How to Register for Smart Entry Service (SES) at Incheon Airport before Departing Korea

In a previous article, we wrote about Smart Entry Service (SES) registration for arriving passengers at Incheon Airport. The article is quite popular for our readers, which indicates that travelers planning to visit Korea are actively looking for information on how they can use the Korean immigration autogates to expedite the immigration clearance. In this article, we will guide you on the alternative way of registering for SES, which is while you are staying in Korea or before your departure from the country. If your flight departs from Incheon Airport, you can register for SES before your departure at Incheon Airport Immigration Service Center available at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. However, different with SES registration for arriving passengers that accommodates citizens from all countries under SES program, SES registration for departing passengers at the Incheon Airport Immigration Service Center is only available for visitors who are citizens of countries that have mutual automated immigration clearance agreements with South Korea.

SES Eligibility Requirements Based On Citizenships

Smart Entry Service (SES), which is South Korea’s automated immigration gate service, was initially targeted for Korean citizens and registered foreign residents in South Korea. In November 2025, SES was expanded to cater to visitors from four countries that had signed mutual automated immigration clearance agreements with South Korea. Since then, the program has been expanded further to include more countries. As of October 2026, citizens from 42 countries can register for SES when arriving in Korea at the designated ports of entry. Alternatively, they can also register for SES while staying in the country or before departing Korea.

Countries currently included in the SES program are listed in alphabetical order as follows:

• 🇦🇺 Australia
• 🇦🇹 Austria
• 🇧🇪 Belgium
• 🇧🇬 Bulgaria
• 🇨🇦 Canada
• 🇭🇷 Croatia
• 🇨🇾 Cyprus
• 🇨🇿 Czech
• 🇩🇰 Denmark
• 🇪🇪 Estonia
• 🇫🇮 Finland
• 🇫🇷 France
• 🇩🇪 Germany
• 🇬🇷 Greece
• 🇭🇰 Hong Kong
• 🇭🇺 Hungary
• 🇮🇸 Iceland
• 🇮🇪 Ireland
• 🇮🇹 Italy
• 🇯🇵 Japan
• 🇱🇻 Latvia
• 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein
• 🇱🇹 Lithuania
• 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
• 🇲🇴 Macao
• 🇲🇹 Malta
• 🇲🇽 Mexico
• 🇳🇱 Netherlands
• 🇳🇴 Norway
• 🇳🇿 New Zealand
• 🇵🇱 Poland
• 🇵🇹 Portugal
• 🇷🇴 Romania
• 🇸🇬 Singapore
• 🇸🇰 Slovakia
• 🇸🇮 Slovenia
• 🇪🇸 Spain
• 🇸🇪 Sweden
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland
• 🇹🇼 Taiwan
• 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

From the list above, the following countries have mutual automated immigration clearance agreements with South Korea and were included in the original SES expansion launched in November 2025:

• Germany: SES/EasyPass mutual agreement
• Macao: SES/APC mutual agreement
• Hong Kong: SES/e-Channel mutual agreement
• Taiwan: SES/e-Gate mutual agreement

Besides the four countries, there is another mutual automated immigration clearance agreement between South Korea and United States, which is the SES/GE mutual agreement. However, US citizens undergo different process for SES registration that will be explained in the following section.

SES for US Citizens

The US government runs Global Entry (GE) under Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program to expedite immigration clearance for international travelers, including South Koreans, when entering United States. Mutually, the South Korean government provides reciprocal Smart Entry Service (SES) program that is specialized for US citizens.

If you are a US citizen who is interested in registering for SES to use automated immigration gate when entering Korea, you should first obtain GE PASS ID through Trusted Travel Programs (TTP) website. After getting your PASS ID, proceed with creating an account on HiKorea website. When creating the account, you will be asked to fill up personal info. One of the fields you should input is a cell phone number that follows a Korean number format. You can put a placeholder number (for e.g.: 010-9999-9999) to pass the phone number validation.

After successfully creating an account on HiKorea, you can then proceed with SES registration. Navigate to “Smart Entry Service” section, choose “SES-GE” menu, press the “SES for US Citizens” tab, and click “Apply for SES” button located at the bottom of the content section to apply for SES. Once the application form is filled up, you can submit your application and wait for the notification about the status of your application.

The review process may take several days or weeks. So, a more reasonable route for a US citizen is to apply for SES while staying in Korea due to quicker access to a nearby immigration office, or a few weeks before visiting Korea to ensure that the SES application status is already confirmed before or by the flight date.

Note that there are additional restrictions on SES applications by US citizens. US Forces Korea (USFK) personnel, former Korean citizens who have not reported the loss of nationality in the Korean family register, and Overseas Korean (F-4) visa holders cannot apply for SES. However, if you are an F-4 visa holder, you are actually exempt from SES registration through the Global Entry program since you are already enrolled in SES when you obtain your F-4 visa.

Different Ways to Register for SES: On-Arrival vs In-Country vs Pre-Departure Registration

SES Registration for Arriving Passengers (On-Arrival Registration)

Passengers who plan to register for SES when arriving in Korea should visit a SES enrollment center operated at the designated ports of entry in Korea. Currently there are two airports that operate SES enrollment centers for arriving passengers: Incheon Airport (from November 3, 2025) and Jeju Airport (from March 9, 2026). At these airports, the enrollment centers for arriving passengers are in the form of registration desks that are integrated into the immigration clearance flow. As an example, when you arrive at Incheon Airport, you will find signs that point to the SES registration desks before the immigration clearance area as shown in the figure below. You simply follow the sign and join the line for SES registration. Once you complete the identity verification and biometric registration at the desk, your SES registration and the immigration clearance to enter Korea are formally done. On your next visit to Korea, you can start using the automated immigration gate to clear immigration instead of going the manual route through the staffed immigration counter.

If you arrive at Incheon Airport, whether at Terminal 1 or Terminal 2, our previous article provides more detailed explanation on the SES registration procedures upon your arrival that can be very helpful for you.

SES Registration While Staying in Korea (In-Country Registration)

You can also register for SES while you are staying in the country. To do so, you need to visit one of the immigration offices across different regions in Korea that runs a SES enrollment center. SES enrollment centers run by local immigration offices for international visitors who are currently staying in Korea are available at the following locations:

• Incheon Immigration Office: Resident Service Division (1st floor)
• Seoul Immigration Office: Global Talent & Investor Service Center (1st floor)
• Seoul Southern Immigration Office: Resident Service Division (1st floor)
• Busan Immigration Office: General Complaints Center (1st floor, counter #8)
• Suwon Immigration Office: Resident Service Division (1st floor, counter #17)
• Daejeon Immigration Office: Resident Service Division (1st floor, counter #7)
• Cheongju Immigration Office: Resident Service Division (1st floor)
• Gwangju Immigration Office: Resident Service Division (1st floor)

A quick note for in-country SES registration, we have not confirmed whether citizens from all 42 countries included in current SES program can register for SES in all enrollment centers operated by the designated immigration offices. There can be restrictions imposed by each immigration office due to staffing issue or internal policy. A safer route is to register for SES at the airport, especially when you arrive in Korea.

SES Registration Before Departing Korea (Pre-Departure Registration)

SES enrollment centers are also available at international departure terminals to be used primarily by departing passengers. If you missed the SES registration on your arrival, you may opt for SES registration before you depart Korea.

SES enrollment centers for departing passengers are available at the following locations:

• Incheon Airport Terminal 1
• Incheon Airport Terminal 2
• Gimpo Airport
• Gimhae Airport
• Daegu Airport
• Jeju Airport
• Seoul Station City Airport Terminal
• Incheon Port International Passenger Terminal
• Busan Port International Passenger Terminal

Even though the list above is referenced from the official Korean immigration website, we have not fully confirmed whether all enrollment centers operated in international departure terminals accept SES registrations by visitors from all 42 countries under SES program, or instead impose additional restriction or policy for SES registrations carried out by departing passengers. Particularly for Incheon Airport, we visited the SES enrollment centers for departing passengers at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 and found out that SES registrations were only available for passengers from five countries: Germany, Macao, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and United States. All of these five countries have mutual automated immigration clearance agreements with South Korea.

If you depart Korea from an airport other than Incheon Airport and plan to register for SES before your departure, we’d love to hear about your experience during SES registration at the enrollment center in the comment section.

Summary and Comparisons Between SES Enrollment Centers

In the table below, we list all locations of SES enrollment centers and SES registration method that can be done at each location. To give you better clarity on the terminology that we use, we explain each SES registration method as follows:

• On-arrival registration: SES registration when a visitor arrives in Korea. A dedicated line for SES is provided to accommodate arriving passengers to register for SES and clear immigration at the same time.
• In-country registration: SES registration for a visitor who is currently staying in Korea. The visitor shall visit a nearby immigration office that operates SES enrollment center.
• Pre-departure registration: SES registration before a visitor departs Korea. The visitor shall visit an immigration service center that is located in the public departure terminal area of an airport/seaport.

Enrollment Center Location	City / Region	On-Arrival Registration	In-Country Registration	Pre-Departure Registration
Incheon Airport Terminal 1	Incheon	✅	✅ (restrictions apply)	✅ (restrictions apply)
Incheon Airport Terminal 2	Incheon	✅	✅ (restrictions apply)	✅ (restrictions apply)
Incheon Port	Incheon	❌	❌	✅
Incheon Immigration Office	Incheon	❌	✅	❌
Gimpo Airport	Seoul	❌	✅	✅
Seoul Station City Airport Terminal	Seoul	❌	❌	✅
Seoul Immigration Office	Seoul	❌	✅	❌
Seoul Southern Immigration Office	Seoul	❌	✅	❌
Gimhae Airport	Busan	❌	✅	✅
Busan Port	Busan	❌	❌	✅
Busan Immigration Office	Busan	❌	✅	❌
Jeju Airport	Jeju	✅	✅	✅
Daegu Airport	Daegu	❌	✅	✅
Suwon Immigration Office	Suwon	❌	✅	❌
Daejeon Immigration Office	Daejeon	❌	✅	❌
Cheongju Immigration Office	Cheongju	❌	✅	❌
Gwangju Immigration Office	Gwangju	❌	✅	❌

As shown in the table, Incheon Airport and Jeju Airport facilitate all SES registration methods: on-arrival registration, in-country registration, and pre-departure registration. At Incheon Airport, nationality-based restrictions apply to visitors registering for SES under in-country or pre-departure method.

SES Registration at Incheon Airport Before Departing Korea

If you fly out of Korea from Incheon Airport, you can register for SES at the airport prior to your departure. SES registration for departing passengers are available at the immigration service center located in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Note that you can also visit the immigration service center at the airport on any day during your trip in Korea and register for SES if you will. The registration window remains open throughout your stay in Korea, not only on your departure date.

Before you make a visit to the immigration service center, make sure that you are a passport holder from one of the five countries/special administrative regions below:

• 🇩🇪 Germany
• 🇲🇴 Macao
• 🇭🇰 Hong Kong
• 🇹🇼 Taiwan
• 🇺🇸 United States

If you are a citizen from a SES-eligible country, but your country is not included in the list of five countries/special administrative regions authorized for pre-departure SES registration at Incheon Airport as shown above, you can only register for SES at Incheon Airport upon your arrival.

SES Registration Before Departure at Incheon Airport Terminal 1

If you get to Incheon Airport Terminal 1 by bus, taxi, or private car, you will enter the terminal building on the departure level (third floor). This is the floor where you will find all check-in counters for international flights. The immigration service center in Terminal 1 is also located on the same floor, near section or zone H. To get to the immigration service center, find Woori Bank currency exchange booth near zone H and locate a small corridor next to the money changer. The immigration service center is positioned at the end of the corridor.

As you walk in the corridor, you will see the entrance of the immigration service center on your right. A digital signage is mounted in front of the entrance door, showing information about SES registration, and giving you assurance that you’re coming to the right place.

Once you go inside, you will see a ticketing kiosk. Press the purple button on the touch screen to get your queue number for SES registration and wait for your name to be called.

When it’s your turn, present all document for SES registration requested by the officer. You will also be asked to do biometric data registration through fingerprint and facial scans. Once the process is complete, SES sticker will be put on the back side of your passport.

SES Registration Before Departure at Incheon Airport Terminal 2

At Terminal 2, the departure level is on the third floor. However, the immigration service center is located on the second floor. If you arrive at Terminal 2 by bus, taxi, or private car, you will enter the terminal building on the departure level. To get to the immigration service from the departure level, walk towards the center of the terminal building and locate the Paris Baguette cafe near section / zone F. Use the nearby escalator or elevator to go down one level to the second floor.

On the second floor, you will see a wall-mounted information panel colored in black that shows the directions to various public service offices on the floor. Next to the panel is a corridor that leads to Terminal 2 immigration service center. Walk in the corridor until you find the entrance of the immigration service center.

After you get inside the immigration service center, obtain your SES registration queue number from the kiosk. When it’s your turn, you will be asked to present your travel document and have your face and fingerprint scanned. Once the registration is complete, the officer will put SES sticker on the back side of your passport.

Incheon Airport Immigration Service Center Operating Hours for Pre-Departure SES Registration

In the table below, we list the locations of immigration service centers at Incheon Airport as well as the operating hours. This will help you better plan your visit to center when you plan to register for SES.

Enrollment Center	Location	Operating Hours (SES)
Terminal 1 Immigration Service Center	Incheon Airport T1, 3rd floor, near zone H	Daily, 07:00-18:00
Terminal 2 Immigration Service Center	Incheon Airport T2, 2nd floor, near zone F	Daily, 07:00-18:00

As shown in the table, the immigration service centers at Incheon Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 open everyday including during weekend and public holidays. So, even if your flight date is on weekend or a public holiday, you can still register for SES at the Incheon Airport Immigration Service Center if you meet the registration eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is SES registration upon arrival at Incheon Airport the same with SES registration at the Incheon Airport Immigration Service Center?
A: Both methods serve the same purpose but eligibility is set differently. Visitors from all 42 countries included in SES program can register for SES upon arrival. However, as of now only visitors from countries that have mutual automated immigration clearance agreement with South Korea can register for SES at the Incheon Airport Immigration Service Center.

Q: I forgot to register for SES when I arrive at Incheon Airport. I went to the manual immigration lane for the immigration clearance. Can I still register for SES at the airport after getting past immigration?
A: If you missed the SES registration upon your arrival, you can still register for SES at Incheon Airport Immigration Service Center if you’re a passport holder from Germany, Macao, Hong Kong, Taiwan, or United States. The direction to the immigration service center at each terminal is explained above. If you are not passport holder from one of those five countries but your country is SES-eligible, you can only register for SES on your next visit to Korea.

Q: I am a citizen of United States. Can I register for SES when I arrive at Incheon Airport?
A: Citizens of US undergo different SES registration process. You need to first have a GE PASS ID and apply for SES on HiKorea website. It may take several days for your application on the website to get approved before you can proceed with onsite biometric scans to complete the SES registration. Practically, you cannot register for SES upon your arrival if you haven’t completed the prerequisites.

Q: Where is the location of immigration service center in Terminal 1?
A: The immigration service center in Terminal 1 is located on the departure level (third floor) near zone H. There is a small corridor next to Woori Bank currency exchange booth that leads to the center.

Q: Where is the location of immigration service center in Terminal 2?
A: The immigration service center in Terminal 2 is located on the second floor, in the one-stop public service area. If you arrive at Terminal 2 on the departure floor (third floor), you need to get down one level to get to the immigration service center.

Q: I am a passport holder from a country in European Union arriving in Korea at Incheon Airport. How can I register for SES?
A: You can register for SES upon your arrival, at the SES registration desk available in the arrival immigration area. You cannot register for SES at the Incheon Airport immigration service center after you enter Korea or before you depart Korea.