Nepali 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 Nepal 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 — Nepali passports need a visa for a tourist trip (no K-ETA). (source 1, source 2) |
| Visa type | Tourist visa C-3-9, stay up to 90 days. (source 1, source 2) |
| Where to apply | Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC) Kathmandu, 1st floor Onesky, Pulchowk, Lalitpur — business days 9:00–16:00, first come first served. (source) |
| Fee | From 1 July 2026: single (up to 90 days) NPR 6,200, double NPR 10,850, multiple NPR 13,950. KVAC service fee NPR 2,000 (cash), charged separately. (source 1, source 2) |
| Processing time | 21 working days or more — your flight should leave at least 21 days after you apply. (source) |
| Stay per entry | Up to 90 days on a single-entry tourist visa. (source) |
| Multiple-entry visa | Frequent visitors (4+ visits in the last 2 years, or 10+ in total with one in the last 2 years): C-3-1, 5 years, 30 days per stay. (source) |
| Jeju visa-free entry | Not allowed — this nationality is one of the 23 excluded from Jeju visa-free entry; a visa is needed even for Jeju. (source 1, source 2) |
| Visa-free transit | Not allowed — this nationality is excluded from the 30-day transit visa-free entry. (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:
- Application form, recent photo (3.5 × 4.5 cm), original passport (valid 6+ months, machine-readable) and a copy
- Cover letter (purpose, itinerary, who pays), detailed travel schedule and hotel booking
- Employed: employment certificate; business owners: business registration, PAN certificate and tax clearance for the last 2 years
- Personal bank statement for the last 6 months; Nepali-language documents translated into English and notarised
Common reasons applications go wrong
- Submitting copies where originals are required.
- Fake documents lead to an entry ban of up to 5 years.
- The KVAC checklist (updated 16 Sep 2026) asks for more items than the embassy page — follow the KVAC list.
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 Indian citizens
- Korea tourist visa for Pakistani citizens
- Korea tourist visa for Bangladeshi citizens
- Korea tourist visa for Mongolian citizens
FAQ
Do Nepali citizens need a visa for South Korea?
Yes — Nepali passports need a visa for a tourist trip (no K-ETA).
How much is a Korea tourist visa for Nepali citizens?
From 1 July 2026: single (up to 90 days) NPR 6,200, double NPR 10,850, multiple NPR 13,950. KVAC service fee NPR 2,000 (cash), charged separately.
How long does a Korea visa take in Nepal?
21 working days or more — your flight should leave at least 21 days after you apply.
Sources: the Korean embassy / consulate and Korea Visa Application Center pages for Nepal linked above, checked 2026-09-26. This page is information, not legal advice; the embassy decides.
