# South Korea Student Visa Requirements for Indians: 2026 Checklist

> The D-2 and D-4-1 document checklists used at Korea's visa centres in India, side by side, with fees, timing rules and the mistakes that get files returned.

_Published: 2026-10-25 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1185_

## TL;DR

Korean student visas (D-2 for degrees, D-4-1 for Korean language) are filed at the VFS-run Korean Visa Application Centre for your state. You need the Korean institution's Certificate of Admission, academic records, a TB test from a designated hospital or lab and six months' bank statements. The normal fee is Rs. 5400 plus a VFS service charge.

## Key takeaways

- Student visas are D-2 (degree study) or D-4-1 (Korean language trainee), issued as long-term single-entry visas.
- From Korea: Certificate of Admission plus a copy of the institution's business registration certificate.
- From India: academic records (apostilled for Chennai/Bengaluru and for D-4-1), TB test report from a designated hospital or lab, 6-month bank statement.
- Normal fee Rs. 5400, express INR 8100; VFS charge Rs. 1000 (Mumbai jurisdiction) to Rs. 1600 (Chennai/Bengaluru page).
- No minimum bank balance is stated on either student checklist.

**For a South Korean student visa (D-2 or D-4-1), the VFS Global Korea visa checklists ask Indian applicants for the Korean institution's Certificate of Admission and business registration copy, academic records, a TB test report from a designated hospital or lab, and six months' bank statements. The normal visa fee is Rs. 5400, plus a VFS service charge.**

## Article

Korea's missions in India accept student files only through the Korean Visa Application Centres (KVAC) operated by VFS Global. You first fill and print the e-Form on the Korea Visa Portal (visa.go.kr), then submit it with your documents at the centre for your state. The details differ between the Chennai/Bengaluru checklist and the Mumbai-jurisdiction checklist, so this page lays them out side by side, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For tourist and business visas, see our South Korea visa guide for Indians.

### Which Korean office and checklist apply to you?
Your state decides the office. Each office works through specific VFS centres, and no appointment is needed at the Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa or Hyderabad centres; you walk in during submission hours.

OfficeStates and UTs coveredWhere you submitChecklistEmbassy of the Republic of Korea, New DelhiDelhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, the north-eastern states and other northern states and UTsKVAC New Delhi or KolkataCentre-specific checklist pages were not available in the official sources checked; ask the centreConsulate General, MumbaiMaharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar HaveliVFS Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa, HyderabadD-2-1~4 and D-4-1 checklists (w.e.f. 16 June 2025)Consulate General, ChennaiAndhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep, PuducherryKVAC Chennai or BengaluruStudy abroad checklist (2026)One caution: the Chennai/Bengaluru KVAC page names only Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, while the Embassy's list for Chennai also includes Kerala and Lakshadweep. Applicants from those two should confirm with the centre before travelling.

### What must arrive from Korea before you apply?
Your Korean university or language institute supplies the core documents. Without them, the centre will not accept the file.

- Certificate of Admission (표준입학허가서). The Chennai/Bengaluru checklist accepts the original, a scan or a photocopy, with no attestation needed.
- Copy of the institution's business registration certificate.
- Sponsorship letter, if a sponsor is involved (Chennai/Bengaluru checklist).
- Training plan for D-4-1 Korean language trainees: lecture schedule, lecturer profiles and training facility details.
Korean Government scholarship (NIIED) students use a separate long-term student checklist, and their visa fee is gratis.

### Which personal and academic documents do you prepare in India?
DocumentChennai / Bengaluru KVAC (2026)Mumbai-jurisdiction VFS (w.e.f. 16 June 2025)PassportOriginal, more than 6 months' validityValid 6 months from the travel date, 2 blank pages, copy of first and last pagePhoto2 colour photographsOne 3.5 x 4.5 cm photo, white background, affixed to the formApplication formPrinted online formPrinted form signed on the last page, Aadhaar number in the 'National Identity No.' field, plus Aadhaar copy and Declaration FormCovering letterNot listedFull name, date of birth, passport number, mobile number, purpose and duration of stayAcademic recordsCopies of all academic records and latest degree, each with original apostille; bonafide certificate with apostille if currently studyingOriginal document for the highest level of education (apostilled for D-4-1)HealthOriginal TB test report from a designated lab; Health Condition FormTB certificate from a designated hospital
### What financial proof do you or your parents provide?
Neither student checklist states a minimum bank balance, and Korea publishes no official minimum for student visas. What the checklists ask for is the documents themselves:

- Your own funds: a recent 6-month bank statement with the bank's original stamp and sign.
- If you are employed (Chennai/Bengaluru): occupation proof, 1 year of salary slips, ITR acknowledgments for the last 2 years and PAN, or a letter of explanation if unavailable. Business owners add 3 years of company ITR, company registration and a business profile.
- If parents or a guardian sponsor you (Chennai/Bengaluru): their 6-month bank statement, 2 years' ITR acknowledgments and occupation proof.
- If parents support you (Mumbai jurisdiction, students under 30): the parents' original financial documents, namely a passport or ID copy, a letter of financial support, an employment certificate on letterhead, 2 years' ITR and a 6-month bank statement with the bank's seal.

### How much do you pay at the centre?
ChargeChennai / Bengaluru KVACMumbai-jurisdiction VFSVisa fee, normal (long-term single entry)Rs. 5400INR 5400.00Visa fee, expressRs. 8100INR 8100.00NIIED scholarship studentsGratisNot listedVFS service chargeRs. 1600 on the centre page; Rs. 1380 on the 2026 checklistRs. 1000 per personOptional courier return costs Rs. 550 per person. Because the Chennai/Bengaluru sources disagree on the service charge, carry enough for the higher figure.

### When should you apply before your semester starts?
Minimum processing times, excluding the day of submission, are 25 working days in Chennai and 27 in Bengaluru (express 7 and 9). In the Mumbai jurisdiction they are 10 working days in Mumbai and 12 in Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Goa (express 5 and 7).

Two timing rules box you in. The Chennai-jurisdiction site says applications can be made no earlier than 89 days before travel. And since 21 September 2026, the Mumbai-jurisdiction centres accept applications only if the travel date is within one month of submission, until further notice. If you file in Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa or Hyderabad, have every document ready before that one-month window opens.

### Which mistakes get a Korean student file sent back?
- Incomplete files. Incomplete applications are not accepted at the counter.
- Missing apostille. Chennai/Bengaluru want apostilled academic records; D-4-1 applicants everywhere need an apostilled highest qualification.
- Wrong TB lab. The report must come from a designated hospital or lab.
- No Aadhaar number on the form in the Mumbai jurisdiction.
- Changing your mind on express. Chennai/Bengaluru do not allow a switch from normal to express after you apply.
- Counterfeit portals. The Chennai consulate has warned about fake Korea Visa Portal websites; use visa.go.kr only.
For flight reservations, cover letters or a travel itinerary to support a visit before or after your studies, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram offers packages from INR 1,000 to INR 3,000. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

### Frequently asked questions

#### Is there a minimum bank balance for a South Korea student visa from India?
No minimum is stated on the Chennai/Bengaluru or Mumbai-jurisdiction student checklists. You submit a 6-month bank statement with the bank's stamp and, if sponsored, your parents' statement, ITR and occupation proof.

#### How long is a Korean student visa valid for entry?
Korean student visas are issued as long-term single-entry visas. The KVAC lists a single-entry visa as valid for 90 days from issue, so you must enter Korea within that period.

#### What happens if my Korean student visa is refused?
Korea's missions in India say you may reapply only after three months. The Chennai consulate's KVAC page says the decision is at the consulate's sole discretion and no reason is disclosed for non-issuance.

#### Can I track my Korean student visa application?
Yes. Use the Korea Visa Portal with the 14-digit reference number from the centre (starting 170 for Chennai and 171 for Bengaluru), plus your passport number, date of birth and name. VFS also e-mails when the decision returns to the centre.

## Steps

1. **Get your Certificate of Admission** — Ask your Korean university or language institute for the Certificate of Admission and a copy of its business registration certificate; D-4-1 students also need the training plan.
2. **Book a TB test** — Take the TB test at a designated hospital or lab in India and keep the original report.
3. **Apostille your academic records** — Apostille your degree and mark sheets as your checklist requires; Chennai/Bengaluru want every record apostilled, and D-4-1 applicants need the highest qualification apostilled.
4. **Fill the e-Form on the Korea Visa Portal** — Complete the online application on visa.go.kr, print it and sign it; in the Mumbai jurisdiction enter your Aadhaar number in the National Identity No. field.
5. **Assemble financial documents** — Collect your 6-month bank statement with the bank's stamp and, if your parents support you, their bank statement, 2 years' ITR and occupation proof.
6. **Submit at your KVAC** — Walk in at the centre for your state during submission hours, pay the Rs. 5400 visa fee and the VFS service charge, and keep the receipt with your reference number.
7. **Track and collect** — Track the decision on the Korea Visa Portal using the 14-digit reference number, then collect your passport or receive it by courier.

## FAQ

### Is there a minimum bank balance for a South Korea student visa from India?

No minimum is stated on the Chennai/Bengaluru or Mumbai-jurisdiction student checklists. You submit a 6-month bank statement with the bank's stamp and, if sponsored, your parents' statement, ITR and occupation proof.

### How long is a Korean student visa valid for entry?

Korean student visas are issued as long-term single-entry visas. The KVAC lists a single-entry visa as valid for 90 days from issue, so you must enter Korea within that period.

### What happens if my Korean student visa is refused?

Korea's missions in India say you may reapply only after three months. The Chennai consulate's KVAC page says the decision is at the consulate's sole discretion and no reason is disclosed for non-issuance.

### Can I track my Korean student visa application?

Yes. Use the Korea Visa Portal with the 14-digit reference number from the centre (starting 170 for Chennai and 171 for Bengaluru), plus your passport number, date of birth and name. VFS also e-mails when the decision returns to the centre.

## Sources

1. [VFS Global KVAC - Checklist Long Term Visa, Student (2026)](https://www.visaforkorea-ce.com/assets/pdfs/Study-abroad-2026-new.pdf) — VFS Global (Korean Visa Application Centre)
2. [VFS Global - D-2-1~4 Student visa checklist (Mumbai jurisdiction)](https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/5A3fEwqAy7D4ZKU1yUtSup/f90a556b99bf694ae65ea78fd6f82b3f/D-2-1-4-Student-Visa.pdf) — VFS Global
3. [VFS Global - South Korea Visa Submission Update (21 September 2026)](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/kor/news/south-korea-visa-submission-update) — VFS Global
4. [Consulate General of Korea in Chennai - Korean Visa Application Guide](https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/in-chennai-en/brd/m_2785/view.do?seq=750165) — Consulate General of the Republic of Korea, Chennai