Entering Korea with a China passport

What we found on official pages, with the date we checked.

In short

Travelling on your own with a China passport, you need a visa.
The visa-free entry until 31 Dec 2026 is only for tour groups run by designated travel agencies.
Stayed in or passed through Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, Anhui, Yunnan, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Tianjin, Hunan or Hubei? Fill in Q-CODE before you land. Q-CODE can be filled in from 7 days before arrival.
With a visa you also fill in an arrival card. The e-Arrival card can be sent online from 3 days before you arrive.

China is not on the visa-free list, so individual travellers need a visa.
Checked 2026-10-15 · K-ETA official site, visa-free countries and permitted stay (Ministry of Justice)
Chinese tour groups can enter visa-free until 31 Dec 2026.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Consulate General of Korea in Qingdao: China group visa-free entry extended (2026-06-23)
This is for tour groups run by designated travel agencies, not for individual travellers.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Ministry of Justice: visa-free entry for Chinese tour groups (2025-09-08)
Tour groups get the visa fee (US$15) waived until 31 Dec 2026.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Korea Immigration Service: group visa fee waiver for six countries extended (2026-07-01)

If you enter Korea visa-free, you need an approved K-ETA before you board, unless your country is temporarily exempt.
Checked 2026-10-15 · K-ETA official site, application guide (Ministry of Justice)
A K-ETA is valid for 3 years, or until your passport expires if that is sooner.
Checked 2026-10-15 · K-ETA official site, application guide (Ministry of Justice)
With a valid K-ETA you do not fill in an arrival card.
Checked 2026-10-15 · K-ETA official site, application guide (Ministry of Justice)

Korea has accepted an online arrival card (e-Arrival card) since 24 Feb 2025.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Ministry of Foreign Affairs: e-Arrival card notice
You can submit it online from 3 days before you arrive.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Ministry of Foreign Affairs: e-Arrival card notice
Who needs it: the same people who fill in the paper card, such as visa holders and travellers exempt from K-ETA.
Checked 2026-10-15 · e-Arrival card official site, FAQ (Ministry of Justice)
If you hold a valid K-ETA, you do not need it.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Ministry of Foreign Affairs: e-Arrival card notice
Missed it? You can still fill in the online or paper card before immigration. Both count the same.
Checked 2026-10-15 · e-Arrival card official site, FAQ (Ministry of Justice)

You must hold a valid passport (and a valid visa if you need one) to enter.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Immigration Act, Article 12 (National Law Information Center)
We did not find an official Korean rule that requires 6 months of passport validity. Your airline may have its own rule, so check with it.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Immigration Act, Article 7 (National Law Information Center)

Q-CODE is required if you stayed in or transited through Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, Anhui, Yunnan, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Tianjin, Hunan or Hubei (priority quarantine areas, 1 Oct to 31 Dec 2026).
Checked 2026-10-15 · Korea.kr: priority quarantine areas, 1 Oct to 31 Dec 2026
Q-CODE is an online health form. You can fill it in from 7 days before arrival until you enter Korea.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Q-CODE official site (Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency)
It is required if you stayed in or transited through a priority quarantine area. If you visited another quarantine area and have a fever, cough or similar symptoms, you must use it too.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Q-CODE official site (Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency)
From 1 Oct to 31 Dec 2026, 32 countries are priority quarantine areas.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Korea.kr: priority quarantine areas, 1 Oct to 31 Dec 2026
Not reporting your health, or reporting it falsely, can lead to a fine of up to 10 million won.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Q-CODE official site (Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency)