Australians plotting their next escape to South Korea have been handed a rare travel gift that doesn’t involve jet lag or queueing at immigration. In a move warmly welcomed by airlines, tourism bodies and long-suffering holiday planners, the Korean Government has extended its temporary waiver of the Korea Electronic Travel Authorisation (K-ETA) for Australians and New Zealanders until 31 December 2026.
In practical terms, that means Australians and Kiwis can continue to enter South Korea visa-free without applying for a K-ETA, one less form, one less fee, and one less administrative hurdle between home and a bowl of bibimbap in Seoul.
The K-ETA, introduced to streamline entry for travellers from visa-free nations, is ordinarily a mandatory online pre-authorisation. But recognising the importance of tourism recovery and friction-free travel, Korean authorities have kept the door wide open for select countries, including Australia and New Zealand, for another two years.
Travellers who enjoy a bit of administrative order can still apply for a K-ETA if they wish. The upside? Convenience benefits such as exemption from completing an arrival card on entry. The downside? The standard application fee still applies. The key point is choice—apply if you want to, but you don’t have to.
There’s a digital shift on the horizon, however. From 1 January 2026, travellers entering Korea without a K-ETA will be required to submit a digital e-Arrival Card online within three days prior to arrival. Paper cards are headed for the same place as fax machines and traveller’s cheques.
Eligibility remains straightforward. Australians and New Zealanders are covered, and travellers attempting to apply unnecessarily will be notified via a pop-up during the online process—an unusually polite way of saying, “You don’t need this.”
As always, rules can evolve faster than airline pricing algorithms. Travellers are strongly advised to double-check requirements before departure using official government sources.
For now, though, it’s a clear win. Less red tape, fewer clicks, and more reasons to book that long-delayed Korean adventure.
by Prae Lee – (c) 2026.
Read time: 2 minutes.
About the Writer.
You can tell a lot about a person by how they handle a busy Bangkok morning. Prae Lee doesn’t rush; she glides through it. There’s a calm certainty about her, the sort that comes from knowing where you come from and where you’re going.
Educated at Chulalongkorn University, she took her business degree with the quiet pride of someone who believes in doing things correctly. Her travels for further study in Singapore and Australia didn’t change her; they polished what was already there: curiosity, discipline, and grace.
She returned to her family business in Bangkok, breathing a little modern life into it. She handled social media with the intuition of someone who listens and sells with the gentle persistence that the Thais do so well.
Prae doesn’t make a fuss, but everything she touches shines brighter.
Now part of the Global Travel Media family, Prae brings authenticity and quiet confidence to her writing, drawing from a life steeped in culture, travel, and connection.
