What changed
From 1 May 2026 short-term visitors aged 17 and over may use the Smart Entry Service automated gates at Incheon International Airport after a one-time registration at the airport enrolment desk. Registration is free and takes about 5 minutes. Manual counters remain available.
Key details
- Effective from: 2026-05-01
- Minimum age: Automated gates are available to visitors aged 17 and over (effective 2026-05-01 KST)
- Registration cost: One-time Smart Entry Service registration is free of charge
- Registration time: Enrolment takes about 5 minutes at the airport desk
What you need to do
- Check the official notice linked below before you travel.
- Compare your own travel dates against the effective date given above, in KST.
- Allow extra time at the airport or station on the first affected day.
Where to check
Korea Immigration Service (HiKorea) publishes this change on its own site first, and aggregator pages often lag behind it by a day or more. If your plans depend on the detail, open the source listed with this article rather than relying on a summary. Where an announcement affects transport, cancellations are published separately from the policy notice, so check both.