South Korea Student Visa Funds Proof for Indians: Bank and Sponsor

This is about the documents that prove you can pay for your studies, not the whole student file. The rules below come from the 2026 checklists of the Korean Visa Application Centres (KVAC) run by VFS Global, as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. Korea issues the D-2 visa for degree study and the D-4-1 visa for Korean language training; both are long-term single-entry visas.

Is there a fixed amount you must show?

No figure is published. The Chennai/Bengaluru 'Study abroad' checklist and the Mumbai-jurisdiction D-2 checklist both ask for bank statements, but neither states a minimum balance, and no minimum is published on the Embassy or consulate pages either. Be wary of agents who quote a 'required balance' for Korea as if it were official. What you can control is the quality of the documents: the right period, the right stamps, and a clear link between the money and the person paying.

Which financial papers does each Korean visa centre ask for?

Your state decides your centre. Residents of states under the Consulate General in Chennai (Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep and Puducherry, per the Embassy) use KVAC Chennai or Bengaluru. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana residents use the Mumbai-jurisdiction VFS centres (Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa, Hyderabad). North and East India files go to VFS New Delhi or Kolkata under the Embassy.

The New Delhi and Kolkata centres' student checklists were not located. The Embassy page's general list for Indian applicants asks for income tax returns for the recent 2 years and a bank statement for the recent 6 months, so prepare the same set.

How should parents document their sponsorship?

In the Mumbai jurisdiction, students under 30 who are supported by their parents submit the parents' original financial documents: a letter of financial support, the parent's employment certificate on letterhead, 2 years' ITR and a 6-month bank statement with the bank's seal, plus a copy of the parent's passport or ID. In Chennai and Bengaluru, a sponsoring parent or guardian gives a 6-month bank statement, 2 years' ITR acknowledgements and occupation proof.

Keep the sponsor's documents consistent with each other. The occupation on the employment certificate should match the income in the ITR, and the salary credits should show up in the bank statement.

What if you are working or run a business?

Applicants who are already employed add their own income evidence on the Chennai/Bengaluru checklist:

• Occupation proof, such as a company letter.
• 1 year of salary slips.
• ITR acknowledgements for the last 2 years and a PAN card copy; if ITRs are unavailable, a letter of explanation.
• Business owners: 3 years of company ITR acknowledgements, the company registration and a business profile.

Do a scholarship or a Korean sponsor change anything?

From the Korean side, the student checklist asks for the university's original Admission Certificate (a scan or photocopy is accepted, no attestation), a copy of the university's business registration and a sponsorship letter if there is one. Students on the Korean Government NIIED scholarship pay no visa fee; the VFS charge of Rs. 1380 and optional courier of Rs. 550 are still listed on the NIIED checklist. The sources do not say that a scholarship removes the bank-statement requirement, so check the NIIED checklist for your centre before leaving those papers out.

Which funds-proof mistakes get a file returned at the counter?

Korea's missions say incomplete applications are not accepted at the counter. On the financial side, these are the gaps to close before you walk in:

• Unstamped statements. Both checklists want the bank's original stamp and signature or seal on the statement, not a plain download.
• A short period. The statement must cover the recent 6 months, for you and for any sponsor.
• A sponsor with no paper trail. If a parent pays, their ITR and occupation proof must come with their bank statement; in Mumbai, add the letter of financial support.
• Missing ITR without explanation. If you are employed and your own ITR acknowledgement is unavailable, the Chennai/Bengaluru checklist asks for a letter of explanation rather than a blank.

What does the visa cost, and when can you apply?

The long-term single-entry student visa costs Rs. 5400 (normal) or Rs. 8100 (express). The 2026 Chennai/Bengaluru checklists list a VFS charge of Rs. 1380, while the KVAC page says Rs. 1600; the Mumbai-jurisdiction centres charge Rs. 1000. Normal processing is a minimum of 25 working days in Chennai and 27 in Bengaluru, or 10 working days in Mumbai and 12 in Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Goa.

Timing rules differ by centre. Chennai-jurisdiction applications can be made no earlier than 89 days before travel. Since 21 September 2026, the Mumbai-jurisdiction centres accept applications only if the travel date is within one month of submission. If a visa is refused, you may reapply only after three months, and the Chennai consulate says no reason is disclosed for non-issuance, which is why getting the financial section right first time matters. For fees, offices and other visa types, see our South Korea visa guide for Indians, and download the current KVAC student visa checklist.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us through the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a TB test for a South Korea student visa from India?

Yes. The Chennai/Bengaluru checklist asks for an original TB test report from a designated lab, and the Mumbai-jurisdiction D-2 checklist asks for a TB certificate from a designated hospital. A Health Condition Form is also listed on the Chennai/Bengaluru checklist.

Can I reapply immediately if my Korean student visa is refused?

No. After a refusal you may reapply only after three months, according to Korea's missions in India. The consulate does not disclose the reason for non-issuance.

Do D-4-1 Korean language students show the same financial documents?

The Mumbai-jurisdiction checklist groups D-4-1 language trainees with D-2 students for financial documents, including parent sponsorship papers for students under 30. D-4-1 applicants also submit a training plan with the lecture schedule, lecturer profiles and facility details.

Which academic documents need an apostille for a Korean student visa?

The Chennai/Bengaluru checklist asks for copies of all academic records and the latest degree, each with an original apostille, and a bonafide certificate with apostille if you are currently studying. The Mumbai-jurisdiction D-2 checklist asks for the original document for your highest level of education, apostilled for D-4-1.