Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Tammie Hughes]

Hi

We have heard mixed stories about what Australian passport holders require to enter South Korea.

Do we need proof of confirmed onward travel?

As far as we are aware, we should be able to fly in to Seoul on our one way tickets and be allowed entry for 90 days as a tourist. What happens at İmmigration - do they ask any questions about onward travel to Australians?

This is extremely important as we are going to have to buy a ticket to leave South Korea before we even arrive - which is in a few days!!!!!!

HELP.... know any travel agent who can sell us a ticket over the internet and email us an e-ticket?


Tam and Mike

[Mastaoos69]

g'day mates!

hrmm... i had a few hassles at immigration cause i was told by my employer that he would handle the visa fiasco. Turns out i was held up by immigration for at least 30 mins about not having an entry visa. I was pissed off. I thought they were gonna put me on the next plane home. Although after discussing my situation with them they finally stamped my passport with an entry visa- valid for 90 days. I recommend you contact the korean consulate in australia, closer to your city, and discuss it further with them.

On the e-ticket note, www.koreanair.com may fulfill your needs! Peace and Good luck!

[ttompatz]

[skdragon]

Unless you have a visa you won't need an onward ticket.
So, if you are coming as a tourist you need an onward or return ticket.

Check-in staff who have missed the Korean visa in my passport told me I couldn't board the plane in Sydney as I only had the return (to Korea) portion of my ticket remaining. They didn't look to happy when I told them I only needed that kind of ticekt to return "home", and pointed out the reentry permit in the passport.

[just because]

I have come from Australia to Korea 3 different times on a tourist visa from the same airport(brisbane) and had 3 different experiences(I always had an out ticket though which was a one way ferry ticket from Korea to japan)

By the way...you will always have your problems at the check-in desk when you board your flight as the airline will get the fine if you overstay. If there is a big problem you won't even get to immigration

1st time(2003): Got to check-in desk, they told me i couldn't board without an onward ticket from korea....showed them the ferry ticket, no hassles.

2nd time(2004): Got to check-in...once again told me i couldn't board without an onward ticket. Show them the ferry ticket....this was not good enough. The check-in guy demanded i needed a return ticket to Australia. Told him this is bullshit but he insisted. Had to get his supervisor and the situation was explained. After much argueing was finally let on the plane....remember I had the outward ticket but the ticket I had was seen as suspicious that i would stay illegally but they had to let me on due to the law

3rd time(2006): Got to check-in. Was asked for nothing and no proof of onward travel(this was only 2 weeks ago - 3 days after the London crap when you would have thought they were being more careful) and they just let me on the plane.


So basically it will all depend on who checks your ticket and their mood at the time.....it is a pot-luck. If you get through the check-in desk then that is the end of it.

This only matters if you are coming over on NO work visa. If you HAVE the valid work visa in your passport already then you will have no hassle at all

[dogshed]

I thought I read somewhere that a ferry ticket to China or Japan could count as onward travel and it may be that you only had to say you were going to buy the ferry ticket. -Jeff

[dogshed]

This other thread has some advice.

I would tell them you plan to buy a ferry ticket know something about the ferry. Say you want to see something whereever the ferry goes. Have money or a credit card to buy the ticket.

Someone said to buy a full price ticket that is fully refundable ticket (on your credit card maybe) and then cash it in after they let you in the country.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=67282&highlight=ferry

[just because]