Bottom line: the korea visa for Indians is a real visa, not a K-ETA: Indian passport holders apply for a C-3-9 tourist visa (up to 90 days, single entry) at a VFS Global Korea centre, pay INR 3,600 since 1 August 2026, and should allow at least six weeks because Chennai’s centre quotes a 25 working day minimum.
Quick Korea Travel Guide
Getting in: Indian passports are not on the K-ETA list, so you need the visa described below. Once you land you may still owe the free e-Arrival Card; read how K-ETA works for other passports in our K-ETA guide.
Stay in touch: Get a Korea eSIM from Airalo before you fly so your phone has data at Incheon. Compare options in eSIM vs SIM vs pocket WiFi.
Download first: Naver Map in English and Kakao T taxi (Google Maps barely works in Korea).
Where to book things: GetYourGuide for Seoul tours and KKday for KTX and Korea-only passes. Book only refundable options until the visa is approved.
Getting around: Incheon Airport to Seoul and T-money vs Climate Card cover your first day.
Disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links. If you book through them I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Search results for the korea visa for Indians are full of agents and old blog posts, and the fees moved twice in August 2026. This guide uses only what the Korean government and its visa centres publish, checked on 15 October 2026, and flags where official pages disagree.
Quick answer
- Korea visa for Indians needed? Yes. India is not on the K-ETA eligible list (k-eta.go.kr, 15 October 2026).
- Visa type: C-3-9 tourist visa, up to 90 days, single entry.
- Fee: INR 3,600 since 1 August 2026, plus a centre service fee (INR 1,600 at Chennai and Bangalore from 25 August 2026).
- Where: VFS Global Korea centres; your state decides whether the embassy, the Mumbai consulate or the Chennai consulate reviews the file.
- When: not earlier than 89 days before travel; Chennai quotes 25 working days minimum.
- On arrival: file the free e-Arrival Card within 3 days before landing.
Before you fly · via Airalo
Airalo Korea eSIM
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What this guide covers
Korea Visa for Indians: Is a Visa Required? (K-ETA Does Not Apply)
Yes. Korea’s visa-free list and its K-ETA list are the same list. The official Eligible Countries / Applicants page on k-eta.go.kr shows every passport that can enter without a visa. India is not on the list (checked 15 October 2026), so a K-ETA is not available to you.
That also means the K-ETA exemption ending on 31 December 2026 is not your problem; it affects passports such as the US and Australia (see our K-ETA exemption guide). Visa-free transit (B-2, 30 days) exists only for visa-required nationals who hold a visa or residence for the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or 32 European countries and are travelling through Korea to or from them. It is not a tourist shortcut.
1. Korea Visa for Indians: The C-3-9 Tourist Visa
The ordinary tourist visa is C-3-9: up to 90 days, single entry, valid 90 days from issue on the VFS Chennai page. The same page lists a double-entry visa (two visits within six months, 30 days each) and multiple-entry visas granted at the consulate’s discretion. For a first trip, the korea visa for Indians should be the single-entry visa.
2. Where to Apply: VFS Korea Centres and Your Mission
For the korea visa for Indians you file at a Korea Visa Application Centre run by VFS Global, not at the embassy. The Embassy of Korea in India names New Delhi (Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Connaught Place) and Kolkata (Rajdanga Main Road, Kasba); the Chennai VFS site adds Chennai and Bangalore and says no appointment is needed at any Korea centre in India.
| Mission reviewing your file | States (as listed by the embassy) |
|---|---|
| Embassy in New Delhi | Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Delhi, Chandigarh, J&K, Ladakh |
| Consulate in Mumbai | Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli |
| Consulate in Chennai | Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep, Puducherry |
The Chennai VFS page lists Kerala differently (it names only Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry), so confirm which centre serves your state on the VFS India site before you book. Beware fake sites: the embassy posted a warning on 5 June 2026 about counterfeit Korea Visa Portal websites. The only portal is visa.go.kr.
3. Korea Visa for Indians: Fees in Rupees After August 2026
The Korea Visa Portal lists a standard USD 40 fee for a single entry up to 90 days, but Indian applicants pay in rupees. The VFS India notice effective 1 August 2026 sets the fees below.
The key rules at a glance
| Item | Official pages, 15 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Visa type | C-3-9 ordinary tourist visa, up to 90 days |
| K-ETA | Not available to Indian passports |
| Single entry, up to 90 days | INR 3,600 (express INR 6,300 at Chennai and Bangalore) |
| Single entry, over 90 days | INR 5,400 (express INR 8,100) |
| Multiple entry | INR 8,100 (express INR 11,700) |
| Centre service fee | INR 1,600 at Chennai and Bangalore from 25 August 2026; for Delhi and Kolkata check the VFS site |
| Apply window | Not earlier than 89 days before travel (VFS Chennai) |
| Standard processing | 25 working days minimum at Chennai, 27 at Bengaluru, excluding the submission day |
Delhi and Kolkata still show a notice that express applications are not accepted until further notice. A third-party page (BLS International) shows a Rs 1,100 service charge and 10 working day processing; BLS is not the operator named by the embassy, so I treat it as stale.
4. Documents Indian Applicants Are Asked For
The VFS Delhi C-3-9 checklist (dated 20 July 2026) is the base list for the korea visa for Indians, and the embassy warns the consul can ask for more:
- Original passport valid at least six months, plus data-page copies.
- Visa form completed on the Korea Visa Portal, printed and signed, with one 3.5 x 4.5 cm white-background photo.
- Occupation proof: employment certificate and six months of salary slips; company registration and MSME or business profile for owners; bonafide certificate for students.
- Income tax returns for two years (an explanation letter if you do not file).
- Personal bank statement for six months.
Agent guides quote a minimum balance, but follow the embassy’s checklist; bring bank statements that show your income and savings and cover your trip.
5. How Long the Korea Visa for Indians Takes
VFS Chennai says a normal application takes 25 working days minimum (27 at Bengaluru), excluding the submission day, and extra document requests add time. Older guides still say 10 to 12 working days, but the VFS figure is the current one, so for the korea visa for Indians submit about six weeks before your flight, avoid Korean holiday weeks, and buy only refundable tickets until the visa is approved.
6. Jeju: A Visa-Free Route That Is Not a Shortcut
Indian passports are not among the 23 nationalities excluded from Jeju’s visa-free scheme, which covers direct flights from overseas to Jeju. The Embassy of India in Seoul warned on 24 February 2026 that travellers were being refused: the waiver is for short-term tourism, does not guarantee entry and does not allow travel to mainland Korea, which is illegal without a visa and can bring a travel ban. Check airline schedules for direct Jeju flights from your city, and see our Jeju guide if you plan a Jeju-only trip.
7. Arriving: Flights from India and the e-Arrival Card
Flights. As of October 2026 the tracker Flyteam lists two nonstop airlines from Delhi to Incheon, Air India and Korean Air, about 7 hours. Trip.com’s status page shows Air India arriving at Terminal 1; Korean Air uses Terminal 2. For Mumbai, Chennai or Bangalore, check airline schedules for nonstop options.
e-Arrival Card. The official e-Arrival Card site is free and says to submit within 3 days before arrival. Its Navigator asks whether you hold a visa, a K-ETA, a residence card or none; run it before you fly. Only e-arrivalcard.go.kr is official.
Carry the visa grant, a return ticket and your first-night address; that is my advice, not an official checklist. The first hour is covered in Incheon Airport to Seoul.
8. Money, Plugs and Data
Cards work almost everywhere, but the T-money transit card is cash only (see how much cash to bring). Carry some US dollars as a backup and switch on international card use. Korea uses Type C/F sockets at 220V and 60Hz: Indian two-pin Type C plugs fit, the larger Type D and M plugs do not (plug guide). Install a Korea eSIM before you land.
What Changes in 2027 for the Korea Visa for Indians?
For the korea visa for Indians, nothing changes on the K-ETA side: K-ETA does not apply to Indian passports, and the temporary exemption for other passports is set to run to 31 December 2026. Your variables are fees and processing times, which changed twice in 2026. Recheck the embassy and VFS notices before you apply.
Mistakes to Avoid With the Korea Visa for Indians
- Applying too early: VFS Chennai accepts files only 89 days before travel.
- Buying a non-refundable flight first: review runs 25 working days or more.
- Using Jeju as a back door: mainland travel on the Jeju waiver is illegal.
- Trusting lookalike sites or agents promising approval: only visa.go.kr is official.
- Submitting a thin file: missing tax returns or a short statement trigger extra requests.
- Skipping the e-Arrival Card: visa holders still run the Navigator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Indians need a visa for South Korea?
Yes. India is not on the K-ETA eligible list, so Indian passport holders need a visa (C-3-9 for tourism).
How much is the Korea visa for Indians in 2026?
INR 3,600 for a single entry up to 90 days since 1 August 2026, INR 5,400 above 90 days and INR 8,100 for multiple entry, plus a centre service fee (INR 1,600 at Chennai and Bangalore from 25 August 2026).
Where do I apply for a Korea tourist visa in India?
The korea visa for Indians is filed at a VFS Global Korea Visa Application Centre; the embassy names New Delhi and Kolkata and VFS lists Chennai and Bangalore. No appointment is needed.
How long does a Korea visa take for Indians?
VFS Chennai quotes 25 working days minimum (27 at Bengaluru). Plan five to six weeks.
How early can I apply?
Not earlier than 89 days before travel, per the VFS Chennai page.
Can Indians go to Jeju without a visa?
On a direct flight from overseas, yes in principle, but the Indian embassy in Seoul warns it is Jeju-only and does not guarantee entry.
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What Should I Sort Once the Visa Is Approved?
With the korea visa for Indians approved, book the airport transfer and a data plan, then read the Korea packing list and the best time to visit Korea. Friends on a US, UK or Australian passport face a different rule: send them to the K-ETA guide.
Book the basics for your Korea trip
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Sources
Sources (official pages checked)
- K-ETA, Eligible Countries / Applicants (India not listed), checked 15 October 2026
- Embassy of Korea in India, Visa page (VFS centres, jurisdiction)
- Embassy of Korea in India, Consular/Visa Notices (fee revision, fake portal warning)
- VFS Global Korea centre India (Delhi/Kolkata), fees from 1 August 2026
- VFS Chennai and Bangalore, 89-day rule, processing time, service fee
- VFS Delhi, C-3-9 checklist (20 July 2026)
- Korea Visa Portal, Visa Fees
- Official e-Arrival Card site
- Embassy of India in Seoul, Jeju advisory (24 February 2026)
- Flyteam, Delhi to Incheon schedule (October 2026; third-party)
Related Guides
- Korea Travel Toolkit: what to book before you fly
- K-ETA exemption: which passports are exempt – the rule for other nationalities
- e-Arrival Card Korea – the free form you file after the visa
- Incheon Airport to Seoul – your first trip into town
- Korea eSIM vs SIM vs Pocket WiFi – data on arrival
- How Much Cash to Bring to Korea – dollars, rupees and cards
- Korea Plug Type and Voltage – which Indian plugs fit
- Korea Packing List – everything else for your bag
Korea visa for Indians facts last checked 15 October 2026 against k-eta.go.kr, the Korea Visa Portal, the Embassy of Korea in India and the VFS Global Korea centres. Fees and notices change; confirm on the official pages before you apply.
