South Korea is now firmly on the Indian holiday map, but it is not visa-free, visa-on-arrival or K-ETA for Indian passport holders, and that misunderstanding causes more refused boardings than any other. The normal tourist route is the C-3-9 short-term general tourist visa, applied for in advance through a Korea Visa Application Centre (KVAC) or BLS International centre in India. From 1 August 2026 the government visa fee for Indians was revised to ₹3,600 for a single-entry visa up to 90 days, and this guide explains the full fee table, the documents, the 10-working-day processing rule, and the separate free e-Arrival Card you must also complete before you fly.
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Do Indians Need a Visa for South Korea?
Yes, with one narrow exception. Indian passport holders need a visa in advance for mainland South Korea — no visa on arrival, no e-visa, and no K-ETA for Indians, so any website selling a “Korea K-ETA for Indians” should be treated as a scam. The exception is Jeju Island: visa-free for up to 30 days, but only on a direct international flight to Jeju. If you land first in Seoul or Busan, or travel from Jeju to the mainland, you need a visa. Holders of a valid visa or residence permit from countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Europe may enter for up to 30 days in transit to or from that country — check the exact conditions with the Korean mission first. For a normal holiday, assume you need the C-3-9 visa, and do not book non-refundable travel until it is granted.
The Revised Fee Table From 1 August 2026
The fee revision effective 1 August 2026 matters because older guides still quote lower fees. The government fee is now ₹3,600 for single-entry up to 90 days, ₹5,400 for single-entry over 90 days, ₹6,300 for double-entry and ₹8,100 for multiple-entry. Express service costs ₹6,300, ₹8,100, ₹9,900 and ₹11,700 respectively. The application centre charges its own service fee, reported at around ₹1,000–₹1,100 — confirm it at your centre, as it is separate from the embassy fee. All fees are non-refundable, even on refusal, so an incomplete application costs money as well as time.
Documents You Will Need
The checklist can vary by centre, so confirm it before your appointment. In general, a tourist application includes a passport valid for at least six months with two blank pages, the completed form, and recent photographs (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, white background). Financial proof is central: bank statements for the last six months, stamped by the bank, and income tax returns for one to two years. Employed applicants add an employment letter or no-objection certificate; self-employed applicants add business registration proof. You also need a confirmed round-trip itinerary, hotel bookings or an invitation, and a cover letter matching your bookings. Biometrics are collected at the centre for most applicants, and South Korea generally requires fresh biometrics for each application.
South Korea Visa at a Glance
| Item | Rule for Indian Passport Holders |
|---|---|
| Tourist visa type | C-3-9 short-term general tourist visa, applied for in advance |
| Visa on arrival / e-visa / K-ETA for Indians | No — none of these are available to Indian passport holders |
| Jeju exception | Visa-free up to 30 days, only on a direct international flight to Jeju |
| Government fee, single-entry up to 90 days | ₹3,600 (from 1 August 2026) |
| Government fee, single-entry over 90 days | ₹5,400 |
| Government fee, double-entry / multiple-entry | ₹6,300 / ₹8,100 |
| Express processing fee | ₹6,300–₹11,700 depending on entry type, on top of the standard fee |
| Centre service charge | Separate, around ₹1,000–₹1,100 — confirm at your centre |
| Standard processing | 10 working days for a complete application; add 10 more working days if extra documents or an interview are requested |
| Express processing | About 3 working days |
| After approval | No sticker — download the Visa Grant Notice from the Korea Visa Portal |
| e-Arrival Card | Free, separate from the visa — submit within 3 days before arrival at e-arrivalcard.go.kr |
Step-by-Step: Apply for the C-3-9 Visa From India
- Confirm your route: mainland trip means a C-3-9 visa in advance; only a direct-flight Jeju-only trip can use the Jeju exception.
- Find your centre: VFS Global Korea Visa Application Centres serve New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru, while BLS International serves Mumbai and Hyderabad — apply through the centre for your area of residence.
- Prepare the documents listed above, with bank statements stamped by the bank and a cover letter that matches your bookings exactly.
- Book an appointment where required, attend in person for biometrics, and pay the government fee plus the centre service charge.
- Track the application on the Korea Visa Portal. Standard processing is 10 working days for a complete file, so apply at least three to four weeks before travel.
- When approved, download the Visa Grant Notice — South Korea no longer puts a sticker in the passport — and carry a printed copy with your passport.
- Within three days before arrival, complete the free e-Arrival Card at e-arrivalcard.go.kr with your passport, flight and accommodation address. It is a separate arrival declaration, not a visa.
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Common Mistakes Indian Travellers Should Avoid
First, do not buy a “K-ETA for Indians” or an “e-visa” from any agent — neither exists for Indian passport holders. Second, do not use old fee guides: the ₹3,600 fee applies from 1 August 2026, plus the centre charge. Third, do not confuse the free e-Arrival Card with the visa. Fourth, do not assume the Jeju exception covers a Seoul stopover. Fifth, do not submit unstamped bank statements or mismatched dates — weak financial evidence is the most common cause of delay or refusal. For related reading on other Asian visa processes, compare with https://sunlightholidays.in/japan-visa-indians-500-fee-e-visa-application-guide/ and https://sunlightholidays.in/thailand-visa-indians-60-day-visa-free-tdac-guide/ — and for how to spot false visa promises, see https://sunlightholidays.in/visa-guarantee-scam-alert-fake-agent-warning-signs/
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Do Indians need a visa for South Korea?
Yes, for mainland South Korea. The C-3-9 tourist visa must be obtained in advance. The only exception is Jeju Island, visa-free for up to 30 days on a direct international flight to Jeju.
Q2: How much is the South Korea tourist visa fee for Indians?
From 1 August 2026: ₹3,600 single-entry up to 90 days, ₹5,400 single-entry over 90 days, ₹6,300 double-entry, ₹8,100 multiple-entry, plus a centre charge of around ₹1,000–₹1,100.
Q3: How long does a South Korea visa take from India?
Standard processing is 10 working days for a complete application, plus 10 more if extra documents or an interview are requested. Express takes about 3 working days.
Q4: Is the e-Arrival Card the same as a visa?
No. It is a free arrival declaration, separate from the visa, submitted within three days before arrival at e-arrivalcard.go.kr. It does not replace the C-3-9 visa.
Sources: Korea Visa Application Centre / BLS International fee notice of 30 July 2026, effective 1 August 2026 (single-entry up to 90 days ₹3,600; over 90 days ₹5,400; double-entry ₹6,300; multiple-entry ₹8,100; express ₹6,300–₹11,700; centre service charge around ₹1,100); Korea Visa Portal (visa.go.kr) — Visa Grant Notice system, no passport sticker since 1 July 2020; official e-Arrival Card portal (e-arrivalcard.go.kr) — free digital arrival declaration submitted within 3 days before arrival, separate from the visa; Jeju visa-free entry up to 30 days on direct flights, as published in Korean immigration guidance for Indian passport holders.
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