gates
- HiKorea — Korea-US SeS and Global Entry
Information notice: This article provides general information based on official materials checked August 18, 2026. Eligibility, airport operation, enrollment requirements and immigration decisions can change or depend on individual records. Confirm the current HiKorea and airport guidance before travel.