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| An automated immigration service will become available for foreign visitors to Korea without prior registration starting July 10 at the time of departure using facial and fingerprint recognition technology, the Ministry of Justice said Monday. / Yonhap |
The ministry said foreigners aged 17 or older who have provided facial and fingerprint records at the time of entry are eligible to use the service. When leaving Korea, they can use automated immigration checkpoints at Incheon, Gimhae, Gimpo, Jeju and Daegu international airports and Busan Port.
The service is available for people visiting Korea for 90 days or less who mostly come for tourism. A longer period of stay is possible for nationals of countries with which Korea has reciprocal agreements on this, such as six months for Canadian citizens.
The ministry said the service has become available due to technology developments that can check precisely whether the provided information and the person match.
So far, the fast-track service has been available without prior registration for Koreans aged 19 or over or foreigners aged 17 or older who have an alien registration card.
Foreign travelers who have failed to provide facial and fingerprint information and those who have overstayed their visas cannot use the service, the ministry added.
