Table of Contents
- Why is an emergency passport needed at Gimhae Airport?
- Details of the establishment of the emergency passport civil service center at Gimhae International Airport
- Increase in international flights and demand for emergency passports
- Expected changes from the issuance of emergency passports at Gimhae Airport
- Conclusion: A decisive change to alleviate the anxiety of Gimhae Airport users
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is an emergency passport needed at Gimhae Airport?
While preparing for overseas travel, losing a passport or leaving it at home can happen to anyone in unexpected situations.
Travelers using Gimhae Airport had to travel to Busan City Hall (18km, 45 minutes by public transportation) or Gangseo-gu Office (7.5km, 25 minutes) to obtain an emergency passport.
During this process, there were frequent cases where travelers could not make it in time for their departure. There is a need for measures to resolve these issues.
Gimhae International Airport is expected to exceed 10 million international passengers by 2025. Additionally, in 2024, the number of emergency passport issuances is anticipated to reach 2,795. Due to this increase in demand, establishing a new counter for emergency passport issuance has become essential.
Details of the establishment of the emergency passport civil service center at Gimhae International Airport
Starting in March 2026, a service for the rapid issuance of emergency passports will begin at Gimhae International Airport. This is the first such service to be implemented at a provincial airport, previously only available at Incheon International Airport.
With continuous efforts from the Busan City government in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and members of the National Assembly since August 2025, the government has secured budget and personnel for 2026. Now, it will be easier to obtain emergency passports at Gimhae Airport.
New services will be offered at Gimhae Airport. This will allow for immediate issuance on-site, eliminating the need to travel elsewhere in urgent situations like loss, expiration, or damage.
This change is expected to significantly reduce time, cost, and stress for travelers. It will also contribute to reducing service gaps between provincial airports.
The Busan City government emphasizes that this measure is an important achievement that alleviates administrative imbalances centralized around the metropolitan area and enhances the convenience for local residents.
Summary of Emergency Passport Issuance
The issuance target is applicable for those who experience an urgent humanitarian or business reason within 48 hours before departure.
Applications can be made at the passport civil service offices in city/provincial offices on weekdays or at the Incheon International Airport passport center, which operates year-round.
The required documents include passport photos, identification, and tickets that can prove departure. The issuance fee is set at approximately 20,000 won.
The validity period of this passport is limited to a single trip. Note that some countries may restrict entry with an emergency passport, and after returning, a standard passport must be obtained again.
Increase in international flights and demand for emergency passports
Gimhae Airport is recovering the fastest among provincial airports after COVID-19. In particular, the demand for international flights has shown a significant increase every year.
Looking at the status of international travelers at major airports, Gimhae Airport shows remarkable growth. In 2021, only 20,142 people used the airport, but in 2024, the number is expected to surge to 9,005,803. As of September 2025, it is estimated to record 6,718,916.
While Incheon Airport still remains at the top, Gimhae Airport's growth rate is among the fastest among provincial airports. This change is noteworthy.
Recently, the issuance of emergency passports has rapidly increased. In the case of Busan City Hall, the issuance number, which was only 14 in 2021, will increase to 1,478 in 2024.
Gangseo-gu Office is also expected to rise from 9 cases in 2021 to 1,317 in 2024. The number of emergency passports issued at Incheon Airport will spike from 382 in 2021 to 14,738 in 2024.
This trend appears to be a result of increased usage of regional airports and a greater number of urgent needs due to loss or damage of passports.
Expected changes from the issuance of emergency passports at Gimhae Airport
An emergency passport civil service center has been newly established at Gimhae International Airport. This is expected to have a positive impact not only on Busan citizens but also on the entire Yeongnam region, including Gyeongnam, Daegu, and Ulsan.
The center has several key effects. First, passengers who need to leave in a hurry can get their passports issued directly at the airport, increasing the likelihood of departure. Second, it can alleviate the psychological anxiety experienced during the travel preparation process. Third, the quality of airport services is expected to improve in line with the increasing trend of overseas travel. Finally, it is anticipated that the competitiveness of provincial airports will be strengthened, contributing to regional balanced development.
Conclusion: A decisive change to alleviate the anxiety of Gimhae Airport users
The newly established emergency passport civil service center at Gimhae International Airport is an important policy that provides great convenience to local residents.
From March 2026, it will be possible to immediately reissue a passport at the airport, even if it is lost or damaged, thereby allowing for a continuous journey.
The Busan City government plans to continue to pursue improvements in administrative services that residents can tangibly experience.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Why was the emergency passport civil service center established at Gimhae International Airport?
It was established to alleviate departure inconveniences due to increased international flight usage and emergency passport demand.
Gimhae International Airport is expected to have over 10 million international passengers by 2025, and the number of emergency passport issuances in 2024 is projected to reach 2,795. Previously, travelers had to travel to Busan City Hall or Gangseo-gu Office to obtain emergency passports, which posed difficulties in matching their departure times. To improve this inconvenience, the emergency passport civil service center was established at Gimhae International Airport to provide rapid issuance services.
Q. What conditions are required to obtain an emergency passport at Gimhae Airport?
You must submit documents such as a photo, identification, and airline ticket, citing an urgent reason within 48 hours of departure.
The issuance of emergency passports is targeted at those who have urgent humanitarian or business reasons arising within 48 hours before departure. Applications can be made at the passport civil service offices in city/provincial offices on weekdays or at the Incheon International Airport passport center, which operates year-round, and from March 2026 at the Gimhae International Airport civil service center. Required materials include passport photos, identification, and proof of departure, with an issuance fee of about 20,000 won. The validity is limited to a single trip, so caution is necessary.
Q. What changes are expected from the establishment of the emergency passport civil service center at Gimhae International Airport?
It will allow for immediate issuance on-site, significantly reducing travelers' time, cost, and stress.
The establishment of the emergency passport civil service center allows travelers to reissue their passports directly at the airport without the need to travel for emergencies such as loss or damage. This helps reduce cases of being unable to depart and alleviates anxiety during travel preparation. Additionally, it aids in addressing service gaps at provincial airports and contributes to regional balanced development; Busan City views this as a significant achievement in alleviating administrative imbalances and enhancing resident convenience.
Q. What did Gimhae Airport users have to do to obtain an emergency passport previously?
They had to go to Busan City Hall or Gangseo Office, making it difficult to match departure times.
In the past, travelers at Gimhae Airport had to travel to either Busan City Hall (18km, 45 minutes by public transportation) or Gangseo Office (7.5km, 25 minutes) to obtain an emergency passport. During this process, there were frequent cases where they could not make it in time for their departure, causing significant inconvenience in urgent situations. This highlighted the need for establishing an emergency passport civil service center at Gimhae International Airport.
Q. What features and limitations does an emergency passport have?
It is a single-entry passport and may have entry restrictions to certain countries.
The emergency passport is issued as a single-entry document, usable for one trip only. It has a shorter validity than a standard passport, which requires reissuance under normal circumstances after returning. Moreover, some countries may restrict entry with an emergency passport, so it is crucial to check entry requirements for the respective countries before traveling.