Visa requirement for business meeting in South Korea?

8 replies

djbsmith

Member since 31 Aug 2012

Total posts 10

Visa requirement for business meeting in South Korea? Internet says no but our corporate travel agent is saying I do. Anyone had any actual experience?

AusFlyer

Member since 10 Mar 2011

Total posts 137

I have been to Seoul on a number of occasions for meetings and never needed a visa....

djbsmith

Member since 31 Aug 2012

Total posts 10

did you say business purposes or holiday?

AusFlyer

Member since 10 Mar 2011

Total posts 137

I went for business... I don't recall getting a visa but it was a few years ago and as moa999 says below, the embassy website says you need one, so maybe the requirements changed.

moa999

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 02 Jul 2011

Total posts 835

Embassy website has the following note:

Australian passport holder can enter Korea without an entry visa, if the purpose of their visit is  Transit or Tourism and stay up to the 90days. You must have a valid Australian passport and onwards air/ferry-ticket to leave Korea within 90 days.

 
If you need to engage in remunerative activities, etc. they must apply for a Korean visa appropriate to their purpose. 

*For business meeting or conference, they must apply for visa.

Of course YMMV, and it all depends how you tick the box.

moa999

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 02 Jul 2011

Total posts 835

Link here:

http://aus-act.mofa.go.kr/english/as/aus-act/visa/issuance/index.jsp

(separate post as link needs approval)

ssn

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 20 Jul 2011

Total posts 6

The rules havent changed recently as far as I know. It has always been a grey area. I have been to Korea 3 times in the last couple of years. I always applied for a visa although there are couple of other colleagues of mine who traveled without a visa. It is indeed very tricky. If you want to have a peace of mind, just get a visa. It is very easy to apply, not very expensive, minimal documents & usually you get in 3-5 business days. If you are planning of traveling again in near future, apply for a multiple entry which is valid for 12 months.   

StuParr

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 01 Mar 2012

Total posts 203

I agree with MOA99, it really depends how you tick the box. you really don't need a visa.

Phil Young

Qantas

Member since 22 Oct 2012

Total posts 252

If you are travelling with a collection of business documents, and you are pulled out for questioning for some reason, and they examine your bag, then you will certainly require a Visa.  I wouldn't take the risk, especially when your corporate travel agent said to get one.

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