Visa, K-ETA and e-Arrival Card — what you actually need, checked against the official sources. Last verified September 4, 2026.
Australian citizens can visit South Korea visa-free for up to 90 days (tourism, family visits, short business). K-ETA is temporarily waived until December 31, 2026. You still must file the free e-Arrival Card online within 3 days before arrival.
Tourism, family visits and short business trips are visa-free for up to 90 days. Work, study or stays beyond 90 days need the right visa via HiKorea before you fly.
Korea temporarily exempts your passport from K-ETA. Applying is optional (some travelers still do it to skip paper forms), but not required for entry in 2026.
Since 2026 the e-Arrival Card is the standard: every foreign visitor without a valid K-ETA should file it online within 3 days (72 hours) before arrival (paper cards are still accepted at immigration for now). It's free and takes ~5 minutes — you get a QR code for immigration.
The Q-code health declaration is only required if you stayed in or transited a quarantine-risk area on KDCA's current list — the Q3 2026 list includes India, parts of China and the USA, Cambodia, Bangladesh and the MERS and Ebola countries. Everyone else skips it — check the official site if you connected through one.
No — for stays up to 90 days for tourism or short business, Australian citizens enter visa-free. Work, study and longer stays require a visa.
No. K-ETA is temporarily waived for Australian citizens until December 31, 2026. You may still apply voluntarily, but it is not required for entry.
Since 2026 the e-Arrival Card is Korea's standard arrival declaration (paper cards are still accepted at immigration for now). Foreign visitors must submit it free online within 3 days (72 hours) before arriving in Korea. You receive a QR code shown at immigration.
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Guidance only, not legal advice — rules change. Always confirm on the official sites above before you fly. Last verified September 4, 2026.
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