I hold a mainland Chinese passport and plan to fly from Beijing to Vancouver with separate tickets and a self-transfer at Seoul Incheon. I may need to collect my bags and check in again. Do I need to pass immigration, and which transit or entry documents should I confirm with the airline before booking?
For a mainland Chinese passport, a self-transfer at Incheon on separate tickets can be different from a normal airside transit. If you need to collect checked baggage or pass immigration to check in again, you may need to meet Korea’s entry requirements instead of relying on a transit exemption. Before booking, ask the airline whether your bags can be checked through and whether your itinerary stays airside. Also verify the latest eligibility and required documents on the Korea Visa Portal: https://www.visa.go.kr/. Do not assume that a four-hour connection is enough if you must clear immigration or change terminals.