Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - One and a half hours in SYD - Visa needed?

Hello!

I'll be flying into SYD on a MR from ICN. I will be arriving and returning on the same Asiana aircraft with only a 1:30 h stop. I'd like to use this time to shop for a didgeridoo (sp.?) in the airport shop and then return.
Will I need a visa for that? I think I will not have to clear immigration in SYD, but I'm not sure. Will Asiana ground staff in ICN let me board without a valid visa? FWIW, I am a EU citizen.

Thanks for any information in advance,

Torsten

As long as you stay airside then no need for visa - if go landside then you'll need visa (unless Australian or NZer).

That said, you'll need to convince OZ to let you board without visa. Shouldnt be a problem, right?

Thanks Kiwi!

No, I think it shouldn't be a problem. I was thinking along the line of : "What will they do? Send me back with the next flight? I've got a ticket for it anyway..."
But this is my first MR and I wanted to play better safe than sorry.

Cheers,
Torsten

You could always break down and drop the AUD20 and get a visa online if you are a citizen of one of the eligible countries.

http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/

Thanks Kiwi!

No, I think it shouldn't be a problem. I was thinking along the line of : "What will they do? Send me back with the next flight? I've got a ticket for it anyway..."...Actually, the rules are for whatever airline you are flying to deny you boarding at ICN if you do not have valid travel documents for your destination. You might ask your airline whether they will accept your travel, on the basis that you will be in transit the whole time. Many airlines will refuse boarding under these circumstances, so this is not a theoretical concern. As for what else could happen to you upon arrival? Probably nothing but what you say (put on the next flight back to ICN) ... however in the past, it has included several days in detention while they investigate your background for other criminal offences, before being put on that next flight ... unlikely, but possible if you do not have a visa. Up to you what level of risk you want (hard to assess the risk, but probably 1% chance of winding up in detention and missing your return flight for whatever reason -- and of course the airline will then require you to pay for a full fare Y ticket for the return leg).

If you had a triangle routing, e.g. ICN-SYD-AKL-SYD then it would be "normal" to stay in transit and all of these concerns would disappear, but I'm presuming you are not transiting SYD to another country (other than your origin).

Thanks again for all the answers.

@number_6: No, I definetely do not want to spend time in detention. So I think I will follow yosithezet's advice (thanks!) and get a visa just in case.
I actually have some business to do in ICN, flying in from Germany. The price for the business ticket FRA-ICN return is actually a bit higher than FRA-ICN-SYD and back, so I just wanted to use the opportunity to add some miles to my account. I don't have anything to do in Sydney, and visited it before so to stay a day for sightseeing is not an option.

Cheers,
Torsten

You could always break down and drop the AUD20 and get a visa online if you are a citizen of one of the eligible countries.

http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/

Germans are eligible, and I think this is your best bet. That's 13 Euros for some peace of mind - to me it would be worth it. Besides, ETAs are valid for 12 months, maybe your travels will bring you to Australia again during that time.