Transit Visa to Korea
 

Visitors meeting the following requirements also can enter Korea without a Korean visa for a stay of up to 30 days, if their purpose of visit is transit

--Holding a visa or a re-entry permit of the U.S. Japan, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand (5 countries)
--Travelling from either of the five countries to a third country via Korea, or travelling from a third country to either of the five countries via Korea
--Holding a confirmed onward flight ticket for departure within 30 days
--No Immigration offence records, while in the five countries


Question: Chinese passport with Australian Permanent Resident Visa, traveling from SYD-HKG-ICN-HGH. Does visa needed if staying less than 30 days?

Will not enter Hong Kong, transit only, does that qualify as travelling from Australia to China via Korea?

Thanks.

That sounds like a question for the nearest South Korean consulate.

Some say u have to take the direct flight from Australia to ICN, some say a direct transit is ok, i.e. immediate transit at HKG is ok

Some even say it's up to the officer at ICN customs

You should be fine. You didn't stop and enter HKG, so your flight is direct. Remember, the majority don't take nonstop flights. You have an Aussie resident card and you're going to a third country.

This is from the Immigration website:

Applicable to…
Persons holding a visa (re-entry permit, permanent residency, etc.) to enter the U.S. (including Guam and Saipan), Canada, Australia, or New Zealand (hereinafter referred to as "the four advanced countries")
1) who transit through Korea to go to one of the four advanced countries.
2) who stay in one of the four advanced countries and take a direct flight from the country to Korea to go to a country of origin or a third country.

If you hold an e-visa to Australia and a visa label is attached to your passport, you are permitted to enter Korea without a visa. However, if the label is not on your passport, you are granted no-visa entry only when you depart from Australia and transit through Korea.


You'd be #2. Stay in Australia, direct flight from there to Korea (also, think, not everyone takes nonstops...) and you're going to said 3rd country, China. Even with that e-visa in the passport rule, it doesn't matter. You're following the rules "From Australia to another country through Korea." You'll be fine.

As always, just call your consulate to double check the rules.

http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/InfoDeta...showMenuId=375

To me, a "direct" flight is either a non-stop flight or a single flight with stop-overs. If there's a transit in Hong Kong -- that is, a change to a flight with a different number -- then I wouldn't say the OP is on a direct flight from Australia to Korea.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_flight

We're also talking about immigration officers that barely speak English, are doing it for their military service and don't really care.

I don't think they're going to be that picky over the definition of a direct flight. As long as you came directly from Australia, didn't enter another country for any period of time, I'm sure you'll be fine.