How to Get a South Korea Visa from India in 2026 (Full Guide)

Korea runs three jurisdictions in India with different centres, fees for service and timelines. This guide brings them together as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026.

Can Indians visit South Korea without a visa?

Only in two narrow cases. Otherwise you need a visa before you travel; there is no visa on arrival.

• Jeju Island: Indians flying directly from abroad to Jeju, with no stop elsewhere in Korea, can enter without a visa or K-ETA. The KVAC says the stay is up to 30 days for tourism or visits. You need permission from the Jeju Immigration Office to travel on to the mainland.
• Transit: Indians holding a valid visa or residence permit for the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or one of 32 European countries can enter visa-free for up to 30 days when transiting Korea to or from those countries, with a confirmed onward ticket within 30 days.

Which Korean office and centre handle your state?

Note that Telangana falls under Mumbai, so Hyderabad residents submit at the Hyderabad centre under Mumbai-jurisdiction rules. VFS says no appointment is needed at the Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa and Hyderabad centres; you walk in during submission hours.

How do you apply, step by step?

1. Confirm your visa type and its checklist on the KVAC or VFS page for your jurisdiction.
2. Fill the e-Form on the Korea Visa Portal and print it. In the Mumbai jurisdiction, sign the last page and enter your Aadhaar number in the 'National Identity No.' field.
3. Collect the documents in the checklist, originals and copies.
4. Walk in to the centre during submission hours. Children under 18 must come with an adult.
5. Pay the visa fee and the VFS service charge at the counter. Incomplete applications are not accepted.
6. Track the result on the Visa Portal with your reference number (Chennai numbers start 170 and Bengaluru 171). VFS also emails you when the decision reaches the centre.

Applications in the Chennai jurisdiction can be made no earlier than 89 days before travel. In the Mumbai jurisdiction, from 21 September 2026, applications are accepted only if your travel date is within one month of submission, until further notice.

How much does a Korean visa cost from India?

On top of the visa fee you pay a VFS service charge, and it differs by centre: Rs. 1,000 per person at Mumbai-jurisdiction centres, and Rs. 1,600 on the Chennai and Bengaluru pages (their 2026 checklists show Rs. 1,380). Courier is optional at Rs. 550. Express fees are not returned on rejection, and NIIED scholarship students pay no visa fee.

How long does processing take?

• Mumbai: at least 10 working days normal, 5 express.
• Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Goa: at least 12 working days normal, 7 express.
• Chennai: at least 25 working days normal, 7 express, excluding the day of submission.
• Bengaluru: at least 27 working days normal, 9 express.

Express has conditions. In Chennai your travel date must be within 10 to 12 calendar days of submission (12 to 14 in Bengaluru), and you cannot switch from normal to express after applying. In the Mumbai jurisdiction, first-time tourist visa applicants are not eligible for express. The New Delhi and Kolkata KVAC timelines were not published on the pages checked, so confirm at the centre.

Which documents does a tourist need?

• Original passport valid for more than 6 months, with at least 2 blank pages, plus copies of the first and last page.
• Photos: the Chennai and Bengaluru checklists ask for 2 colour photos; Mumbai asks for one 3.5 x 4.5 cm photo with a white background, affixed to the form.
• Printed e-Form from the Visa Portal.
• Income Tax Returns for the last 2 years and a 6-month bank statement with the bank's original seal and signature.
• Employment proof: an employment certificate on letterhead, or business registration or GST certificate if self-employed. Chennai and Bengaluru also ask for 1 year of salary slips and a Health Condition Form.
• Mumbai jurisdiction: a covering letter, a day-by-day itinerary, a refundable hotel booking and a confirmed, refundable flight e-ticket.

Travel insurance is not on the 2026 tourist checklists. If you visit for business, do not apply for a tourist visa; use the business category.

What happens if your Korean visa is refused?

The Chennai consulate's KVAC page says grant or refusal is at the consulate's sole discretion and no reason is disclosed. After a refusal you may reapply only after three months, so check every item on your jurisdiction's checklist before you submit again.

For work, study and other visa types, see our South Korea visa guide for Indians, or the Embassy of Korea KVAC page.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, day-by-day itineraries and cover letters for visa files. Packages run from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel booking, itinerary and cover letter. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an appointment at the Korea visa centre in India?

VFS states that no appointment is needed at the Korea visa centres in Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa and Hyderabad. You walk in during submission hours with the printed e-Form and documents.

Can Indians get a K-ETA for South Korea?

Not for ordinary visits from India. Korea's missions in India state that Indian nationals must obtain a visa before travel. The exceptions are direct flights to Jeju Island and the 30-day transit rule for holders of a valid visa for the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or one of 32 European countries.

Can Indians apply for a Korean e-Visa online?

Only in specific categories, such as Gold Card experts, medical tourists applied for by a recognised facilitator, or frequent C-3-4 business visitors. Ordinary tourists fill the Visa Portal e-Form and submit it in person at a KVAC.

Is there a working holiday visa between India and South Korea?

No. Korea's Working Holiday Program list dated May 2026 covers 30 countries and regions, and India is not one of them.