# South Korea Visa FAQs for Indians: 25 Questions Answered > 25 answers on the Korea visa for Indians: which office covers your state, INR 3,600 fee, express rules, documents, processing times, Jeju and transit. _Published: 2026-10-24 · Reading time: 6 min · Words: 1383_ ## TL;DR Indians apply for a Korean visa by filling the Visa Portal e-Form and submitting it at a VFS-run KVAC. From 1 August 2026 a short-term single-entry visa costs INR 3,600, and normal processing takes at least 10 working days in Mumbai and 25 in Chennai. ## Key takeaways - Fees from 1 August 2026: INR 3,600 short-term single, INR 5,400 long-term single, INR 8,100 multiple entry. - VFS service charge: Rs 1,600 (Chennai/Bengaluru) or Rs 1,000 (Mumbai jurisdiction). - No appointment needed at the Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa and Hyderabad centres. - Normal processing: minimum 10 working days in Mumbai, 25 in Chennai, 27 in Bengaluru. - After a refusal you may reapply only after three months. **According to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in New Delhi, Indians must fill the e-Form on the Korea Visa Portal and submit it at a VFS-run Korean Visa Application Centre. From 1 August 2026 a short-term single-entry visa costs INR 3,600; normal processing takes at least 10 working days in Mumbai and 25 in Chennai.** ## Article Korea's rules vary by consular jurisdiction: fees are now uniform, but service charges, checklists and processing times differ between the Embassy in New Delhi and the Consulates General in Mumbai and Chennai. Here are the 25 questions Indians ask most, answered from the missions' and VFS pages as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For a one-page overview, see our South Korea visa guide for Indians. ### Who handles your Korea visa, and how do you apply? #### 1. Do Indians need a visa for South Korea? Yes. Korea's missions in India state that Indian nationals must obtain a visa before travel. The only exceptions are direct trips to Jeju Island and a transit rule for holders of certain third-country visas (questions 22 and 23). #### 2. How do I apply? Confirm your visa type, fill and print the e-Form on www.visa.go.kr, submit it with documents at the Korean Visa Application Centre (KVAC) operated by VFS Global, then check the result on the Visa Portal. #### 3. Which office covers my state? OfficeMain states coveredWhere to submitEmbassy, New DelhiDelhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, north-eastern states, J&K, Ladakh and othersKVAC New Delhi, KolkataConsulate General, MumbaiMaharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar HaveliVFS Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa, HyderabadConsulate General, ChennaiAndhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep, PuducherryKVAC Chennai, Bengaluru #### 4. Do I need an appointment? No, at the Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa and Hyderabad centres. You walk in during submission hours. #### 5. How early can I apply? No earlier than 89 days before travel (Chennai-jurisdiction VFS). Since 21 September 2026, the Mumbai-jurisdiction centres accept applications only if your travel date is within one month of submission. ### What does a Korea visa cost in 2026? #### 6. What is the normal visa fee? VisaNormalExpressShort-term single entry (up to 90 days)INR 3,600Rs 6,300Long-term single entry (over 90 days)INR 5,400Rs 8,100Multiple entryINR 8,100Rs 11,700Double entry (Mumbai-jurisdiction centres only)INR 6,300INR 9,900The normal fees come from the Embassy's notice of 13 July 2026, effective 1 August 2026. #### 7. What is the VFS service charge? Rs 1,600 per person on the Chennai/Bengaluru KVAC pages (their 2026 checklists show Rs 1,380) and Rs 1,000 per person at Mumbai-jurisdiction centres. Courier is optional at Rs 550. #### 8. Are fees refunded if I am refused? Express fees are not returned on rejection, according to the KVAC fee table. The pages checked state no refund rule for normal fees, so do not count on getting money back. #### 9. Does anyone get the visa free? Yes: NIIED (Korean Government scholarship) students and diplomatic or official passport holders pay no visa fee. Frequent visitors approved for the 5-year multiple-entry visa are also fee-exempt. ### Which documents do Indian applicants submit? #### 10. What does a tourist visa need? The 2026 Chennai/Bengaluru checklist asks for a passport valid over 6 months, two colour photos, the printed e-Form, an employment proof letter, one year of salary slips, two years' ITR acknowledgements with PAN, a 6-month bank statement with the bank's original stamp and sign, and a Health Condition Form. Business owners give 3 years of company ITR. #### 11. Is Aadhaar required? In the Mumbai jurisdiction, yes: enter your Aadhaar number in the "National Identity No." field and attach an Aadhaar copy. #### 12. Must my flight ticket be confirmed? The Mumbai C-3-9 checklist asks for a confirmed, refundable e-ticket and a refundable hotel booking. In Chennai and Bengaluru, a confirmed ticket and accommodation are specifically required for express applications. #### 13. What photo size is accepted? Mumbai-jurisdiction checklists ask for one 3.5 x 4.5 cm photo with a white background, face about 80% of the frame. The general KVAC rule is 35–40mm wide, bright background, under 6 months old. #### 14. Is travel insurance mandatory? Not for tourists: it is not on the 2026 tourist checklists. The F-1-D digital nomad visa is the exception, needing private medical insurance of at least KRW 100 million. #### 15. When do I need a TB test? For long-term categories such as study, dependent family, marriage, long-term employment and the D-10-1 job seeker visa, from a designated hospital or lab in India. ### How long does processing take? #### 16. What is the normal processing time? Minimum 25 working days in Chennai and 27 in Bengaluru, excluding the day of submission. Mumbai takes a minimum of 10 working days; Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Goa take 12. #### 17. Who can use express processing? Express takes a minimum of 7 working days in Chennai, 9 in Bengaluru, 5 in Mumbai and 7 at the other Mumbai-jurisdiction centres. First-time tourist visa applicants in the Mumbai jurisdiction are not eligible, and yellow (Identity Certificate) passport holders cannot use it. #### 18. How do I track my application? On the Korea Visa Portal, with the 14-digit reference number from the centre (starting 170 for Chennai, 171 for Bengaluru), your passport number, date of birth and name. VFS also emails when the decision returns. #### 19. Will I be told why I was refused? No. The Chennai consulate's KVAC page says no reason is disclosed for non-issuance. #### 20. When can I reapply after a refusal? Only after three months. ### What about multiple entry, visa-free options and long stays? #### 21. Can I get a multiple-entry visa? Frequent visitors who visited Korea more than 4 times in the 2 years before applying, or more than 10 times in total with one visit in the last 2 years, can get a C-3-1 visa valid 5 years, with stays of up to 30 days. Business applicants can request a business multiple-entry visa at the normal fee of Rs 8,100, at the consulate's discretion. #### 22. Can I visit Jeju Island without a visa? Yes, if you fly directly to Jeju without stopping elsewhere in Korea. The KVAC says the stay is up to 30 days, and you need permission from the Jeju Immigration Office to travel on to other parts of Korea. #### 23. Is there visa-free transit? Indians holding a valid visa or permanent residency for the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or one of 32 European countries can enter for up to 30 days when transiting to or from those countries, with a confirmed onward ticket within 30 days. #### 24. Is there an e-Visa or e-Arrival card? e-Visas are issued only to specific groups, such as Gold Card experts and some medical tourists, not ordinary tourists. Visa holders can submit the e-Arrival card online from 3 days before arrival. #### 25. What about study, work or a working holiday? Students apply with the university's Certificate of Admission and a TB certificate. For E-7 work visas, the 2026 minimum annual wage is KRW 31.12 million for professional (E-7-1) workers. India is not in Korea's Working Holiday Program. Applying for a tourist visa? Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, day-by-day itineraries and cover letters, from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for the set. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us via the contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Can a travel agent submit my Korea visa application? At the Chennai and Bengaluru KVACs, travel agents have a dedicated submission window of 09:00 to 12:00, within the general 09:00 to 13:00 hours. Check the rules of your own centre before sending anyone on your behalf. #### Do children need to go to the Korea visa centre? Children under 18 who visit the KVAC must be accompanied by an adult, who cannot be VFS staff. Random bag searches may be carried out at the centre. #### Is there a Korean job seeker visa for Indians? Yes, the D-10-1 job seeker visa. You qualify if, for example, you worked at least 1 year in the last 3 years at a Fortune Global 500 company or graduated in the last 3 years from a top-200 university in the Times Higher Education rankings. It is single entry, valid 3 months, with a stay of up to 6 months. #### Can I switch from normal to express after applying? No. The Chennai/Bengaluru KVAC states that it is not possible to change from normal to express processing after the application is submitted, so decide before you apply. ## FAQ ### Can a travel agent submit my Korea visa application? At the Chennai and Bengaluru KVACs, travel agents have a dedicated submission window of 09:00 to 12:00, within the general 09:00 to 13:00 hours. Check the rules of your own centre before sending anyone on your behalf. ### Do children need to go to the Korea visa centre? Children under 18 who visit the KVAC must be accompanied by an adult, who cannot be VFS staff. Random bag searches may be carried out at the centre. ### Is there a Korean job seeker visa for Indians? Yes, the D-10-1 job seeker visa. You qualify if, for example, you worked at least 1 year in the last 3 years at a Fortune Global 500 company or graduated in the last 3 years from a top-200 university in the Times Higher Education rankings. It is single entry, valid 3 months, with a stay of up to 6 months. ### Can I switch from normal to express after applying? No. The Chennai/Bengaluru KVAC states that it is not possible to change from normal to express processing after the application is submitted, so decide before you apply. ## Sources 1. [Embassy of the Republic of Korea in India - Notice for revised visa fee (with effect from 2026.8.1)](https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/in-en/brd/m_20446/view.do?seq=748829) — Embassy of the Republic of Korea in India 2. [VFS Global KVAC (Chennai/Bengaluru) — Visa Information / Visa Types](https://www.visaforkorea-ce.com/visa-type.html) — VFS Global 3. [VFS Global — South Korea visa types, fees and processing time (Mumbai jurisdiction)](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/kor/visa-type) — VFS Global 4. [Consulate General of Korea in Chennai — Korean Visa Application Guide (2025-11-10)](https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/in-chennai-en/brd/m_2785/view.do?seq=750165) — Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Chennai