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Ever landed at Incheon Airport after a long trip abroad, only to get stopped because you missed a required Korea quarantine declaration?
In May 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak (Bundibugyo virus) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern.
If you’ve visited a country flagged for infectious disease risk, you need to declare your quarantine information before entering Korea — and knowing the process ahead of time saves you real time at the airport.
(Image placeholder: replace with an official Q-CODE screenshot or airport quarantine photo before publishing)
This guide covers the Korea quarantine declaration process for overseas travel, how to complete Q-CODE registration, and which countries currently require declaration.
It’s based on the latest Q3 2026 notice from Korea’s National Quarantine Station (KDCA).
Do I need a Korea quarantine declaration after every trip abroad?
Not always. If you visited an intensively-monitored quarantine region, you must declare regardless of symptoms. If you visited a regular quarantine management region, you only need to declare if you have symptoms like fever.
A Korea quarantine declaration is the process where travelers who visited, stayed in, or transited through a designated quarantine region report their health status and travel details to Korea’s health authority before arrival.
It’s based on Article 12-2 of Korea’s Quarantine Act, and it exists to speed up screening and keep infectious diseases from entering the country.
– Visited an intensively-monitored region: you must declare, symptoms or not
– Visited a regular quarantine management region: declare only if you have symptoms
– This applies to Korean citizens and foreign visitors alike
How do I register on Q-CODE before flying to Korea?
Go to Korea’s Q-CODE website (qcode.kdca.go.kr), enter your passport and health details without creating an account, and you’ll get a QR code.
Q-CODE is Korea’s quarantine pre-registration system, where arriving travelers enter passport details, visited countries, and health status in advance to receive a QR code.
In short, Q-CODE is how you complete your Korea quarantine declaration online before your flight.
- Visit the Q-CODE site and agree to the terms
- Enter your email and passport information
- Enter your arrival date and stay details
- Enter quarantine info, like a vaccination certificate, if it applies to you
- Fill out the health status questionnaire
- Get your QR code and save it (a screenshot works well)
You can register starting 7 days before arrival, and you need your QR code ready before you board your flight.
Double-check the exact registration window on the official site before you travel, since it can be updated.
Since December 2025, linking a Naver account can auto-fill some of your information.
– Passport (check the expiration date)
– Flight ticket or itinerary
– Vaccination certificate, if you visited a country that requires one
– An email address
– A saved screenshot of your QR code
Which countries currently require a quarantine management region declaration?
As of Q3 2026, Korea has designated 25 countries as intensively-monitored quarantine regions, including Ebola-affected DRC and Uganda, and MERS-affected Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries. Visiting any of these listed countries or regions means a Korea quarantine declaration is required when you arrive.
A quarantine management region is an area designated under Article 5 of Korea’s Quarantine Act because a quarantinable disease is spreading there, or there’s a real risk it could spread into Korea.
| Disease | Main countries/regions |
|---|---|
| Ebola | DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda |
| MERS | Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Iraq, Israel, and 6 other Middle Eastern countries |
| Avian influenza | Parts of China, India, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Washington State (US) |
| Plague | DRC, Mongolia, Madagascar, New Mexico (US) |
| Nipah virus | India, Bangladesh |
(Source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, “2026 Q3 Intensively-Monitored and Quarantine Management Regions Notice” (2026년 3분기 중점검역관리지역 및 검역관리지역 안내), 2026)
– The list of quarantine management regions gets updated every quarter
– Check the latest list on the National Quarantine Station site (nqs.kdca.go.kr) before you leave
– Even a short layover in a listed country can put you on the declaration list
What happens if I skip the declaration or submit false information?
Entering false or inaccurate information can get you penalized under Korea’s Quarantine Act, or you could be denied entry.
The Ebola PHEIC declared by WHO in May 2026 is a reminder of how fast infectious disease can cross borders.
An accurate Korea quarantine declaration protects you, other passengers on your flight, and the wider community.
False declarations or missing information can lead to penalties or entry restrictions under Korea’s Quarantine Act.
If you have symptoms, report them honestly. If you develop symptoms after entering Korea, call the KDCA hotline at 1339 (from within Korea).
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need to create an account for Q-CODE?
No. You can use the site directly without logging in. Linking a Naver account lets you auto-fill some information.
2. How early can I register?
You can register starting 7 days before arrival, and you need your QR code ready before boarding.
3. Do I need to declare even without symptoms?
Yes, if you visited an intensively-monitored region, a Korea quarantine declaration is required regardless of symptoms. For a regular quarantine management region, you only need to declare if you have symptoms like fever.
4. Can foreign visitors use Q-CODE too?
Yes. Any traveler entering Korea after visiting or transiting through a quarantine management region can use it, Korean citizen or not.
References
Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), “Quarantine Information Pre-entry System (Q-CODE)” (검역정보 사전입력시스템), 2026. Link
KDCA National Quarantine Station, “Quarantine Act” (검역법), 2026. Link
KDCA, “2026 Q3 Intensively-Monitored and Quarantine Management Regions Notice” (2026년 3분기 중점검역관리지역 및 검역관리지역 안내), 2026. Link
World Health Organization (WHO), “Epidemic of Ebola Disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the DRC and Uganda determined a public health emergency of international concern”, 2026. Link
CDC, “Travelers’ Health”, 2026. Link
Planning a trip and want more on navigating Korean healthcare? Check our Hospital Guide for Korea category.
Visit Hospital Guide for Korea
(Internal link: replace with a published related post later)
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you have health concerns.
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