Australia to Korea

Australian citizens travelling to South Korea for a short trip are in luck â€“ no visa and, for the meantime, no pre-travel authorisation is required at all. Under the Visa Exemption Scheme, Australians are able to travel to South Korea for tourism and short-term business purposes for up to 90 days. The Korean Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) that would otherwise apply to visa-free travellers has been suspended for Australians. The South Korean Government has announced that Australian pas

Key Details for Visa-Free Entry

Permitted Activities

The visa waiver allows for tourism, business meetings, family visits, and other short-term activities that do not involve employment. It does not include paid or unpaid work or participation in formal academic study programmes.

Passport Validity

Passport must be valid for six months and have one blank page. This is a requirement - short validity passports have led to denied boarding at Australian airports.

K-ETA Status

Exempt travellers donâ€™t need a K-ETA but you can still apply for one. There is one practical convenience to having a valid K-ETA: you donâ€™t have to fill out the electronic arrival card when you enter. Your initial approved K-ETA is still valid until its original expiry date.

Entry Points

The visa exemption applies to all authorised entry points open to foreign nationals, including Incheon International Airport (Seoul), Gimhae International Airport (Busan), Jeju International Airport and designated sea ports and border crossings.

Required Documentation for Entry

The visa waiver means you donâ€™t need to obtain travel authorization in advance but you still have to undergo the normal border checks. On arrival, immigration officers might ask you to show:

e-Arrival Card Confirmation

Complete it online within 72 hours before your flight departure. If you donâ€™t complete the , you could be denied entry or fined up to KRW 500,000. This isnâ€™t done for you by the airline when you check in.

Proof of Onward Travel

A valid return or onward ticket indicating that you will be leaving South Korea within the allowed period of stay. Korean airlines are strict about proof of onward travel. If you are taking a ferry to Japan or are otherwise undecided, make sure you have a confirmed exit arrangement before leaving.

Proof of Accommodation

Hotel bookings for the length of your stay, or an invitation letter from a host in South Korea if you are staying privately. You may be asked for this as you go through the counter even if it is not formally required.Financial Means No published minimum exists, but officers may ask you to demonstrate you can support yourself for the length of your stay without working.

Important Restrictions

Work & Study

The visa exemption does not allow you to engage in any form of employment, paid or unpaid, or to enroll in formal academic programs. If you are working, getting paid or training for more than 90 days you will need a C-4 visa issued by a South Korean Embassy before you travel. Those students who want to study must apply for a student visa (D-2) at the Korean Embassy in Canberra or a consulate prior to leaving Australia.

Overstaying

Overstaying your visa in South Korea is a serious immigration violation. The fines increase with the length of the overstay. Multiple or long overstays may result in deportation and a ban on future entry. Overstaying results in automatic penalties â€“ fines, deportation and entry bans from one to ten years depending on the length of the overstay. South Korea has an electronic system for registering entry and exit dates. If you need to stay longer than 90 days, you should apply for a visa extension from the Korea Immigration Service before the original 90 days are up. Proof of purpose required, extensions not guaranteed.

K-ETA Reinstatement

From 1 January 2027, travellers will be required to apply for a K-ETA ahead of travel. If you are booking travel that departs after the date, check the official K-ETA website (k-eta.go.kr) well ahead of time. The application fee is 10,000 KRW (approximately AUD $12) and processing takes a minimum of 72 hours.

Dual Nationality

Australian citizens who are also citizens of South Korea must enter with their Korean identity documents. Persons with South Korean citizenship are not eligible for the visa exemption route.

Frequently Asked Questions

Currently, no K-ETA or visa is required for Australian passport holders visiting for up to 90 days. However, from 1 January 2026, the e-Arrival Card is mandatory for all foreign visitors and must be completed within three days prior to arrival. Submit it online before you leave - do not rely on airport kiosks.

Up to 90 days per visit for tourism or short-term business. Each entry is treated independently - there is no rolling cumulative cap, provided each individual stay remains within the 90-day limit and your stated purpose of travel is consistent with the exemption.

Tourism, business meetings, family visits, and short-term non-employment activities. Taking up paid or unpaid work, or enrolling as a student, is not permitted under the visa exemption and requires a separate visa obtained before departure from Australia.

If you realise you have overstayed, it is recommended to voluntarily report to an immigration office as soon as possible. While penalties may still apply, voluntary reporting often results in more lenient treatment compared to being discovered during immigration checks. Do not wait - overstays are tracked electronically and carry serious consequences including deportation and multi-year entry bans.