South Korea Has Raised Tourist Visa Fees for Indian Travellers, Effective 1 August

South Korea revised its consular visa fee schedule for Indian citizens with effect from 1 August 2026, according to fee tables published by Korean visa application centres. Indians are not eligible for South Korea's K-ETA scheme or for visa-free entry, since that scheme and exemption are limited to nationalities that already have visa-free access to the country, so a standard visa application remains the only route for Indian tourists.

What the fees now are

Under the revised schedule, the consular fee for Indian applicants is reported as approximately ₹3,600 for a single-entry visa valid up to 90 days, ₹5,400 for a single-entry visa valid beyond 90 days, ₹6,300 for a double-entry visa and ₹8,100 for a multiple-entry visa, with optional express processing available at higher rates. These are the government consular charges; visa application centres such as BLS International add a separate service fee on top, reported at around ₹1,100 per application, bringing a typical single-entry tourist visa to roughly ₹4,700 in total.

Why it matters for trip planning

South Korea has become a steadily more popular destination for Indian travellers in recent years, driven partly by interest in Korean pop culture and cinema, and a visa still needs to be arranged well ahead of travel since there is no on-arrival or electronic option. The fee increase itself is modest in absolute terms, but it is worth building into a travel budget alongside the usual processing time, particularly for multi-entry visas aimed at business travellers or those planning more than one trip within the visa's validity.

Fee schedules and processing arrangements at visa centres can change with limited notice. Travellers should confirm the current fee and required documents directly with the Korean Embassy or Consulate in India, or with the authorised visa application centre, before applying.

Traveller tips

• Apply through the Korean Embassy's authorised visa application centre in India; fees are typically payable at the time of submission.
• Keep some buffer before travel dates, since standard processing can take several working days and express options cost extra.
• Multiple-entry visas cost more upfront but can be worthwhile for travellers expecting more than one trip to South Korea within the visa's validity.
• Confirm the latest fee amounts and any documentation changes directly with the embassy or visa centre rather than relying on any single published figure.