Do Indians need a visa for South Korea?
Yes. Indians need a visa before travelling to South Korea (up to 90 days (C-3 short-term visit)).
The rule
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rule | Visa required |
| Allowed stay | up to 90 days (C-3 short-term visit) |
| Verified | 2026-10-30 |
| Processing | 10–17 working days |
| Government fee | ₹3,600 |
Apply through the Korea Visa Application Centre with the consulate's document list; K-ETA is not open to Indian passports.
What "Visa required" means for Indians
Visa required means Indians must hold a visa issued by South Korea before travelling. The application is filed online, the government fee of ₹3,600 is paid and the passport is returned with the visa (Sticker). Published decision windows for South Korea are 10–17 working days; the visa allows a stay of up to 90 days (C-3 short-term visit).
Before you apply
Apply as soon as the dates are fixed. Check that the passport has two blank pages and six months of validity, that the name on the booking matches the passport exactly and that bank statements cover the last three to six months without a sudden large deposit. Appointment slots at visa application centres fill up before holidays, so book biometrics first and gather documents around that date. Vistolane runs the document checks before filing and shows the guaranteed filing date before you pay.
At the South Korea border and during the stay
South Korea sets a stay of up to 90 days (C-3 short-term visit), single, on a visa valid for 90 days. The date written at the border is the one that counts, not the visa validity. Overstaying, even by a day, is recorded, usually fined and can lead to a refusal on the next application for South Korea and for countries that share immigration data. Extensions, where they exist, are applied for inside the country before the stay ends; a new entry is not an extension and repeated back-to-back visits are refused at many borders.
When this rule does not apply
This answer is for ordinary India passports and short visits: tourism, visiting family and friends and business meetings without local employment. Study, work, family reunion, medical treatment and long stays follow different routes with their own fees and documents, listed on the South Korea destination page. Note for this rule: Apply through the Korea Visa Application Centre with the consulate's document list; K-ETA is not open to Indian passports. Diplomatic and official passports, dual nationals travelling on a second passport and holders of a residence permit for a third country can fall under different rules; when in doubt, the official source linked above decides.
How this answer is kept current
The rule comes from South Korea's own immigration authority or official e-visa portal and was last verified on 2026-10-30. The Vistolane operations team re-checks it when the government announces a change, and the page updates the same day. Airline summaries, travel forums and agency websites are never used as the source.
South Korea for India passport holders: costs, documents and timing
South Korea: Sticker visa for tourism, D-2 student and E-7 skilled work routes. Government fee, filing date and the expected decision window are shown before you pay.
Indian nationals apply for a Korean visa at the Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC) of the mission that covers their state. From 1 August 2026 the fee for a short-term single-entry visa (up to 90 days) is INR 3,600, a single entry over 90 days INR 5,400 and a multiple-entry visa INR 8,100, plus the KVAC service charge of about INR 1,100 per application. No biometrics are taken for tourist applications.
How much does a South Korea visa cost? Government fee by entry type: single entry ₹3,600, single entry ₹5,400, multiple entry ₹8,100 per traveller, plus ₹2,105 Vistolane filing fee and ₹1,100 in mandatory charges (KVAC service charge). From ₹6,805 all-in for the default option.
How long does a South Korea visa take? 10–17 working days (about 17 days); visa.go.kr publishes 10–15 working days. Vistolane shows the document deadline and filing date before you pay; the decision itself is the authority's.
What documents do I need for a South Korea visa? A passport valid for the full stay, a recent photo, the completed form, flight and accommodation bookings, three to six months of bank statements and proof of ties such as an employment letter. Students add the admission letter and tuition evidence; workers add the sponsor's offer. The South Korea checklist on this page is the one Vistolane files with.
How much bank balance do I need for a South Korea visa? About ₹1.42 lakh for a tourist visit, rising to ₹2.84 crore for the most demanding route, held steadily over three to six months rather than deposited last week. This is Vistolane's planning guideline, not an official minimum: South Korea publishes no fixed figure unless its checklist states one.
Can I apply for the South Korea visa online, or is it visa on arrival? Online. South Korea issues the Korea short-term visit visa (C-3) via the Korea Visa Application Center before you fly; it is not a visa on arrival.
How long can I stay in South Korea on this visa? Up to 90 days; entry: single or multiple (your choice; granted at the consul's discretion); validity 3 months from issue (single) · as granted (multiple). Overstaying affects every future application, so count days from the entry stamp.
Is an interview or biometrics required for South Korea? No. South Korea decides on the documents; there is no interview and no biometrics appointment for this route.
Applying for the South Korea visa
Why are South Korea visas refused? Bank statements that do not match the trip, weak evidence of ties or purpose, inconsistent bookings and form errors that contradict the passport. Each document is checked against the South Korea list before Vistolane files it, and a refusal letter is decoded within 24 hours if you were refused before.
Can I apply for the South Korea visa myself? Yes. The checklist on this page is the one Vistolane uses. Most applicants let Vistolane file the tourist and student routes because the guaranteed filing date and document checks remove the two main causes of refusal; other routes are matched with a licensed specialist.
Where else Indians travel without a visa
Questions, answered
Do Indians need a visa for South Korea?
Yes. Indians need a visa before travelling to South Korea (up to 90 days (C-3 short-term visit)).
How long can Indians stay in South Korea?
up to 90 days (C-3 short-term visit) under the visa required rule.
What does a South Korea visa cost for India passport holders?
Government fee ₹3,600 plus the Vistolane fee from ₹2,105; visa application centre charges may apply.
How much does a South Korea visa cost?
Government fee by entry type: single entry ₹3,600, single entry ₹5,400, multiple entry ₹8,100 per traveller, plus ₹2,105 Vistolane filing fee and ₹1,100 in mandatory charges (KVAC service charge). From ₹6,805 all-in for the default option.
How long does a South Korea visa take?
10–17 working days (about 17 days); visa.go.kr publishes 10–15 working days. Vistolane shows the document deadline and filing date before you pay; the decision itself is the authority's.
What documents do I need for a South Korea visa?
A passport valid for the full stay, a recent photo, the completed form, flight and accommodation bookings, three to six months of bank statements and proof of ties such as an employment letter. Students add the admission letter and tuition evidence; workers add the sponsor's offer. The South Korea checklist on this page is the one Vistolane files with.
How much bank balance do I need for a South Korea visa?
About ₹1.42 lakh for a tourist visit, rising to ₹2.84 crore for the most demanding route, held steadily over three to six months rather than deposited last week. This is Vistolane's planning guideline, not an official minimum: South Korea publishes no fixed figure unless its checklist states one.
Can I apply for the South Korea visa online, or is it visa on arrival?
Online. South Korea issues the Korea short-term visit visa (C-3) via the Korea Visa Application Center before you fly; it is not a visa on arrival.