Australian and New Zealand passport holders can enter South Korea without a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) through December 31, 2026, eliminating a AUD$12 fee and 72-hour processing requirement per person. The exemption, formalized by South Korea’s Ministry of Justice on January 9, 2026, covers tourism and business stays up to 90 days as part of a 67-country waiver framework.
The exemption expires on January 1, 2027, creating a hard booking cliff for early 2027 travel. All exempt travelers must still submit a mandatory e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before departure—the K-ETA waiver does not eliminate pre-departure documentation.
South Korea has extended its K-ETA waiver for Australasian travelers through the end of 2026, removing a small but persistent administrative hurdle for short-term visits. The exemption saves AUD$12 per person and eliminates the need to apply 72 hours in advance, streamlining entry for tourism or business stays up to 90 days.
This marks the third consecutive extension since the waiver launched in April 2023 as part of South Korea’s post-pandemic tourism recovery. The Ministry of Justice confirmed the policy on January 9, 2026, covering 67 visa-exempt countries including Australia and New Zealand.
The exemption does not extend maximum stay duration—90 days remains the limit regardless of K-ETA status. Travelers planning trips after January 1, 2027 will need to reapply for K-ETA, which costs AUD$12 and requires 14 working days processing.
What the exemption covers
The waiver applies to all Australian and New Zealand passport holders entering South Korea for tourism or business purposes. Stays are capped at 90 days—extensions require a separate C-3-9 tourist visa application through the Sydney or Wellington embassy, costing approximately AUD$110 and taking 14 working days to process.
Despite the K-ETA exemption, all travelers must complete a digital e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before departure via the official K-ETA portal. This replaces the paper landing card phased out in late 2025 and is mandatory for entry—submitting late risks boarding denial.
Travelers who obtained a K-ETA before the waiver was announced can continue using it until its original two-year expiration date, typically between 2026 and 2028. No refunds are issued for unused K-ETAs, but holding one during the exemption period allows travelers to bypass the e-Arrival Card requirement—the only remaining advantage of pre-existing K-ETAs.
| Factor | With exemption (through Dec 31, 2026) | Standard K-ETA (from Jan 1, 2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | None | AUD$12 |
| Processing time | None (e-Arrival Card only) | 72 hours minimum |
| Pre-departure documentation | e-Arrival Card (72 hours before) | K-ETA + e-Arrival Card |
| Maximum stay | 90 days | 90 days |
The exemption supports South Korea’s goal of attracting 30 million international visitors by 2030. Inbound arrivals from Australia and New Zealand have grown significantly since the waiver launched in April 2023, though no fourth extension has been announced for 2027.
How this compares regionally
South Korea’s approach emphasizes administrative convenience over extended stay duration. Thailand offers 60-day visa-free entry for Australians with no pre-departure documentation requirement—a simpler framework but shorter than South Korea’s 90-day limit.
The three consecutive extensions (2024, 2025, 2026) signal South Korea’s commitment to Australasian tourism recovery, but the absence of a fourth-extension announcement creates uncertainty for 2027 bookings. No equivalent exemption exists for US or Canadian travelers on the same routes to South Korea from Australasia, making this a region-specific advantage.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) both recognize the exemption as current policy through December 31, 2026. Unlike Thailand’s unilateral extension, South Korea’s exemption still mandates the e-Arrival Card submission—a distinction that affects pre-departure planning complexity.
Steps to enter South Korea under the exemption
The exemption removes the K-ETA requirement but does not eliminate pre-departure documentation—here is the priority order for protecting your trip.
- Submit e-Arrival Card 72 hours before departure: Access the official portal at k-eta.go.kr and complete the digital form with passport details, flight information, and accommodation addresses. Confirmation is instant if the system is functioning—check submission status before heading to the airport.
- Verify passport validity: South Korea requires passports valid for at least six months beyond your intended departure date. Renew now if your passport expires before mid-2027.
- Book trips departing before December 31, 2026: The exemption expires on January 1, 2027. Travelers departing on or after that date must apply for K-ETA (AUD$12 + 14 working days processing).
- Retain existing K-ETAs if held: K-ETAs issued before January 9, 2026 remain valid until their original two-year expiration date and allow you to skip the e-Arrival Card requirement during the exemption period.
- Plan for stays beyond 90 days: The exemption does not extend maximum stay duration. Extensions require a separate C-3-9 visa application through the Sydney or Wellington embassy (AUD$110, 14 working days).
Watch: South Korea has extended the K-ETA waiver three consecutive times since April 2023, but no fourth extension has been announced. Monitor the Ministry of Justice website (moj.go.kr) in Q4 2026 for any policy updates affecting 2027 travel.
If I already paid for a K-ETA before the waiver was announced, can I get a refund?
No refunds are issued for K-ETAs purchased before the exemption was formalized on January 9, 2026. However, your K-ETA remains valid until its original two-year expiration date (typically 2026–2028) and can be used during the waiver period to bypass the e-Arrival Card requirement—the only remaining advantage of holding a pre-existing K-ETA.
What happens if I submit my e-Arrival Card fewer than 72 hours before departure?
The e-Arrival Card requirement is mandatory and must be submitted within 72 hours before departure. Submitting late risks entry denial—airlines check submission status before boarding and may refuse boarding if the card is not confirmed in the system. Verify submission status on k-eta.go.kr before heading to the airport.
Can I extend my stay beyond 90 days once I arrive in South Korea under the K-ETA exemption?
No. The 90-day limit is fixed regardless of exemption status. Extensions require a separate C-3-9 tourist visa application through the Sydney or Wellington embassy, costing approximately AUD$110 and taking 14 working days to process. Apply before your initial 90-day period expires—overstaying triggers fines and potential entry bans.
Does the K-ETA exemption apply to travelers transiting through Incheon Airport without entering South Korea?
Yes, but only for airside transit (remaining in the international terminal without passing immigration). If you plan to leave the airport during a layover—even for a few hours—you must either hold a valid K-ETA or qualify for the exemption and submit an e-Arrival Card. Transit-only passengers staying airside do not need either document.
What happens if I book a trip departing January 5, 2027, but the K-ETA exemption expires December 31, 2026?
You must apply for a K-ETA before departure. The exemption ends December 31, 2026—from January 1, 2027, K-ETA becomes mandatory again. Apply no later than mid-December 2026 to allow for the 14-working-day processing window and potential system delays as the exemption expires. Cost is AUD$12 per person.
