South Korea entry requirements

[Bolt]

I'm thinking about visiting South Korea soon, and I was wondering if someone could help me familiarise myself with the airport entry/exit procedures so that I may understand what is required? It's quite frustrating to arrive parched dry, smelly, tired, and grumpy in front of the bureaucrats that decide your fate on any given day and not know how to prepare yourself, and find yourself missing a document or fumbling with glasses and gloves, etc. The process seems to have changed so much over the years, that I'm not sure what's required anymore.

From what I understand, there is now a charge for the visa entry stamp of KRW10,000, and we need to register 3 days in advance for it. Before you used to just arrive without any of that pre-arrival paperwork. Just an arrival card was enough. But it seems that they've suspended this requirement for travellers from Australia.

Other than that, I'm not so sure what needs to be done. It seems that they used to take a photo, but now they read your palms instead? So, should I take off gloves before I arrive? I'm guessing that reading glasses are fine? Do I need boarding pass? Arrival card? Do I need an onward ticket, and do they even check that, or can I buy it later?

With all the new flights to Korea being launched this year, I'm sure this could help others as well. Many thanks for helping inform travellers like myself.

 

[Himeno]

Why are you going to South Korea?

If for the normal up to 90 days tourist/business trip, Australians don't need a visa and get the same visa free travel as before.
You do now however need to apply for a K-ETA, which is the same sort of thing as the US ESTA or Canadian eTA.

Welcome - K-ETA

www.k-eta.go.kr

Just like the ESTA, the K-ETA is valid for multiple entries for up to 2 years (or passport expiry).

 

[frodo]

.ou do now however need to apply for a K-ETA, which is the same sort of thing as the US ESTA or Canadian eTA.

Welcome - K-ETA

www.k-eta.go.kr

Just like the ESTA, the K-ETA is valid for multiple entries for up to 2 years (or passport expiry).

Exempted until 31 Dec 2024 for Australians and other countries listed on the link

Welcome - K-ETA

www.k-eta.go.kr

No preparation needed, I was handed an arrival card to fill out on the flight, it will ask for your address in Korea (e.g hotel) so have those details handy. Index fingers get scanned on entry and I think that was about it.

 

[Bolt]

Why are you going to South Korea?

I'm guessing that you're not a fan? I really enjoyed South Korea when I was there last time, despite the language barrier. Have you ever wondered through leaf filled mountains late in the fall? Beautiful, but very slippery, as they have very steep mountains.

You do now however need to apply for a K-ETA, which is the same sort of thing as the US ESTA or Canadian eTA.

I thought that was suspended? I miss the days of buy a ticket and go.

 

[Himeno]

I'm guessing that you're not a fan? I really enjoyed South Korea when I was there last time, despite the language barrier. Have you ever wondered through leaf filled mountains late in the fall? Beautiful, but very slippery, as they have very steep mountains.

Asking why you're going, because the answer determines if you need a visa or not, means I don't like Korea?

 

[Bolt]

Asking why you're going, because the answer determines if you need a visa or not, means I don't like Korea?

Sorry to offend you. It wasn't intentional. I'm sure you can appreciate the vagueness of the question and that there are multiple ways of interpreting it. Thanks for clarifying. To properly address your question, I'm going there for tourism purposes.

 

[Bolt]

Exempted until 31 Dec 2024 for Australians

Awesome! Thanks for confirming.

No preparation needed, I was handed an arrival card to fill out on the flight, it will ask for your address in Korea (e.g hotel) so have those details handy. Index fingers get scanned on entry and I think that was about it.

Perfect. That's exactly the kind of things I was trying to find out. That'll definitely help me be prepared.

 

[docjames]

K-ETA supposedly makes it easier, but I didn’t seem to find any difference in processing time at immigration (having done the K-ETA) - with the exception of one pax who was sent back to re-fill out form (so if you can fill out the form correctly it should be no trouble).

Other useful piece of info - google maps in Sth Korea is useless. Don’t rely on it.

The airport is very efficient and similar to pretty much every major global airport. Immigration was certainly more efficient than arriving in SYD or MEL……..