Home / International Travel Insurance / Visa / South Korea Visa for Indians
If you're planning a trip to South Korea soon, you'll need to apply for a visa as an Indian citizen. Unfortunately, there's no visa on arrival, so you'll need to apply at least 30 days before your trip. But don't worry, with the e-visa process, it's easy to apply online, and you can even use ACKO to make it even simpler. We've put together a detailed guide that covers everything you need to know about South Korean visas for Indians, including the different types available, how long they're valid for, what documents you need, and how much it will cost you.
Yes, Indians need a South Korean visa to enter the country. Citizens of India cannot avail of the visa-on-arrival facility. As an Indian citizen, you must apply for a South Korean visa irrespective of your visit purpose, which includes tourism, business, work, and study.
The South Korean visa for Indians enables individuals to enter this country for a certain period, depending on their visa type. Visa officials of South Korea residing in India process the applications of Indians applying for a visa to visit the country for varied purposes.
There are a few South Korean visa requirements for Indian citizens that you must consider when applying for a visa. The following are the main eligibility criteria:
You must be an Indian citizen and have a valid Indian passport.
You need to have a good and valid reason to enter South Korea.
No criminal record and have to showcase a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).
You must have the finances to support your stay in South Korea.
A strong tie with your native country is mandatory, as it ensures your return to your home nation.
When planning a trip to South Korea, you must know the different types of South Korean visas available to Indians. Knowing the types of visas will enable you to apply for the correct one. Here are the different types of South Korean visas for Indians.
Indian citizens visiting South Korea to explore the nation must apply for a South Korean tourist visa. Through this visa, people can meet their family and friends residing in South Korea, receive short-term medical treatment, and attend various events.
South Korean business visas are for individuals who want to engage in commercial activities in South Korea, conduct business meetings, visit the region to sign contracts and carry out small-scale international trade. However, applicants must note that a business visa does not allow holders to work for a South Korean employer.
If you want to study at a South Korean educational institution, you must apply for a student visa. It is a short-term visa that enables you to study in South Korea. However, you can extend your visa upon its expiration by seeking permission from the authorities. Getting this visa will help you get a good education, enjoy the country’s rich culture and grab professional opportunities while studying in South Korea.
South Korean work visas enable foreign individuals to work and live in the nation for a specific time. It is for individuals who are going to work under a South Korean employer, and the employer is sponsoring their visa. These working professionals include technicians, professors and researchers. In addition, individuals seeking work in South Korea can apply for a work visa.
Individuals wanting to stay with their relatives in South Korea can apply for this visa type. It is valid for the spouses of South Korean nationals. In addition, dependent children or spouses of overseas Korean visa holders can apply for this type.
Here is a table portraying the validity of South Korean visas:
South Korean Visa Types | Validity of Visa |
---|---|
Single Entry Tourist Visa | Valid for 3 months |
Single Entry Business Visa | Valid for 3 months |
Multiple Entry Business Visa | Valid for 3 months |
For Indian citizens, getting a South Korean visa usually takes between 5 and 15 business days. During busy travel times or holidays, the processing time may be longer, though. Summer, from June to August, and winter, from December to February, are usually the busiest times.
South Korean Visa Types | Processing Time |
---|---|
Single Entry Tourist Visa | 10-12 business days |
Single Entry Business Visa | 7-10 business days |
Multiple Entry Business Visa | 10-15 business days |
The visa price for South Korea from India is mentioned in the following table:
Type of Visa | Stay Period | Fees for Indians |
---|---|---|
Single Entry Tourist Visa | For 30 days | ₹ 6,580 |
Single Entry Business Visa | For 30 days | ₹ 6,580 |
Multiple Entry Business Visa | For 30 days | ₹ 10,580 |
Note: If the Embassy rejects your visa, the fees will not be refunded, and the prices are subject to change.
Worldwide Visa Assistance
We make it easy and quick to get visas for all international countries.
End-to-End Process
We take care of everything, from paperwork to getting your visa sent to your email.
Pay As You Wish
Select the ideal payment method to pay for your visa fees.
Track Real-Time Progress
The application lets you keep track of the progress of your visas in real-time.
Pick up and Delivery at Your Door
We collect and deliver your documents to your doorstep.
If you are visiting South Korea for business, education, tourism or work, you must submit the necessary documents for a South Korea visa application. However, depending on the type of visa you are applying for, the visa officials may ask for additional documents.
Below, we have categorised documents for each type of South Korean visa for Indians.
Standard Documents Required for Indian Citizens
These are the necessary documents that all individuals must submit for visa applications in South Korea. They are:
You must have a valid Indian passport with a minimum of 6 months of validity and 2 blank pages.
Visa application form.
2 recent passport-size photographs.
Documents Required for Tourist Visa
If you are applying for a South Korean tourist visa, you must provide these documents:
Air tickets to and from South Korea.
A cover letter that includes your travel itinerary, details of trip expenses and your purpose for visiting.
Bank statements for the last 6 months.
Income tax returns.
Proof of accommodation, like hotel booking details.
Documents Required for Business Visa
The following are South Korea visa requirements if you are travelling to this nation for business purposes:
Proof of return flight booking.
Copy of the invitation letter from the company as it defines your visit purpose.
A copy of the company registration certificate or a Shop Licence Act.
Registration copy of the invitee company.
Documents Required for Student Visa
You need to submit these documents if you are applying for a South Korean student visa:
Medical reports of the applicant. It must be issued by an authorised medical organisation.
Invitation letter from the educational institute in South Korea.
Last 6 months bank statements.
Admission receipt of an educational institute in South Korea.
Sponsorship letter.
Educational documents.
Bonafide letter from a university, college or school.
Documents Required for Work Visa
Here is the list of mandatory documents you must submit when applying for a South Korean visa for Indians:
Copy of employment contract.
Professional and educational certificates.
Recommendation letter.
Criminal record check.
Documents Required for Family Visit Visa
If you are applying for a South Korean family visit visa, you must submit these necessary documents:
Return flight ticket.
Travel itinerary.
Cover letter from the applicant.
Invitation letter from family or friends in South Korea.
Copy of invitee’s resident permit.
Copy of invitee’s passport.
Proof of relationship.
Address proof of invitee.
If you are wondering, ‘How can I apply for a South Korean visa?’ Well, here is a simple application process to help you understand the overall application process.
Step 1: Click here and pick South Korea as the country to visit.
Step 2: Choose the type of visa.
Step 3: Submit all the required documents. These typically include:
- Passport with at least 6 months validity
- Completed visa application form
- Passport-size photographs
- Return ticket
Step 4: Once the above steps are done, we will verify your documents and process your application after you have paid the required fee.
Your visa will be sent to the specified email address once the embassy approves your application.
Several critical situations might lead to the rejection of a South Korean visa for Indians. Here are some major reasons for the rejection of South Korean visas for citizens of India:
A criminal record in India will lead to the rejection of a South Korean visa.
If the information provided is incorrect or false in your visa application form for South Korea, the visa officials will reject your request.
Any invalid information can lead to cancellation of the visa application process for South Korea.
If you do not upload the correct supporting documents, the officials can cancel your visa application.
In case your South Korean visa for Indians gets rejected, you can follow these steps to rectify your application mistakes:
Contact the South Korean visa officials to understand the reason for the rejection of your visa. It will help you rectify this while re-applying for another visa.
Re-apply for a South Korean visa for Indians with correct and valid information to ensure the officials issue a visa. Double-check all the information so that you do not repeat the same mistake again.
Ensure that documents are clear while uploading to avoid any delays or rejections in the South Korean visa application process.
When applying for a South Korean visa for Indians, you must keep the following pointers in mind to avoid any last-minute hassle:
Apply for a South Korean visa according to the purpose of your visit. It will help the visa officials analyse your visit purpose and issue you a visa according to your requirements.
While filling out the e-visa for South Korea, ensure there are no mistakes and upload your documents correctly. Otherwise, it will lead to the rejection of your visa application process.
Make sure to keep your original documents handy. If you have submitted photocopies of these documents during the application process, you must keep the originals with you, as the officials might ask for them when you travel to and from South Korea.
Opt for travel insurance while planning your trip to South Korea. If you have booked your flights and hotels, visa rejection might hamper them. Travel insurance will cover the losses arising due to such situations, assisting you not to lose your travel funds.
If you have doubts regarding a South Korean visa for Indians, contact the South Korean Embassy in New Delhi during their office hours. They will assist you and solve your queries.
Henceforth, individuals wanting to visit South Korea must apply for a visa. There are different kinds of South Korean visas for Indians, from which applicants can choose according to their visit purpose. However, each visa type has its own costs, rules and processing time. So, you must know your visa type requirements before visiting South Korea.
In addition, do not forget to buy travel insurance. It will protect your finances in case of any medical emergencies during your trip to South Korea. Travel insurance will also cover the loss of travel funds, passports, checked-in baggage and the cancellation of flight tickets.
So, apply for a South Korean visa today and pack your bags to enjoy a wonderful vacation in East Asia.
Yes, you can apply for a South Korean visa online. You can click here and fill out the application form to do this. After filing the form, pay your visa application fees and schedule your interview. After a successful interview, the authorities will issue you a visa.
No, Indians cannot receive visas on arrival in South Korea. You must apply for and get an e-visa before travelling to South Korea.
Yes, you can apply for a South Korean visa offline. You must visit the South Korean Embassy in New Delhi and apply for a visa.
If you do not want to face any delay, you must apply for a South Korean visa one month before your trip to South Korea. It usually takes 10-12 days to get a visa issued. However, it might differ in some cases due to the workload of visa officials.
Yes, you need to showcase proof of financial support when applying for a South Korean visa. You can submit your bank account statements, salary slips and income tax returns as financial proof.
Yes, you can extend your South Korean visa upon prior approval from the visa officials in South Korea. However, you must extend your visa before the expiration of the present one.
No, there are no age restrictions for applying for a South Korean visa for Indians.
If you want to enjoy a safe trip to South Korea without any hassles, opting for travel insurance is crucial. It will protect your funds in case of any misfortune or unforeseen circumstances. However, it is not mandatory to purchase travel insurance when applying for a South Korean visa.