Does South Korea Offer Visa on Arrival to Indians?

If Seoul, Busan or Jeju is on your list, plan the visa before the flights. This page covers the narrow exceptions, the small group of travellers who can use an e-Visa, and the normal route through a Korea Visa Application Centre (KVAC). Rules and fees are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For every Korean visa category in one place, see our South Korea visa guide for Indians.

Can Indians get a visa at a Korean airport?

No. Visa on arrival is not available for Indian passport holders. Korea's missions in India state that Indian nationals must apply for and obtain a Korean visa through the Korea Visa Portal e-Form and a KVAC run by VFS Global before travel.

One online step does exist after you have the visa. An Embassy notice of 10 March 2025 says travellers entering Korea with a visa can submit the e-Arrival card online at www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr from 3 days before arrival. That card is an arrival formality. It is not a visa and does not replace one.

Is a Korean e-Visa an option for an ordinary Indian tourist?

Usually not. The Korea Visa Portal (visa.go.kr) issues e-Visas only to specific groups:

• E-1, E-3, E-4, E-5 and E-7 experts holding a Gold Card employment recommendation, and their F-3 family members.
• C-3-3 medical tourists or G-1-10 patients whose application is made by a recognised medical travel facilitator.
• C-3-4 business visitors invited by a Korean company who have entered Korea at least 3 times on C-3 visas since 1 January 2012 with no illegal stay.
• C-4 scientists invited by a government-funded research institute or an accredited university.

Everyone else fills in the e-Form on the Visa Portal, prints it and submits it in person at a KVAC. The Consulate General in Chennai has warned about counterfeit Korea Visa Portal websites, so type the portal address yourself rather than following search ads.

When can an Indian enter Korea without a visa?

Two schemes allow it. Both have conditions that trip people up.

The transit rule is set out in the Embassy's notice on visa-free entry for transfer passengers. A US or Schengen visa on its own does not cover a round trip from India to Korea and back.

How do you get a Korean tourist visa from India instead?

1. Confirm the visa type and documents on the KVAC site for your jurisdiction.
2. Fill in the e-Form on the Korea Visa Portal and print it. Mumbai-jurisdiction centres ask for your Aadhaar number in the National Identity No. field and a copy of your Aadhaar card.
3. Submit at the KVAC. VFS states that no appointment is needed at the Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa and Hyderabad centres; you walk in during submission hours.
4. Track the decision on the Visa Portal with the reference number from the centre.

The Chennai and Bengaluru tourist checklist asks for occupation proof, one year of salary slips, ITR acknowledgements for the last 2 years with PAN, a 6-month bank statement with the bank's original stamp, and a Health Condition Form. The Mumbai-jurisdiction checklist adds a covering letter, a day-by-day itinerary with a refundable hotel booking, and a confirmed, refundable e-ticket.

Which Korean office and centre handle your state?

The Chennai and Bengaluru KVAC page names only Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands is not listed for any office, so confirm with the centre if you live there.

What will the visa cost and how long will it take?

From 1 August 2026, the Embassy's fee for a short-term single-entry visa (up to 90 days) is INR 3,600, and a multiple-entry visa is INR 8,100. Express short-term single entry is Rs. 6300, and express fees are not returned on rejection. The service charge differs by centre: Rs. 1600 on the Chennai and Bengaluru KVAC page (the 2026 checklists show Rs. 1380) and Rs. 1000 at Mumbai-jurisdiction centres.

First-time tourist visa applicants are not eligible for express at Mumbai-jurisdiction centres.

Mistakes to avoid when planning a Korea trip

• Routing to Jeju via Seoul. The Jeju scheme needs a direct flight from abroad with no stop elsewhere in Korea.
• Applying too early or too late. The Chennai-jurisdiction centre accepts applications no earlier than 89 days before travel. Since 21 September 2026, Mumbai-jurisdiction centres accept a file only if your travel date is within one month of submission.
• Expecting a reason after a refusal. The Chennai consulate's KVAC page says no reason is disclosed for non-issuance.
• Reapplying straight away. After a refusal you may reapply only after three months.

For the travel documents in your file, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters. Packages start at INR 1,000 for a flight reservation and go up to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter together. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Does a US visa let Indians enter South Korea without a visa?

Only in transit. Indians holding a valid US visa (or one for Canada, Australia, New Zealand or one of 32 European countries) can stay up to 30 days visa-free when transiting Korea to or from that country, with a confirmed onward ticket within 30 days. It does not cover a direct return trip between India and Korea.

Can Indians visit Jeju Island without a visa?

Yes, if you fly directly to Jeju from abroad without stopping elsewhere in Korea. The KVAC says the stay is up to 30 days for tourism or visits. Indian ordinary passport holders need permission from the Jeju Immigration Office to travel to other parts of Korea.

Do Indians need an appointment at the Korea visa centre?

VFS states no appointment is needed at the Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa and Hyderabad centres; you walk in during submission hours. Appointment rules for New Delhi and Kolkata were not published on the pages checked, so confirm with the centre.

How early can I apply for a Korean tourist visa from India?

The Chennai-jurisdiction centre accepts applications no earlier than 89 days before travel. Since 21 September 2026, Mumbai-jurisdiction centres accept applications only if the travel date is within one month of submission.