No Declaration Forms Required If No Items to Declare Upon Entry... "Helps Boost Tourism"

by Song Seungseop

Published 27 Apr.2023 15:00(KST)

Seoul Gangseo-gu Gimpo International Airport International Terminal. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Starting from the 1st of next month, travelers entering the country will no longer be required to submit a "Declaration of Personal Effects" if they have no items to declare to customs. From July, taxable items can be declared and taxes paid through an application (app).

On the 27th, the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Korea Customs Service announced the enforcement of amendments to the "Enforcement Rules of the Customs Act" and the "Notice on Customs Clearance of Travelers' and Crew Members' Personal Effects" reflecting these changes. These amendments were prepared as a follow-up measure to the "Domestic Demand Activation Plan" announced in March.

According to the amendments, the obligation to complete the personal effects declaration form, which applied to all incoming travelers, will be abolished starting next month. To facilitate this, the Korea Customs Service will operate separate traveler lanes at the arrival hall: one for "No Customs Declaration" and another for "Customs Declaration Required." Declaration forms must only be completed and submitted if travelers possess items exceeding duty-free limits, foreign currency exceeding $10,000, quarantine items, or other goods subject to declaration.

The declaration process will also become more convenient. From July, by using the traveler customs declaration app, the payable tax amount will be automatically calculated, and taxes can be paid via mobile. Previously, travelers had to proceed to the customs inspection counter after declaration to have the tax calculated and receive a paper notice for payment.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance stated, "This will alleviate the inconvenience of filling out declaration forms for 43 million travelers annually and improve the convenience of entry for foreigners, which will also help activate tourism." They added, "The system will be operated to minimize inconvenience for the vast majority of honest travelers while strictly cracking down on those bringing in illegal or harmful items."