Do Australians need a K-ETA for Korea? What changes on 1 January 2027
Key Highlights
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+2 more in the takeaways below
Australians don't need a K-ETA to enter South Korea until the end of 31 December 2026, Korean time. From 1 January 2027 they will, unless Seoul extends the exemption a third time.
No extension had been announced as of 5 November 2026. The last one landed on 23 December 2025, eight days before expiry. So any trip that straddles New Year needs a plan for both outcomes.
- Right now: Australians enter South Korea on a passport alone for up to 90 days, with no K-ETA, until 31 December 2026 (Korean time).
- From 1 January 2027: a K-ETA is required before boarding unless Seoul extends the waiver again. Nothing had been announced by 5 November 2026.
- Cost and timing: 10,000 won (about A$11), usually decided within 72 hours, valid for three years. Apply only at k-eta.go.kr or in the K-ETA app.
- Split trips: Korea hasn't said whether the boarding date or the landing date counts. We'd treat any landing on or after 1 January as needing a K-ETA, including a re-entry after a side trip.
- Exempt groups: travellers aged 17 or under or 65 or over, and most airport transit passengers, skip it. Anyone entering on the exemption still files the e-Arrival Card.
Does this apply to you?
From 1 January 2027, an Australian entering South Korea visa-free needs an approved K-ETA before boarding, unless a new extension is announced. The official guide says travellers eligible for K-ETA must obtain approval before boarding the flight or ship. The waiver is a temporary pause on that rule.
A K-ETA applies to you if all of these are true:
- You enter on an Australian passport. Dual Australian-Korean citizens should read the exceptions section first.
- You're entering without a visa. Australia's allowed stay is listed at 90 days per entry.
- You're 18 to 64 on the date you enter Korea.
- You hold no Korean visa or residence card.
- You're entering Korea, not just changing planes without leaving the airport.
Miss one condition and you may be exempt. We cover those cases in the exceptions section.
Do Australians need a visa or K-ETA for South Korea in 2026?
No. Australian passport holders can visit South Korea as tourists for up to 90 days without applying for a K-ETA or a visa, and Smartraveller says the exemption runs until 31 December 2026. The Korean government's own notice gives the same window: 1 January to 31 December 2026, Korean Standard Time.
Australia is one of 22 countries and regions covered. Korea's consulate in New York listed them when the waiver began on 1 April 2023, and a KPMG alert from January 2026 names Australia again for the current extension. The Korean Embassy in Canberra posted a notice on 30 December 2025 (in Korean) confirming the same dates. The 23 December notice itself refers only to the countries and regions already exempt, so the country list comes from those other sources.
What changes on 1 January 2027
One thing changes on 1 January 2027: the K-ETA moves from optional to required for Australians, if the waiver lapses. The 90-day allowance, the e-Arrival Card and the passport rules sit outside that switch.
The waiver is not new, and it has been extended before. It began on 1 April 2023 and was due to end on 31 December 2024. Korea's Ministry of Justice posted a one-year extension on 11 December 2024. The second extension appeared on the K-ETA site on 23 December 2025, and its wording was short.
The countries/regions that are currently exempt from K-ETA are subject to this extension.
Korea Immigration Service, K-ETA notice dated 23 December 2025
That second notice came late. Korea Daily reported on 18 December 2025 that no announcement had been made and that confusion had followed, although the government had signalled in September 2025 that it would extend. We found no comparable signal for 2027 in our searches. The official K-ETA notice board showed nothing about 2027 when we checked on 5 November 2026. Its newest item is a Korean-language notice of a temporary pause to K-ETA email services on 11 November 2026, which we cover in the application section. Smartraveller's page, updated on 12 October 2026, still says the exemption runs only until 31 December 2026.
Two earlier extensions don't make a third one. We'd plan for the requirement and treat any extension as a bonus.
Which trips are affected, by arrival date
Any trip that lands in Korea on or after 1 January 2027 needs a K-ETA unless the exemption is extended. Anything that lands on or before 31 December does not. Korea hasn't said which date counts for a flight that crosses midnight, so we treat 1 January or later as needing one. The notice gives its dates in Korean Standard Time and doesn't say whether the test is boarding or landing, so a flight that leaves Australia on 31 December and lands on 1 January is the one to worry about.
| Your trip | K-ETA needed? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Land in Korea on or before 31 December 2026, leave before 1 January | No | Inside the exemption window. File the e-Arrival Card. |
| Land before 1 January, stay on past New Year, fly home in January | No (our reading) | The rule is about entry, and the notice says nothing about departure dates. |
| Land before 1 January, fly Seoul to Busan or Jeju after it | No (our reading) | A domestic flight isn't a new entry into Korea. |
| Land before 1 January, day-trip to Japan, re-enter Korea in January | Yes (our reading) | Re-entry is a new entry after the cut-off. Apply before you board in Japan. |
| Land on or after 1 January 2027 | Yes, unless extended | The waiver has ended on its current dates. |
| Party with children 17 or under, or travellers 65 or over | Split | Those travellers are exempt on the date of entry. The 18 to 64 adults need one. |
| Connect through Incheon and don't enter Korea | Usually no | Transfer passengers are exempt unless the itinerary changes or they must collect baggage. |
| Already hold an approved K-ETA | Already covered | It stays valid until its own expiry date. |
Rows marked "our reading" are our inference from the rules, not a line any Korean agency has published. The other rows rest on Korea's official K-ETA FAQ and the Smartraveller page. If your trip sits on a boundary, ask the Korean Embassy in Canberra on +61 2 6270 4100 before you pay for anything non-refundable.
Victorians have a live example of the boundary. Melbourne Airport says Korean Air's seasonal Melbourne to Incheon service runs from 18 December 2026 to 14 March 2027, leaving at 10:00pm on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. By the calendar, the Wednesday 30 December departure is the last one that lands on or before 31 December. The Friday 1 January flight lands on 2 January, so its passengers need a K-ETA. Check the airline's schedule before you build a plan around it.
From Sydney, Brisbane and Perth we couldn't confirm a published direct schedule for those dates, so check your airline's own timetable and work out the Korean landing date the same way.
Korean time is two hours behind Sydney and Melbourne in December, one hour behind Brisbane and one hour ahead of Perth. The window closes at 1:59am on 1 January in Sydney and Melbourne, 12:59am in Brisbane and 10:59pm on 31 December in Perth. That is our arithmetic from the standard offsets, not a line from a Korean agency.
How to apply for a K-ETA, step by step
Apply at k-eta.go.kr or in the K-ETA mobile app, because those are the only two official channels. The K-ETA home page says so in its banner, and the process runs in seven screens whether you sign up as a member or apply as a non-member. The list below groups them.
- Open the official site or app. Type k-eta.go.kr yourself or use the K-ETA app from your phone's store. Agree to the terms.
- Sign up, or use the non-member route. Non-members verify an email address instead of creating an account.
- Enter your passport details. Use the passport you'll show at check-in. The boarding pass, the entry and the K-ETA must all match the same passport.
- Enter your travel details. That means purpose, address in Korea, contact details, expected arrival and departure dates, and anyone travelling with you.
- Review your entries, then pay. The fee is 10,000 won plus a separate online payment fee.
- Complete the application, then watch your email. Check the result on the site, and update your travel details there if your plans change.
One date to avoid: the K-ETA notice says email services will be suspended on Wednesday 11 November 2026 from 12:00 to 13:30 Korean time (2:00pm to 3:30pm in Sydney and Melbourne), though the times may change. Non-member applications, sign-ups and password recovery are affected. Logged-in members can apply as usual.
If you hold two passports, use the same one for all three. Korea's FAQ says the passport on the boarding pass, at entry and on the K-ETA must be the same.
K-ETA cost, timing and validity
A K-ETA costs 10,000 won, usually comes back within 72 hours and stays valid for three years. The Reserve Bank of Australia's 4 November 2026 rate was 934.60 won to A$1, so the fee is about A$11 as of November 2026. The payment processor's charge is on top.
| Item | What Korea's official guide says |
|---|---|
| Fee | 10,000 won, non-refundable even if the application is denied. An online payment fee is charged separately. |
| Decision time | Typically 72 hours or less, though it can run longer. No expedited service exists. |
| Validity | Three years, or until your passport expires if that comes sooner. Use it for multiple entries. |
| Stay per entry | Australia is listed at 90 days. Validity and stay length are separate. |
| New passport | A reissued passport needs a new K-ETA. |
| Entry guarantee | None. An officer at the port of entry makes the final decision. |
Those rows come from the application guide, and the stay length from the eligible countries page. The guide also says applications are reviewed in the order received. That's why we'd apply once your flight dates are fixed, not the week you fly. We couldn't confirm how far ahead the portal accepts an arrival date, so check the date field when you start.
The e-Arrival Card is a separate form
Australians entering South Korea on the K-ETA exemption must also submit an e-Arrival Card, and an approved K-ETA removes that duty. Smartraveller says you can submit it online within three days before arriving, and that a paper form is still available on arrival.
The official e-Arrival Card guide lists citizens of countries temporarily exempt from K-ETA among those who must file. It lists K-ETA holders among those excluded. The K-ETA notice says approval means not having to submit an arrival card.
One Australia-specific extra: Smartraveller says South Korea's health authorities list Australia as a Quarantine Inspection Required Area because of dengue fever. If you have symptoms of illness on arrival, you'll need to register on the Q-code system beforehand or complete a health form at the airport.
Exceptions people get wrong
Children, over-65s and transit passengers skip the K-ETA. Teenagers turning 18 and anyone who collects baggage do not. Korea's FAQ lists the exempt groups in full. These are the ones that matter to Australian holidaymakers.
Children and older travellers. K-ETA is not required for visa-free travellers aged 17 or under, or 65 or over, according to a Korean-language notice posted 28 June 2023 that took effect on 3 July 2023. A teenager who turns 18 on the day of arrival does need one. Exempt children and over-65s still file the e-Arrival Card. The e-Arrival guide words the age limits slightly differently from the K-ETA rule, so if someone is exactly 17 or 65, check the card requirement with the Embassy.
That makes family trips lopsided. Two adults need approvals and the kids don't. So the group chat can't treat "we all applied" as a check.
Transit passengers. A connection through Incheon without entering Korea needs no K-ETA. It does need one if your itinerary changes or you must reclaim baggage. Separate tickets can force a bag collection, which is exactly the trigger the FAQ names.
Cruise passengers. The FAQ also lists cruise travellers as exempt.
Dual citizens and Korean-heritage Australians. Smartraveller says South Korea recognises dual nationality only in limited circumstances, and that children with dual nationality generally must choose a citizenship when they turn 18.
It adds that male Australian-Korean dual nationals of military age may need to complete military service before they can leave South Korea or renounce Korean citizenship, even if they enter on an Australian passport. If you were born in South Korea or have Korean citizenship, Smartraveller says you remain a South Korean citizen unless you formally renounce it. We found no Korean agency page saying whether a K-ETA applies to a dual citizen. Ask a South Korean embassy, consulate or the Ministry of Justice which passport to enter on before you apply, as Smartraveller advises.
New passport, changed plans. A K-ETA is tied to the passport it was issued against, and the guide says a reissued passport needs a new application. If your address or dates change after approval, update them on the K-ETA site. The guide warns that failing to do so may mean entry denial.
Lookalike K-ETA websites
Only k-eta.go.kr and the K-ETA mobile app take K-ETA applications, so any other site asking for a fee is a lookalike. The home page warns about similar agencies and phishing sites that charge high fees for application or expedited services. A December 2022 notice (in Korean) says the government has designated no agency to handle K-ETA applications.
Smartraveller makes the same point in general terms: some third-party websites charge a fee to submit a visa application for you. In 2022, the Korea Herald quoted a British traveller who paid a scam site instead of the official portal. That was one report from 2022, but Smartraveller's current scams page describes the same practice.
There is no express K-ETA. The official guide says applications are reviewed in the order received. Any site selling priority processing is not the government.
We'd bookmark k-eta.go.kr today and never reach it through a search ad.
What if Korea extends the exemption again?
Then nothing changes for Australians in 2027: no K-ETA, the same 90 days, and the e-Arrival Card still needed. A K-ETA you already bought stays valid until its own expiry date, according to both the K-ETA notice and Smartraveller.
If any landing falls on or after 1 January 2027, we'd apply once your flight dates are fixed, as long as the portal accepts them. We couldn't confirm how far ahead it accepts an arrival date, so check the date field when you start. If your whole trip finishes before 1 January, skip it.
The cost of being wrong is A$11 and a refused refund. If the exemption is extended you've spent money you didn't strictly need, though the approval still lasts three years and skips the arrival card.
Checked on 5 November 2026 against the K-ETA home page, notice board and FAQ, the e-Arrival Card guide, and Smartraveller (updated 12 October 2026). We'll watch the K-ETA notice board, where both earlier extensions appeared.
Build it into your trip plan
Three dates matter: the day you apply, the day you file the e-Arrival Card, and the day you land in Korea.
- Write down the date your flight lands in Korea, in Korean time
- Apply for a K-ETA once your flight dates are fixed, if you land on or after 1 January 2027 and the portal accepts the date
- Use the same passport for the booking, the K-ETA and the check-in
- Save the approval email where you can open it offline
- File the e-Arrival Card within three days of landing, unless you hold a K-ETA
- Check each traveller's age on the date of entry
If you're planning with a group, TripProf lets you file the approval under visas in the trip's documents, and its checklists are grouped by category, documents included. Both work offline, which helps at an airport with poor reception.
For the rest of the paperwork, our travel document checklist covers what usually gets missed. Other countries run similar rules, and our guides to ETIAS and the UK ETA for Australians and to visa requirements for Australians cover them. China's visa-free entry has its own end date, set out in our post on China's visa-free expiry for Australians. Travelling with an American friend? Our post for Americans covers their side of the same deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Australians need a K-ETA for South Korea?
Not until the end of 31 December 2026, Korean time. From 1 January 2027 Australians need a K-ETA before boarding, unless South Korea extends the exemption again. As of 5 November 2026, no extension has been announced on the official K-ETA notice board.
Do Australians need a visa for South Korea?
No visa is needed for tourist stays of up to 90 days. A K-ETA isn't a visa, only an electronic pre-travel approval, and it doesn't guarantee entry. An officer at the port of entry makes the final decision on every arrival.
What if my trip crosses 1 January 2027?
Korea's notice doesn't say whether boarding or landing decides it. Landing on or before 31 December is inside the window on any reading. Landing on or after 1 January, including re-entry after a side trip, we'd treat as needing a K-ETA unless the exemption is extended. Confirm borderline cases with the Embassy in Canberra on +61 2 6270 4100.
How much is a K-ETA and how long does it take?
The fee is 10,000 won, about A$11 at the Reserve Bank of Australia's 4 November 2026 rate, plus a separate online payment fee. It's non-refundable. Decisions typically take 72 hours or less, and no expedited service exists.
Do I still need the e-Arrival Card if I have a K-ETA?
No. An approved K-ETA exempts you from the e-Arrival Card. Without a K-ETA, including under the 2026 exemption, you file the card online within three days before arriving. A paper form is still available on arrival.
Do children and over-65s need a K-ETA?
Not if they're 17 or under, or 65 or over, on the date of entry. A teenager who turns 18 on arrival day does need one. Exempt travellers still file the e-Arrival Card unless they hold a K-ETA.
Do dual Australian-Korean citizens need a K-ETA?
We found no Korean agency page that answers this. Smartraveller says South Korea recognises dual nationality only in limited circumstances and tells dual nationals to get advice from a South Korean embassy, consulate or the Ministry of Justice before travelling. Ask which passport to enter on before you apply.
Has the exemption been extended beyond 2026?
The exemption has not been extended beyond 2026, as far as we can find. The K-ETA notice board, Smartraveller and the Korean Embassy notices we read all give 31 December 2026 as the end date. Past extensions were posted on 11 December 2024 and 23 December 2025.
Key Takeaways
- The cut-off is 31 December 2026, Korean time. Australians need no K-ETA for entries up to then, and no extension had been announced by 5 November 2026.
- Plan around your landing date. Korea hasn't said whether boarding or landing counts, so we'd treat any landing on or after 1 January as needing a K-ETA, side-trip re-entries included.
- A K-ETA is cheap insurance, if the portal takes your dates. It costs 10,000 won (about A$11), lasts three years and replaces the e-Arrival Card.
- Apply only at k-eta.go.kr or the K-ETA app. No agency is authorised and no express service exists.
- Kids and over-65s are exempt, adults aren't. Check each person's age on the date of entry.
Sources
- Korea Immigration Service: Notice on Extension of K-ETA Temporary Exemption (23 December 2025)
- Korea Immigration Service: K-ETA home page, fee and warning
- Korea Immigration Service: K-ETA application guide
- Korea Immigration Service: Eligible countries and allowed stay
- Korea Immigration Service: K-ETA FAQ, including who is exempt
- Korea Immigration Service: Notice on validity period and age exemption (28 June 2023, Korean)
- Korea Immigration Service: Beware of non-official websites (16 December 2022, Korean)
- Korea Immigration Service: Notice of temporary suspension of K-ETA email services (2 November 2026, Korean)
- Korea Immigration Service: K-ETA notice board
- Korea Immigration Service: e-Arrival Card guide on who must file
- Smartraveller: South Korea travel advice
- Smartraveller: Scams that affect travellers
- Korean Consulate General in New York: Notice on the temporary K-ETA exemption for 22 countries and regions
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Australia: K-ETA exemption extension notice (30 December 2025, Korean)
- KPMG: GMS Flash Alert 2026-024 (30 January 2026)
- Korea Daily: One-year extension of the K-ETA exemption (12 December 2024, Korean)
- Korea Daily: Exemption ends this month with no announcement (18 December 2025, Korean)
- The Korea Herald: report on K-ETA complaints and fake sites (8 November 2022)
- Reserve Bank of Australia: Exchange rates (4 November 2026)
- Melbourne Airport: Korean Air set to land at Melbourne Airport
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