South Korea Tourist Visa for Indian Citizens (2026): Who Needs It, Documents, Fees and the e-Arrival Card Step

Korea has become one of the most popular new destinations for Indian travellers, thanks to K-dramas, K-pop, skincare and direct flights. Unlike visitors from the US or most of Europe, though, Indian passport holders cannot simply book a flight and go. You need a visa for mainland Korea, and since 2026 there is one more online step before you land.

This guide explains which visa Indian tourists use, the documents you should prepare, what it costs, how long it takes, and the e-Arrival Card that visa holders also have to submit. We checked the Korean government's own e-Arrival Card Navigator for visa holders in October 2026. Visa rules and checklists change and differ by consulate, so always confirm the final list with the visa application centre for your city before you apply.

Short version
• Indian citizens need a visa for tourism in mainland Korea. K-ETA and visa-free entry do not apply.
• Tourists normally apply for a short-term visit visa (C-3-9) through the Korea Visa Application Centre (run by VFS Global) for your area.
• Main documents: passport, application form, photo, bank statements, income tax returns, employment or business proof, and your trip plan.
• Even with a visa, submit the free online e-Arrival Card before you land.
• Jeju Island has its own visa-free rule for direct international flights, but it only covers Jeju.

Do Indians need a visa for South Korea?

Yes, for the mainland (Seoul, Busan and everywhere else except Jeju). India is not on Korea's visa-waiver list, so the K-ETA, the online travel authorisation that Americans, Britons and others use, is not available to Indian passports. You need a proper visa issued by a Korean embassy or consulate before you fly.

If you hold certain other visas or residence permits (for example a valid US visa), you may qualify for special transit or short-stay arrangements. These rules are narrow and change, so treat them as exceptions and check the official Korea Visa Portal (visa.go.kr) for your exact case. For a standard holiday, plan on applying for the tourist visa.

The visa most tourists use: C-3-9

The C-3-9 short-term general visa covers tourism, visiting friends and similar short stays. It is usually issued as a single-entry visa; double-entry and multiple-entry versions exist for frequent travellers and applicants who meet extra conditions. The permitted length of stay is printed on the visa, so check it when you receive your passport back and plan your return flight inside it.

You cannot work on a C-3-9 visa. For business meetings, medical treatment, study or work there are different visa types.

Documents to prepare

The core checklist used by the Korea Visa Application Centres in India includes:

• Passport valid for at least six months, with blank pages, plus copies of old passports if you have travelled before.
• Visa application form, completed and signed, with a recent passport-size photo.
• Bank statements for the last several months (six months is commonly requested), showing a stable balance that matches your trip.
• Income tax returns (ITR) for the last one or two years.
• Proof of employment or business: for employees, an employer letter (NOC) and recent salary slips; for business owners, registration documents; for students, a college letter.
• Trip details: flight reservation and hotel bookings, or an invitation if you are staying with someone. A short day-by-day plan helps show what you are coming for.

Some applicants are also asked for a cover letter, property documents or a sponsor's papers. Requirements are set by the Korean mission responsible for your state, so download the checklist from the visa application centre that covers where you live.

Fees and processing time

• Visa fee: for a single-entry short-term visa, Indian applicants have paid roughly ₹3,400–₹3,600 in 2025–2026 (the amount was revised during this period and published figures differ). Double- and multiple-entry visas cost more.
• Service charge: the visa application centre adds its own fee, often around ₹1,000 or more, plus optional extras such as courier return.
• Processing: commonly around one to two weeks after submission, longer in peak seasons (Indian summer holidays, Diwali and the end of the year). Apply at least a month before your trip.

Check the exact fee on the day you apply; it is shown on the application centre's website.

How to apply, step by step

1. Find the Korea Visa Application Centre for your jurisdiction and read its current checklist.
2. Fill in the application form and gather documents in the order the checklist asks for.
3. Book an appointment if required, and submit the application in person or through an authorised travel agent.
4. Pay the visa fee and service charge.
5. Track the application online and collect your passport (or have it couriered).
6. Check the visa sticker: name, passport number, entry type and length of stay.

After the visa: the e-Arrival Card

Korea replaced the paper arrival card with an online e-Arrival Card. Travellers with a K-ETA are exempt, but visa holders are not. We ran the government's own e-Arrival Card Navigator (e-arrivalcard.go.kr) with only “VISA” ticked, and it answered clearly: “Valid visa holders are subject to e-Arrival card completion.”

Our test on the official e-Arrival Card Navigator, October 28, 2026: with “VISA” selected, it says visa holders must complete the e-Arrival Card. Screenshot: e-arrivalcard.go.kr.

• It is free. Any website that asks for money for it is not the official one; the official address is e-arrivalcard.go.kr.
• Submit it within the three days before you arrive.
• You need your passport, flight number and address in Korea (your hotel).
• Groups of up to 9 can submit together; travel agencies can use the group form.

Our K-ETA and e-Arrival Card guide shows the rest of the form and the fake-site warning on the official page.

What about Jeju?

Jeju Island runs a separate visa-free scheme for international arrivals. Many nationalities, reportedly including Indian citizens, can stay on Jeju for up to 30 days without a visa if they fly directly from abroad to Jeju. You cannot travel to the mainland under this scheme, and arriving via Seoul does not count. Direct international flights to Jeju from India are rare, so in practice it suits people already travelling in East or South-East Asia. Confirm your eligibility with your airline and the Korea Immigration Service before relying on it.

Tips that help an application

• Consistency matters: the dates on your leave letter, flight booking, hotel and itinerary should match.
• Funds should look normal: a sudden large deposit just before applying raises questions. A steady balance is better.
• Travel history helps: previous trips to countries such as Japan, Singapore, the US or the Schengen area make a short-term visa easier.
• Do not book non-refundable flights until the visa is issued.

Once you arrive

Everything else works the same for Indian visitors as for anyone else: get a transit card at the airport (see our T-money guide), install a Korean map app (our Naver Map guide), and plan your days by neighbourhood with our Seoul guide. Vegetarian travellers should know that many Korean dishes use meat or fish stock; look for temple food restaurants and the growing number of vegan places in Seoul.

e-Arrival Card requirement for visa holders: e-Arrival Card Navigator, e-arrivalcard.go.kr, tested October 28, 2026. Visa type, documents, fees and processing times: Korea Visa Application Centre checklists and 2026 reports; fees differ between published sources, so confirm with the centre for your jurisdiction. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice.