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I’m a Vietnamese passport holder and Australian permanent resident planning to visit Korea soon. Can I enter Korea with tourist in transit scheme? My flights are

Melbourne → Vietnam (layover 7,5h) → Korea (5days) → Singapore (layover 7,5h) → Melbourne

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No, you are not eligible, because your main destination is clearly Korea. In fact your itinerary is specifically called out on the official site:

If you visit only Korea from the country of departure(e.g.,Australia) and return to the country of departure(e.g.,Australia), you must get a visa.

The fact that you happen to be transiting via Singapore and Vietnam on your way to Korea is irrelevant.

Now there is one potential exception. This itinerary is listed on the site as allowed:

Home Country → Korea → Third Country → Australia / [Possible]

Since your home country is Vietnam and you are flying from Vietnam to Korea, you could maybe argue that you are not "transiting" Vietnam, but departing from it. But since this is a visa-free program, and you would also need to convince the airline in Vietnam to let you board, this seems risky and it would be much safer to get a regular Korean visa. As an Australian PR, the visa is very likely to be granted.

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  • Most countries require that on a transit visa you spend only the least amount of time in the country to reasonably carry out your transit. There is no way that five days qualifies. Commented 18 hours ago
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    The Korean "Transit" program is very different to many other transit programs. From what I understand the OPs itinerary is allowed under it, however whether the airline will agree or not would be the bigger issue.
    – Doc
    Commented 18 hours ago
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    Thank you all for your reply. Initially i planned to get a tourist visa; however the consulate in Melbourne is fully booked and I wont be able to acquire one before my flight. Therefore I’m looking at this option as Im kinda in a desperate situation. I have plan to leave the airport in Vietnam to go home for a little bit (my house is close to the airport) just not too sure if I can board the flight from Melbourne (I’m flying VN airline to Seoul and Singapore back)
    – Amy Tran
    Commented 15 hours ago
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    @DJClayworth Before 2020, Russia used to issue transit visas for more than a week for Europeans taking the train to China.
    – gerrit
    Commented 8 hours ago
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    There are of course exceptions. The Trans Siberian runs only a couple of times a week so waiting a week isn't unreasonable. Commented 2 hours ago

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