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Markhughes
Joined: 14 Dec 2010
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 Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 1:22 am Post subject: Entering Korea as a tourist |
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Hello.
I will be entering Korea (to start work for EPIK in Feb) from China in a few weeks. Once entering, I'll be picking up my contract and doing a visa run to Japan.
I'm a tad worried about my original entry as I've heard that to enter as a tourist, you need an onward ticket. I won't have one. Does anyone know if this is the case? Anybody had any similar experiences?
Any advice would be very gratefully received! |
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chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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| Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 1:55 am Post subject: visa |
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I entered Korea on a 90 day tourist visa in 2007 & airport staff in Australia were initially going to refuse my boarding the aircraft. But I had a job in Korea within a fortnight. I would contact the airline you are flying to Korea on, & fax them a copy of your contract or some other proof that you will be able to support yourself & afford a ticket back, & you're not going to be broke, penniless & unemployed. It will be the same airline that gets saddled with the cost of a return ticket in the unlikely event you don't get a job.
In my situation, airport staff rang Korean Airlines, who agreed to let me board. I was using the return section of a ticket purchased in Korea. (They wouldn't sell me a single ticket). |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 2:27 am Post subject: |
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| I came without proof on onward travel. They didn't really want to let me on the plane, but I really insistent and told them that I was going to take the train to Busan and then take the ferry to Fukuoka. |
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jamal0000
Joined: 11 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 3:03 am Post subject: |
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| I had a friend come to Korea as a tourist with a one way from the USA and was never asked onward journey (in 2010). You can get a refundable ticket with Air Busan to Japan (just a $20 cancellation fee, or think of it as a $20 insurance policy). |
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samd
Joined: 03 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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I'll be in the same situation soon so I looked this up last week. No onward ticket is required by Korean immigration.
Do airlines have the right to refuse you entry onto the plane if you don't have an onward ticket?
If they do refuse you entry, do you then get a refund on your airfare? |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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| samd wrote: |
I'll be in the same situation soon so I looked this up last week. No onward ticket is required by Korean immigration.
Do airlines have the right to refuse you entry onto the plane if you don't have an onward ticket?
If they do refuse you entry, do you then get a refund on your airfare? |
They have a right to refuse you. I've dealt with this a couple times, in different countries, and I've found that as long as I'm persistent and sound like I know what I'm doing they'll let me on the plane. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 12:20 am Post subject: |
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| samd wrote: |
I'll be in the same situation soon so I looked this up last week. No onward ticket is required by Korean immigration.
Do airlines have the right to refuse you entry onto the plane if you don't have an onward ticket?
If they do refuse you entry, do you then get a refund on your airfare? |
They DO have the right to refuse passage if you do NOT meet the entry requirements for your next destination.
The airline (depending on the class of your ticket) is not required to give a refund if you are refused boarding.
In the case of Korea you either:
a) need a visa
OR
b) for visa free / visa waiver entry:
- Immigration officers can request visitors to show:
- all documents required for next destination; and
- sufficient funds for maintenance; and
- contact address in Korea (Rep.).
Warning:
- Non-compliance with the entry regulations will result in fines for the airlines.
For details, click here ( http://www.timaticweb.com/cgi-bin/tim_client.cgi?ExpertMode=TIDFT/KR/VI/WA/ID21440&user=DL&subuser=DELTAB2C )
Warning:
- Non-compliance with the entry regulations will result in fines for the airlines. Max. fine: KRW 10,000,000.
- Passengers making use of TWOV facility and missing onward flight due to own fault or airline's mishandling will be deported immediately. The transporting airline will receive a fine.
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 12:40 am Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
b) for visa free / visa waiver entry:
- Immigration officers can request visitors to show:
- all documents required for next destination; and
- sufficient funds for maintenance; and
- contact address in Korea (Rep.).
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I generally keep a bank statement with me to show that I have the funds to support myself even if I don't have proof of onward travel. |
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samd
Joined: 03 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 1:44 am Post subject: |
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Ttompatz, thanks for the info.
Where did you find the information about what immigration officers are allowed to ask for?
(The reason I ask is because an onward ticket is not mentioned as being required on the immigration website, and my travel agent also told me it is not required) |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 2:35 am Post subject: |
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| samd wrote: |
Ttompatz, thanks for the info.
Where did you find the information about what immigration officers are allowed to ask for?
(The reason I ask is because an onward ticket is not mentioned as being required on the immigration website, and my travel agent also told me it is not required) |
It is listed on the timatic website (the one the airlines are connected to and use to determine if they will let you get on the plane).
It is also a general requirement for ALL international travelers who do NOT have a visa when they travel (as in - are taking advantage of the various visa waiver programs). It ensures that you won't get stranded in the country you are going to since you won't be allowed to work (no visa).
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Lazio
Joined: 15 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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Had a roundtrip ticket purchased in Korea. Went home, got married (with a Korean) and returned as a tourist because I applied for the appropriate visa later. No problem at all.
Recently I came back after a short visit. Again, my return flight to Korea was the second leg on the ticket. At check-in they asked me if I need a tourist visa to Korea. I said I don't but actually I'm not coming as a toursit. There is my visa in my passport but back home they didn't know what that is (U.S. visas for example are commonly known but not the Koreans) so they just made sure I can enter Korea without any kind of visa... |
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