South Korea Visit Visa
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    South Korea visit visa for Indians: C-3-9 tourist guide

    Indian ordinary-passport holders need a visa before travelling to South Korea for tourism. The standard individual route is the C-3-9 short-term tourist visa, not K-ETA. You complete the e-Form on the official Korea Visa Portal, print it, submit your passport and evidence through the Korean Visa Application Centre, and then complete the free e-Arrival Card within three days before arrival.

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    See application steps

    Data reviewed 27 July 2026

    What Indian travellers need for South Korea

    From Seoul and Busan to Jeju, Gyeongju, and the mountain regions, South Korea is a popular short-haul East Asian destination. The visa process is manageable, but it is document-led and must be completed before travel.

    Indian ordinary-passport holders are not covered by South Korea’s general visa-waiver route for tourism. They must apply for a Korean visa and obtain it before departure. For an independent holiday, the usual category is C-3-9, the short-term tourist visa for a stay of 90 days or less.

    The application is partly online but not fully electronic. You fill in and print the e-Form on the official Korea Visa Portal, arrange the supporting evidence, and submit the physical application through the Korean Visa Application Centre serving your jurisdiction. After approval, most short-term visa holders must also submit the free Korea e-Arrival Card online within three days before arrival.

    KR Choose the correct route

    K-ETA or tourist visa?

    The most common mistake is treating K-ETA as a universal online visa. It is not. K-ETA is for eligible visa-waiver travellers, while Indian ordinary-passport holders use the visa process.

    X

    Not the route: K-ETA

    An ordinary Indian passport is not currently directed to the K-ETA visa-waiver process for a standard tourist trip. Avoid unofficial websites selling K-ETA or fake Korean visas.

    1

    The route: C-3-9 tourist visa

    Complete the official visa e-Form, print it, prepare the evidence, and submit through the Korean Visa Application Centre. The diplomatic mission makes the decision.

    Official basis: Embassy and Consulate guidance for Indian applicants directs Indian nationals to the Korea Visa Portal and Korean Visa Application Centre. K-ETA is for eligible visa-waiver nationalities. Confirm current eligibility before applying because entry rules can change.

    Not sure which Korea visa category applies?

    Start with a free assessment and get a clear route before paying fees or making bookings.

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    South Korea tourist visa at a glance

    These are the practical headline facts for an Indian ordinary-passport holder applying for an independent tourist trip.

    C-3-9
    Short-term tourism category
    90 days
    Maximum category stay, as granted
    Paper submit
    Printed e-Form plus passport
    US$40
    Standard single-entry fee equivalent
    3+ weeks
    Allow time; delays are possible

    Official sources: Korea Visa Portal, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in India, Consulate General in Chennai, and Korean Visa Application Centre. The exact stay, validity, fee in Indian rupees, and processing time depend on the visa issued, jurisdiction, exchange-rate schedule, workload, and individual checks.

    Two separate steps: visa first, arrival card later

    The visa and the e-Arrival Card are not the same document. Complete them at different stages.

    01

    Before booking around the decision: get the visa

    • Apply under C-3-9 for a normal leisure trip.
    • Submit your passport and supporting evidence at KVAC/VFS.
    • Wait for the diplomatic mission’s decision.
    • Do not treat an application receipt as travel permission.
    02

    Within three days before arrival: file the e-Arrival Card

    • Use only www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr.
    • The official e-Arrival Card is free.
    • Enter passport, flight, and Korean address details.
    • Save the submission confirmation for reference.

    The official Korea e-Arrival Card service states that the declaration is free and can be submitted within three days before arrival. From 2026, short-term visa holders are generally required to use the electronic declaration unless an exemption applies.

    How to apply for a South Korea tourist visa

    The cleanest application follows one sequence, with every detail on the form matching the documents.

    ChooseC-3-9 tourism
    CompleteOfficial e-Form
    PrintSign the form
    PrepareEvidence bundle
    SubmitCorrect KVAC centre
    TrackRespond if asked
    Arrivee-Arrival Card

    South Korea C-3-9 application steps for Indians, 2026
    Step What to do Important point
    1. Confirm category Select C-3-9 for an independent holiday Do not use a business or family-visit category unless it matches the real purpose
    2. Fill the e-Form Use www.visa.go.kr and print the completed form Complete every field; use N/A where appropriate instead of leaving blanks
    3. Build the file Arrange passport, photo, finances, work ties, itinerary, and bookings All dates, names, and costs should be consistent
    4. Submit Attend the Korean Visa Application Centre for your jurisdiction Current guidance says an appointment is generally not required in India
    5. Pay fees Pay the consular fee and separate centre service charge Confirm the current local-currency amount before attending
    6. Track Check the Visa Portal or centre tracking service Additional documents or an interview may be requested
    7. Prepare entry Submit the free e-Arrival Card within three days before arrival A visa does not remove normal immigration checks

    Official application sequence: confirm visa type and documents, complete and print the Korea Visa Portal e-Form, submit through KVAC/VFS, pay the required fees, and track the application. The Consulate warns that incomplete or improper documentation may not be accepted and can cause delay or refusal.

    Want a complete C-3-9 application plan?

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    Documents: build a clear evidence stack

    A strong tourist application shows four things clearly: who you are, why you are travelling, how the trip will be funded, and why you will return to India.

    Identity Application basics

    • Printed and signed visa e-Form.
    • Original passport and passport bio-page copy.
    • Passport generally valid for at least six months.
    • Recent 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm colour photo on white background.

    Purpose Travel plan

    • Cover letter explaining the holiday and funding.
    • Day-by-day itinerary for the intended stay.
    • Hotel or accommodation reservations.
    • Round-trip flight reservation or travel plan.

    Finance Ability to pay

    • Recent personal bank statements, commonly six months.
    • Recent income-tax returns, commonly two years.
    • Salary evidence or business financial proof where relevant.
    • Explanation for unusual or large recent deposits.

    Return ties Work and home base

    • Employment certificate and approved leave.
    • Business registration for self-employed applicants.
    • Student or dependent evidence where applicable.
    • Extra family, property, or professional ties if useful.

    The exact checklist depends on the visa centre, jurisdiction, employment status, sponsor arrangement, and travel purpose. The Korean mission may request additional evidence. Documents should be in English or accompanied by any translation required by the centre.

    South Korea tourist visa fees in India

    There are normally two separate amounts: the consular visa fee and the Korean Visa Application Centre service charge.

    US$40
    Standard base fee for a single-entry visa allowing a stay of no more than 90 days, paid as the applicable local-currency equivalent.

    Rs.1,380
    Visa-centre service charge shown by Indian KVAC/VFS guidance. Optional services may cost extra.

    Fee update from 1 August 2026
    The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in India announced a revised local-currency visa fee effective 1 August 2026. Confirm the exact INR amount and accepted payment method immediately before submission.

    Visa fees are generally non-refundable once the application is accepted, even if the visa is refused. Exchange-rate schedules and centre service charges can change. Use the Embassy, Consulate, Korea Visa Portal, and official KVAC/VFS website as the final source before payment.

    Processing time: plan for weeks, not days

    There is no guaranteed tourist-visa turnaround. High demand, jurisdiction, document verification, additional evidence, and interviews can all extend the timeline.

    Safer planning window

    Too tightPossibleSafer buffer

    The Chennai Consulate has advised applicants to allow at least three weeks based on working days, while the official visa centre has warned that increased demand may require additional time. A practical approach is to prepare and submit well ahead of travel and avoid non-refundable commitments until the visa is issued.

    Express processing is not automatically available. The Consulate states that express categories are allowed only in certain cases, and extra supporting documents should be provided quickly when requested. No consultant or visa centre can guarantee approval or a fixed issue date.

    Apply through the centre serving your jurisdiction

    South Korea divides Indian visa applications among diplomatic missions. Your state or union territory determines the responsible mission and visa centre.

    New Delhi

    Serves many northern, eastern, and north-eastern states and union territories, including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and others listed by the Embassy.

    Mumbai

    Official guidance lists Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli under the Mumbai jurisdiction.

    Chennai

    Official guidance lists Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry under the Chennai jurisdiction.

    Centre addresses, submission hours, service fees, and jurisdiction lists may be updated. Confirm your correct centre on the official Embassy or KVAC/VFS site before travelling to submit.

    Do this, avoid that

    Most preventable problems come from form errors, mismatched evidence, poor timing, or unofficial websites.

    Do

    • Use only visa.go.kr, official Embassy pages, and official KVAC/VFS pages.
    • Complete every field and keep dates consistent.
    • Show realistic funds for the itinerary.
    • Explain employment, business, or study ties clearly.
    • Apply early and monitor requests for extra documents.
    • Complete the free e-Arrival Card before travel.

    Avoid

    • Do not apply for K-ETA on an ordinary Indian passport.
    • Do not submit fake bookings, statements, or employment letters.
    • Do not leave unexplained large bank deposits.
    • Do not buy inflexible travel solely on an estimated processing date.
    • Do not use a tourist visa for paid work or study.
    • Do not pay for the official e-Arrival Card.

    What the C-3-9 tourist visa allows

    The visa must match the real purpose of the trip. Tourism permission is not permission to work or undertake a long-term activity.

    You can

    • Travel for holidays and leisure.
    • Visit tourist attractions and attend normal cultural activities.
    • Stay for the period granted at immigration, up to the category limit.
    • Travel within South Korea subject to local rules.
    • Use accommodation and itinerary arrangements stated in the application.

    You cannot

    • Take paid or unpaid employment.
    • Use tourism as a substitute for a study or work visa.
    • Overstay the period granted on entry.
    • Misrepresent a business, family, medical, or employment purpose as tourism.
    • Assume the visa guarantees admission.

    What can go wrong, and how to reduce the risk

    A tourist visa is a credibility assessment. The file should tell one consistent story from the first form field to the last bank entry.

    Problems commonly arise when the purpose is vague, the itinerary is unrealistic, finances do not support the trip, work or business ties are unclear, recent deposits are unexplained, bookings conflict with the form, or the applicant submits incomplete or false documents. The mission may ask for more evidence or an interview, and the final decision rests solely with the Embassy or Consulate.

    Indian ordinary-passport holders need a South Korea visa before tourism travel. The usual independent-tourist route is C-3-9, submitted using a printed Korea Visa Portal e-Form through the correct KVAC/VFS centre. Applicants should allow several weeks, present clear travel, financial, and return-tie evidence, and complete the free e-Arrival Card within three days before arrival. Approval and entry are never guaranteed.

    Factual overview checked against the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in India, Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Chennai, Korea Visa Portal, official Korean Visa Application Centre guidance, and the official Korea e-Arrival Card service, reviewed 27 July 2026.

    Speak with BestMigrationConsultant.com about your South Korea trip

    Our team helps Indian travellers plan the C-3-9 tourist visa, prepare the document file, choose the correct visa centre, manage timing, and complete the final arrival steps. Call +91-7670800002 or start with a free assessment.

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    South Korea visit visa frequently asked questions

    Do Indians need a visa to visit South Korea?
    Yes. Indian ordinary-passport holders generally need a visa before travelling to South Korea for tourism. The usual individual tourism category is the C-3-9 short-term tourist visa. Indian diplomatic and official passports may have different arrangements, but those do not apply to an ordinary tourist passport. BestMigrationConsultant.com helps Indian travellers prepare the correct visitor visa route.
    Can Indian passport holders use K-ETA instead of a visa?
    No, not for an ordinary Indian passport under the current system. K-ETA is designed for travellers from visa-waiver countries, while Indian ordinary-passport holders are directed to apply for a Korean visa through the Visa Portal and Korean Visa Application Centre. BestMigrationConsultant.com helps applicants avoid using the wrong route or unofficial websites.
    Which South Korea tourist visa should Indians apply for?
    For an independent holiday or leisure trip, the usual category is C-3-9, the short-term tourist visa. It is meant for ordinary tourism and does not permit employment or paid activity. Group tourists travelling through a designated agency may follow a separate group-visa process. BestMigrationConsultant.com checks the correct category before submission.
    How long can I stay in South Korea on a C-3-9 visa?
    The C-3-9 category is for a short stay of 90 days or less, but the exact permitted stay is shown on the visa issued to you. A single-entry visa is commonly valid for entry for a limited period, often three months from issue, and the stay starts from the date of admission. BestMigrationConsultant.com advises travellers to follow the dates printed on the approved visa.
    How much is the South Korea tourist visa fee for Indians?
    The standard consular fee for a single-entry visa allowing a stay of no more than 90 days is generally the local-currency equivalent of US$40. The Korean Visa Application Centre also collects a separate service charge, which has been listed at Rs.1,380 at several Indian centres. The Embassy announced a revised local-currency visa fee effective 1 August 2026, so applicants should confirm the exact payable amount before submission. BestMigrationConsultant.com provides a current fee checklist.
    How long does a South Korea tourist visa take in India?
    Processing time is not guaranteed and varies by jurisdiction, workload, document checks, interviews, and requests for additional evidence. The Chennai Consulate has advised applicants to allow at least three weeks, and visa centres have warned that high demand may cause additional time. Apply well before your trip and avoid buying non-refundable travel until a decision is issued. BestMigrationConsultant.com helps applicants plan a safer timeline.
    What documents are required for a South Korea tourist visa?
    Typical documents include the printed and signed visa e-Form, original passport with sufficient validity, passport copy, recent 3.5 by 4.5 cm photograph, cover letter, itinerary, hotel booking, return-flight reservation, employment or business proof, recent bank statements, and income-tax records. Requirements vary by visa centre and personal circumstances, and additional evidence can be requested. BestMigrationConsultant.com prepares a personalised checklist.
    Do I need an appointment at the Korean Visa Application Centre?
    Current KVAC guidance states that an appointment is generally not required at Korean Visa Application Centres in India and applicants may attend during submission hours. Centre procedures can change, so confirm the latest instructions and opening times before travelling. BestMigrationConsultant.com helps applicants identify the correct centre and submission process.
    Can someone else submit my South Korea visa application?
    The visa-centre guidance indicates that an application may be submitted in person or through a representative, subject to the centre’s document and authorisation requirements. The Consulate may still request the applicant’s presence or an interview. BestMigrationConsultant.com explains the submission options for the relevant jurisdiction.
    Do South Korea visa holders need an e-Arrival Card?
    Yes, most short-term visa holders must submit the free Korea e-Arrival Card online within three days before arrival. It replaces the paper arrival declaration. The only official site is e-arrivalcard.go.kr, and any site asking for payment is not official. BestMigrationConsultant.com reminds approved travellers to complete this final entry step.
    Can I work in South Korea on a tourist visa?
    No. A C-3-9 tourist visa is for holidays and leisure visits and does not authorise employment, paid work, or profit-making activity. A separate work, study, business, or long-stay visa is required for other purposes. BestMigrationConsultant.com helps travellers choose the correct visa category for their actual purpose.
    What are common reasons for South Korea tourist visa refusal?
    Common risks include an incomplete form, inconsistent travel plans, weak financial evidence, unclear employment or business ties, unexplained deposits, missing bookings, false documents, or failure to respond to an additional-document request. The final decision belongs to the Korean diplomatic mission. BestMigrationConsultant.com focuses on a complete, consistent, and honest application.
    Does a South Korea visa guarantee entry?
    No. A visa allows you to travel to a Korean port of entry, but the immigration officer makes the final admission decision. Carry your passport, visa, return or onward ticket, accommodation details, evidence of funds, and e-Arrival Card information. BestMigrationConsultant.com helps travellers prepare for both the visa application and arrival checks.

    About this guide

    Written and reviewed by Sairam, Senior Immigration Consultant at BestMigrationConsultant.com. This guide covers the South Korea C-3-9 tourist visa for Indian ordinary-passport holders, including the correct route, documents, fees, processing time, jurisdiction, application sequence, and e-Arrival Card.

    Last reviewed 27 July 2026. The Embassy has announced a revised local-currency visa fee effective 1 August 2026, and processing times can change with demand. Verify the current fee, checklist, centre instructions, and entry rules on official Korean government and KVAC/VFS websites before applying or travelling.