Services
Hand-carry clearance
For companies whose staff personally carry parts, samples or goods for sale into or out of Korea because of delivery deadlines or business trip schedules, we handle baggage clearance and export declarations for hand-carried goods.
Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Scope | Personally carrying company goods to which the traveler's exemption does not apply, such as goods for sale, parts and samples, into Korea |
| Information to send in advance | Arrival date and time, airport, flight number, invoice or purchase receipt, and business registration certificate |
| After arrival | Customs detains the goods and issues a detention receipt; send us a photo of the receipt and we file the declaration |
| Time | Customs review takes approximately 1 to 2 hours. Attend on-site if selected for inspection |
Goods subject to declaration and requirements
On arrival, indicate on the baggage declaration form that you have company goods, and tell customs in the arrival hall that they are subject to a general import declaration. Goods for sale or business use and company goods such as repair items and samples must be voluntarily declared to customs, and goods declared as hand-carried exports on departure and subsequently brought back are also subject to declaration.
Article 4(3) of the Notice on Customs Clearance of Baggage of Travelers and Crew provides that "The simplified on-site clearance procedures for traveler baggage apply mutatis mutandis to repair items, samples, raw materials, subsidiary materials and similar goods valued at USD 10,000 or less that travelers carry into the country for company use, even if they do not fall under paragraphs 1 and 2." For goods intended for sale, we file an import declaration after customs detains them under the procedure below.
Customs detains goods that do not meet permit, approval, marking or other requirements, and goods on which customs duty has not been paid.
Procedure on arrival
- Detention of goodsTell customs in the arrival hall "일반 수입신고 대상 물품" (goods subject to a general import declaration), and customs will detain the goods and issue a detention receipt.
- Send the detention receiptTake a photo of the detention receipt issued by customs and send it to us.
- Import declarationWe file using the detention receipt number. Customs review takes approximately 1 to 2 hours. If selected for inspection, please attend the customs inspection on-site.
- Tax paymentCustoms duty and VAT are paid once customs approval is issued. Customs duty payments are not accepted from 23:30 to 00:30.
- ReleaseSubmit the detention receipt and certificate of import declaration to the storage warehouse and collect the goods. Warehouse charges are settled upon release.
Documents to prepare
Businesses
- Business registration certificate
- Contact person's telephone number and email address
- Invoice and purchase receipts (number each receipt)
- Identification of the arriving traveler
- Arrival date, time and flight number
Individuals
- Identification
- Personal Customs Clearance Code (PCCC)
- Telephone number and email address
- Invoice and purchase receipts (number each receipt)
Foreign nationals should send a passport copy, contact details, email address, and invoice or receipts. Please be sure to include any tax refund or FTA origin documents. Businesses importing for the first time need a customs clearance code.
Preparing the invoice
- Product type, brand, model name (serial number), quantity, unit price and amount
- List goods with different countries of origin on separate lines
- Number receipts 1, 2 and so on, and enter the same numbers on the invoice lines (missing numbers increase clearance time and incur additional fees)
When a power of attorney is required
- If the arriving traveler and importer are different persons, submit a power of attorney with the declaration.
- If someone other than the person named on the detention receipt collects the goods, a power of attorney and an identification copy are required.
Hand-carried exports on departure
We file the export declaration, and on departure, please submit a copy of the certificate of export declaration to customs and obtain loading confirmation.
Deadlines
| Category | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Storage period for detained goods | 1 month. If needed, we apply for an extension of up to 1 month |
| Penalty tax for non-declaration | 40% of the tax payable if tax is assessed because goods subject to declaration were not declared. 60% if the penalty has been collected 2 or more times within the 2 years preceding the arrival date |
Services we provide
| Service | Details |
|---|---|
| Preparation before arrival | We check invoice and receipt numbers, origin and requirement documents before arrival. |
| Import declaration | We file using the detention receipt number and provide tax payment guidance. |
| Hand-carried exports | We prepare export declarations and loading confirmation for goods carried out of Korea. |
Fees
| Item | Basis | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Business days, 09:00 to 16:00 | 0.2% of the customs value Minimum KRW 100,000 | From KRW 100,000 |
| Business days, 06:00 to 09:00 and 16:00 to 20:00 | 0.2% of the customs value Minimum KRW 130,000 | From KRW 130,000 |
| 20:00 to 06:00 and weekends | 0.2% of the customs value Minimum KRW 150,000 | From KRW 150,000 |
| Airport visit (on request) | Per visit, when attendance at a customs inspection or cargo pickup is required at Incheon Airport or Gimpo Airport | Additional KRW 200,000 |
| Customs inspection (imports) | Attendance and assistance when selected for inspection by customs, per inspection Varies with the inspection location and scope of work | From KRW 50,000 |
Frequently asked questions
Q. Must samples carried into Korea on a business trip also be declared?
Yes. Goods for sale and company goods such as repair items and samples are not covered by the traveler's baggage exemption (USD 800). If undeclared goods are detected, a penalty tax of 40% of the tax payable (60% for 2 or more instances within 2 years) is imposed.
Q. What if urgent goods cannot clear customs immediately at the airport?
For urgent company goods that cannot readily clear customs at the point of entry because requirements are unmet, you may apply for remote clearance and have them transported under bond for clearance at another customs office. For goods to be re-imported, please also consider an ATA Carnet.
Consultation
Related laws and resources
- Korea Customs Service guide to "Traveler baggage clearance"
- Notice on Customs Clearance of Baggage of Travelers and Crew, Article 6 (Goods subject to declaration), Article 17 (Detention and deposit, etc.), Article 30 (Applications for remote clearance)
- Enforcement Rules of the Customs Act, Article 48 (Traveler baggage exempt from customs duty, etc.)
- Customs Act, Article 241 (Declaration of export, import or return), paragraph 5; Enforcement Decree of the Customs Act, Article 247 (Penalty tax rates)
Effective dates: Notice on Customs Clearance of Baggage of Travelers and Crew 2026-04-01, Customs Act 2026-10-02, Enforcement Decree of the Customs Act 2026-07-01, Enforcement Rules of the Customs Act 2026-07-31. Accessed through the National Law Information Center on 2026-10-21.