Anyone who has ever left the Schengen area is likely familiar with the automatic gates for entry and exit. These are now available in numerous countries worldwide. In South Korea, too, I have often looked enviously at the people who can simply bypass the immigration queue.
For several years now, South Korea has also opened its Smart Entry System (SES) to tourists and business travelers from Germany and other countries. In recent months, numerous other countries (including Austria and Switzerland) have been added. This eliminates queuing at immigration and makes the whole process much more pleasant. You only need to register once for free. Read this article to find out what you need to keep in mind.
Who is eligible?
In principle, the Smart Entry System can be used by Koreans aged 7 and over and foreigners aged 17 and over. Visitors from what are now 42 countries only need to register briefly and can then use SES for all future trips.
Initially, the cooperation was limited to 4 countries worldwide; now there are many more. Citizenship of one of the following countries is sufficient (Source – in Korean):
- Since November 2025:
- Germany, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan
- Since December 2025:
- Australia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Czech Republic, Hungary, U.A.E.
- Since March 2026:
- Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Canada, Croatia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Austria, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Cyprus
Furthermore, the Smart Entry Service can also be used by US citizens if they are registered for the American Global Entry program (fee required).
Process
As mentioned above, foreigners must register once to be able to use the service. This is a simple process and can completed in just a few minutes.
The registration remains valid for the duration of your passport’s validity (up to 10 years). On future visits to Korea, you can head directly to the e-gates for expedited entry.
1. Registration for SES
I was surprised to see monitors highlighting SES registration immediately upon disembarking the aircraft. However, the notice was part of a rotating slideshow alongside a lot of other information. Furthermore, the details are already outdated, as they only list 4 of the 42 eligible countries.
Immerhin werden dort direkt die 4 Standorte aufgeführt, an denen man sich nach Landung in Seoul-Incheon registrieren kann. Die muss dann vor der Einreise erledigt werden:
At least the four locations where you can register after landing at Seoul-Incheon are listed there. This must be completed before immigration:
- Terminal 1: Immigration A, 07:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Terminal 1: Immigration F, 07:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Terminal 2: Immigration A, open 24/7
- Terminal 2: Immigration B, 05:00 AM – 08:00 PM
So much for the theory. It didn’t seem to me like I had a choice of which immigration area to go to, at least in T2. When I arrived there, I spoke to a staff member. She told me that registration had already closed (it was 6:45 PM), but that I could ask again at the front. There, they showed me the correct path to registration (at counters 19 / 20).
Once there, things move quickly: show your passport, scan both index fingers, and smile for the camera once. Registration is complete. Both are already stored in the passport anyway, but it doesn’t hurt. You then receive a sticker on the back of your passport as proof.
[I have omitted a picture of the counters at this point, as the “no photography” signs are hard to miss]
In principle, there are a number of other Enrollment Centers. You can find the list on HiKorea.co.kr (use your browser’s translation function, or navigate to English→Smart Entry Service [Guide]→SeS Enrollment Centers and Airports). However, the immigration counters are not listed there, and those are likely the easiest for us tourists.
2. Entry with SES
Once registration is complete, the process for future entries couldn’t be simpler. You just need to head to the e-gates for entry. They are clearly marked with Smart Entry Service. At Incheon Airport, at least, there are also matching signs on the floor:
Nach der Registrierung musste ich dann nur noch 5 Meter zum SES-Gate laufen und konnte die beschleunigte Einreise dann zum ersten Mal nutzen. Dort heißt es dann: Reisepass auflegen, Fingerabdruck scannen und ein kurzes Foto machen. Und dann: Herzlich willkommen in Korea!
After registering, I only had to walk 5 meters to the SES gate and was able to use the accelerated entry for the first time. The process there is: place your passport, scan your fingerprint, and take a quick photo. And then: Welcome to Korea!
Während ich in Europa oftmals Ärger mit diesen Automaten habe (und daher außerhalb Deutschlands die bemannten Schalter vorziehe), hat das Scannen von Pass und Fingerabdruck in Seoul reibungslos funktioniert.
While I often have trouble with these machines in Europe (and therefore prefer manned counters outside of Germany), scanning my passport and fingerprint in Seoul worked flawlessly.
Entry with SES is currently supported at the following locations:
Airports:
- Seoul
ICN - Seoul
GMP - Gimhae
- Jeju
- Daegu
- Cheongju
Ferry Ports:
- Incheon Port
- Busan Port
SES is also available for departure from Korea. It can be used by anyone aged 17 or over, even without registration.
An arrival card must be filled out to enter Korea. This can be done easily online. Alternatively, printed forms are still available, but you would likely have to go to a regular counter with those.
Is it worth it?
I can’t answer that question for certain yet. I arrived in Seoul on a Monday evening. The normal queue would have taken less than 10 minutes. With SES registration and subsequent entry, I was through in 5 minutes.
Ich betrachte das Smart Entry System – genau wie in den USA Global Entry – als eine Art Versicherung. Ich kann mir sicher sein, dass ich an der Einreise nicht länger als 10 Minuten stehen muss. Im “schlimmsten” Fall bin ich genauso schnell wie am normalen Einreiseschalter. Aber wenn man dort mal länger steht, zahlt sich die Registrierung sofort aus. Das spart Zeit und Nerven nach 12 Stunden im Flugzeug. Positiver Nebeneffekt: Ich spare Platz in meinem Reisepass, denn der sonst übliche Aufkleber entfällt.
I view the Smart Entry System, just like Global Entry in the USA, as a kind of insurance. I can be sure that I won’t have to stand at immigration for more than 10 minutes. In the “worst” case, I’m just as fast as at the regular immigration counter. But if you ever find yourself waiting there for a long time, the registration pays off immediately. It saves time and nerves after 12 hours on a plane. Positive side effect: I save space in my passport because the usual sticker is no longer required.
So, if you plan to travel to Korea at least 2 or 3 times during the validity of your passport, you certainly won’t go wrong with registering.
Similar system for Japan: Trusted Traveler Program
In principle, there is also such a program for Japan. It is called TTP – Trusted Traveler Program. Although I visit Japan more often than Korea, I have refrained from applying so far. This is because the Japanese system has several disadvantages:
- The registration process is incomparably more complicated and requires, among other things, a preliminary check and then an on-site interview.
- Participation costs JP¥4,000 (~€21).
- There are problems with duty-free purchases and potentially when buying the Japan Rail Pass if staff look for the entry stamp.
- all that effort just to receive a plastic card capped at a maximum of 15 entries.
If you are still interested in the Japanese TTP, there is a Google Doc here with plenty of information on the process, pros and cons, etc.