South Korea entry requirements for Australian passport holders (2026): visa and passport validity
Visa (Smartraveller): Read the official visa text below
Passport validity (Smartraveller): No country-specific rule: general advice only
Official source: Smartraveller (Australian Government) – South Korea (Republic of Korea) travel advice, section “Travel” · page updated 12 October 2026, still current at 18 October 2026 (Australian time) · checked on 17 October 2026 · Content from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller website - www.smartraveller.gov.au, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (copyright notice). Changes: we quote excerpts unchanged and leave out some general notes; the short summaries are ours.
Whether Australians need a visa for South Korea and how long an Australian passport must be valid, as published by Smartraveller, the Australian Government's travel advice service, quoted word for word with the date of the official page.
Other passports: British passport · Canadian passport
Driving in South Korea, do you need an international driving permit? Australian licence · Canadian licence
Do Australians need a visa for South Korea?
We quote the official text word for word and do not summarise it. The first official sentence does not match a wording we summarise.
Official text, “Visas and border measures”:
Each country or territory decides its own entry and exit rules, including health border screening measures. To find out what you need to enter a destination, ask their embassy, consulate or immigration office.
Visas
Australian passport holders can visit as tourists for stays of up to 90 days without applying for a K-ETA (or visa waiver). Previously approved K-ETA applications will remain valid up to the granted expiry date. The South Korean Government has announced that Australian passport holders will remain exempt from applying for a K-ETA until 31 December 2026. Visit the official K-ETA website for more information or contact the nearest South Korean embassy or consulate.
Long-term visa holders residing in South Korea must apply for a re-entry permit before leaving South Korea. If you leave South Korea without a re-entry permit, your Alien Registration Card may be cancelled and you'll need to apply for a new long-term visa to enter. If you hold an A1, A2, A3 or F4 visa, you're exempt from requiring a re-entry permit.
To apply for a re-entry permit, visit a local immigration office, including at an airport or seaport. If you intend to apply at an airport immigration office on your way out of South Korea, ensure you allow sufficient time to complete the required formalities.
Further information about re-entry permits and medical examination requirements is available from the South Korean Ministry of Justice.
Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the nearest South Korean embassy or consulate for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.
Border measures
You can submit an e-Arrival card online (online entry declaration form) on the e-Arrival card website, within 3 days before arriving in South Korea. An entry declaration paper form is still available on arrival.
Passengers can be screened for a high body temperature on arrival and might be subject to further health questions.
Contact the South Korean embassy or consulate in Australia for more information when planning your travel and to confirm requirements.
Also in the official “Travel” section:
Other formalities
You'll be fingerprinted when you arrive.
Passengers arriving at airports from particular countries could be screened for infectious diseases, including:
- Cholera
- Zika virus
- Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
Extra quarantine checks are in place for flights from high-risk areas.
Australia has been designated by the ROK health authorities as a ‘Quarantine Inspection Required Area’ due to the presence of dengue fever. If you show any symptoms of illness, you'll need to register on the Korean Q-code system before you arrive or complete a health questionnaire form on arrival. Pre-registration online may save you long wait times at the airport.
Check the full list of Quarantine Inspection Required Areas (Korean) prior to travel, as the countries on the lists change frequently. You may need to submit a health declaration. You should also review the ROK’s Q-Code submission process. Failure to complete required health screenings could result in fines.
Further information on 'Quarantine Inspection Required Areas' and ‘Strict Quarantine Inspection Required Areas’ are available on the ROK 'Notices' page. Check with the South Korean embassy or consulate for the latest requirements.
Korean Government Agencies
- Korea Disease Control & Prevention Agency (KDCA)
- Ministry of Health and Welfare
- Ministry of Employment and Labor
- Ministry of Education
- Ministry of Gender Equality and Family
- Ministry of the Interior and Safety
- Ministry of Economy and Finance
Official source: Smartraveller (Australian Government) – South Korea (Republic of Korea) travel advice, section “Visas and border measures” · page updated 12 October 2026, still current at 18 October 2026 (Australian time) · checked on 17 October 2026 · Content from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller website - www.smartraveller.gov.au, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (copyright notice). Changes: we quote excerpts unchanged and leave out some general notes; the short summaries are ours.
How long must my Australian passport be valid for South Korea?
In its “Travel” section, Smartraveller gives no passport validity period specific to South Korea.
The official “Passport” text below is Smartraveller's general advice, the same on every destination page. Check the rule with the embassy of the country and with your airline before you travel.
Official text, “Passport”:
Validity
Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months before entering or departing. This includes for transit.
If your passport expires too soon, you might not be able to travel.
The Australian Government doesn’t make these rules. Check your passport’s expiry date before you go. If you’re not sure, it’s a good idea to get a new passport.
Lost or stolen passport
Your passport is valuable and can be used by others to commit crimes.
Don’t let anyone trick you into giving it to them. Always keep it in a safe place.
If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government:
- In Australia: contact the Australian Passport Information Service.
- Overseas: contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate.
If you're in South Korea, also visit the Lost112 website and search for your passport.
The same section also has Smartraveller's general notes (“Passport with ‘X’ gender identifier”), the same on every destination page: read them on the official page.
Official source: Smartraveller (Australian Government) – South Korea (Republic of Korea) travel advice, section “Passport” · page updated 12 October 2026, still current at 18 October 2026 (Australian time) · checked on 17 October 2026 · Content from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller website - www.smartraveller.gov.au, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (copyright notice). Changes: we quote excerpts unchanged and leave out some general notes; the short summaries are ours.
For Australian passport holders. These rules are published by Smartraveller, the Australian Government's travel advice service (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), for Australian citizens. Before You Fly is an independent site: it is not an Australian Government site and is not endorsed by DFAT. The airline and the border officials of the destination decide whether you can travel or enter: this site is information, not legal advice. British passport? See the UK (FCDO) rules.
Read the full official travel advice for South Korea (safety, health, local laws) before you travel.
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