Indian passport holders need a visa for South Korea (ordinary passports; K-ETA is only for visa-free nationalities). This page gathers what the Korean embassy and visa centre for India publish, checked on 2026-09-26. Rules and fees change — confirm on the official page before you apply.
At a glance
| What the official pages say | |
|---|---|
| Do I need a visa? | Yes — Indian ordinary passports need a visa for a tourist trip (the visa-waiver agreement covers diplomatic and official passports only). (source 1, source 2) |
| Visa type | Short-term tourist visa (C-3), single entry. Fill in and print the e-Form on the Korea Visa Portal (visa.go.kr) first. (source 1, source 2) |
| Where to apply | New Delhi and Chennai consular areas: the Korea Visa Application Centre run by VFS Global (New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru). Mumbai consular area (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, MP, Telangana, Daman & Diu, DNH): through a designated travel agency from 1 Oct 2026. (source 1, source 2) |
| Fee | Not confirmed — check the official embassy / visa centre page |
| Processing time | Differs by office — the Mumbai consulate says visas are generally issued within 10 days; the Chennai visa centre lists at least 25 working days. Apply at least a month before travel. (source 1, source 2) |
| Stay per entry | Up to 90 days on a single-entry tourist visa. (source 1, source 2) |
| Multiple-entry visa | Not confirmed — check the official embassy / visa centre page |
| Jeju visa-free entry | Allowed — 30 days visa-free when you fly directly into Jeju. Going on to the mainland needs a stay-area extension permit from Jeju immigration. (source 1, source 2) |
| Visa-free transit | Allowed — up to 30 days visa-free when transiting Korea to or from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or one of 32 European countries while holding that country’s visa or residence, with an onward ticket within 30 days. (source 1, source 2) |
Core documents
The main items the official checklist asks for — the full list depends on your job and who pays for the trip:
- Printed e-Form from visa.go.kr, passport and photo
- Your business registration or employee certificate
- Income tax returns for the last 2 years and bank statements for the last 6 months
- If someone in Korea invites you: the invitation letter (a copy is fine) and their business registration or employment certificate
(source)
Common reasons applications go wrong
- Incomplete applications are refused at the counter, and a purpose that does not match the visa type can lead to refusal.
- After a refusal you can reapply only after 3 months.
- Beware of fake "Korea Visa Portal" websites — the real one is visa.go.kr.
Also worth knowing
- The visa fee is not confirmed here — the Mumbai consulate announced a fee change from 3 August 2026; check the current fee with your visa centre.
- Group tourist visas (C-3-2, filed by designated travel agencies) have their visa fee waived until 31 December 2026 — individual visas are not covered.
After the visa
Visa holders fill in the arrival card (paper on the plane, or the e-Arrival Card online before landing). Keep your hotel address and return ticket handy at immigration.
Travelling on another passport? See which nationalities can visit Korea visa-free or with K-ETA.
Korea visa for other nationalities
- Korea tourist visa for Filipino citizens
- Korea tourist visa for Vietnamese citizens
- Korea tourist visa for Indonesian citizens
- Korea tourist visa for Chinese citizens
- Korea tourist visa for Pakistani citizens
- Korea tourist visa for Bangladeshi citizens
- Korea tourist visa for Nepali citizens
- Korea tourist visa for Mongolian citizens
FAQ
Do Indian citizens need a visa for South Korea?
Yes — Indian ordinary passports need a visa for a tourist trip (the visa-waiver agreement covers diplomatic and official passports only).
How much is a Korea tourist visa for Indian citizens?
Not confirmed here — the Korean embassy page lists the current fee.
How long does a Korea visa take in India?
Differs by office — the Mumbai consulate says visas are generally issued within 10 days; the Chennai visa centre lists at least 25 working days. Apply at least a month before travel.
Sources: the Korean embassy / consulate and Korea Visa Application Center pages for India linked above, checked 2026-09-26. This page is information, not legal advice; the embassy decides.
