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🇮🇳INDIA
🇰🇷SOUTH KOREAIN-KR

Do India passport holders need a visa to visit South Korea?

Visa required. India NOT included in K-ETA waiver scheme; apply for short-term tourist C-3 visa. Indian passport holders need a visa to visit South Korea for tourism — India is NOT on Korea's list of 67 visa-waiver eligible nationalities, so the K-ETA waiver pilot (which lets eligible nationals travel visa-free through 31 December 2026) does not apply. Indians must apply for the short-term general visa (C-3) at the Korean embassy in Delhi or consulates in Mumbai, Chennai, or Kolkata. Single-entry C-3 visa costs USD 40 and is valid for 3 months with up to 90 days stay. Multi-entry visas valid 5 years are available for frequent business travellers (USD 90). The Korean visa application is now mostly online via the e-Visa portal for selected categories, including group tourism for vetted travel agencies. For business, work, or long-term stays additional visa categories (D, E, F) are required.
VISA REQUIREDTOURISMFLEXIBLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-27
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-27
Visa type
Pre-arranged consular visa (C-3)
Maximum stay
Up to 90 days per entry
per entry
Entries
Single or multiple
from issue date
Visa fee
USD 40 (single) / USD 90 (multi)
consular fee only
Processing time
5-10 working days
standard track
Validity
Stable; India not on K-ETA list
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Choose C-3 single or multi-entry
C-3-9 single-entry for one-time tourism; multi-entry 5-year for frequent visits.
· C-3 single or multi
/02
Apply online via e-Visa or VFS
Apply at visa.go.kr or via VFS Global India centers in major cities.
· e-Visa or VFS
/03
Submit documents
Passport, photo, application form, financial documents, itinerary, hotel booking, return ticket.
· full documentation
/04
Receive visa
Approved as electronic visa or sticker in passport; 5-10 working days.
· e-Visa or sticker
/05
Arrive in Korea
Show visa at immigration. Receive an entry stamp valid up to 90 days.
· 90-day stamp
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 10 complete
Indian passport
Valid 6+ months on arrival, 2 blank pages
Visa application form
Submit online at visa.go.kr or via VFS Global
Recent photo
35x45mm white background, less than 6 months old
Confirmed itinerary
Flights into and out of Korea, hotels booked
Bank statements
Last 3-6 months showing sufficient funds (KRW 5,000,000+ recommended)
Employment certificate
Salary, leave approval; or business registration if self-employed
Income tax returns
Last 2 years ITR helps demonstrate ties to India
Property documents (if applicable)
Strengthens application by demonstrating ties to India
Previous Korean visas
Helpful for repeat travellers
Travel insurance
Recommended; some travel agencies require it
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Single-entry C-3 visaUSD 40Valid 3 months, up to 90 days stay
Multi-entry C-3 visaUSD 90Valid up to 5 years, multiple visits within validity
VFS service chargeINR 1,800+Per application, in addition to visa fee
Long-term visa (D, E, F)VariesWork, study, family categories
Overstay penaltiesKRW 100,000+/dayPlus possible blacklist and re-entry ban
Total estimateUSD 40 + VFS fees — USD 90+incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Standard processing
5-10 working days
Single or multi-entry C-3 via e-Visa or VFS submission.
Group tourist visa
Varies
Vetted Indian travel agencies can submit group applications with simplified documentation.
Long-term visa
2-6 weeks
D, E, F categories for study, work, or family.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
Insufficient ties to India
Korea is cautious about visa abuse for unauthorised work; weak ties or vague itineraries can prompt refusal.
Medium
/02
Incomplete documentation
Missing bank statements, employment letters, or unclear itineraries lead to refusals.
Medium
/03
Past Korean overstays
Any prior overstay heavily affects future visa applications.
Low
/04
Suspected work intent
Tourist visas do not cover work. Pre-arranged contracts or obvious work gear can prompt refusal.
Low
/05
Wrong visa category
Studying or working on tourist visa leads to denial and re-entry bans.
Low
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Carry your visa grant notice or visa-free group documents, hotel address, and return ticket. Entry remains at the border officer's discretion.
/02
Arrival forms
Complete any current arrival, health, or customs declaration required by your airline or Korean immigration before inspection.
/03
Connectivity
Airport SIMs, eSIMs, and transport cards are easy to buy at Incheon, Gimpo, Busan, and major convenience stores.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-05-27
India to Korea route verified
Confirmed C-3 visa requirement; India not on K-ETA waiver list.
2024-04-01
K-ETA waiver pilot extended to 31 Dec 2026
Korea extended waiver of K-ETA for 67 selected nationals; India was not added.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Can Indians enter Korea visa-free?—
No — India is NOT on Korea's visa-waiver or K-ETA-eligible list. A pre-arranged C-3 visa is required for tourism.
How much does the visa cost?+
How long does processing take?+
Can I apply online?+
How long can I stay?+
Can I work or study on a tourist visa?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the India passport

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Compare the India passport
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