(SOUTH KOREA) — South Korea extended a visa fee waiver on Wednesday for group tourists from six countries until the end of June 2026, as the government moves to keep inbound travel growing.
“The plan is to maintain momentum in inbound tourism,” said Koo Yun-cheol, South Korean Finance Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, after announcing the plan during an economy-related ministers’ meeting in Seoul.
What was extended and who it covers
- The waiver applies to C-3-2 group visas, a short-term group tourist visa category limited to travelers arriving in organized groups.
- The waiver had been set to expire on Wednesday but will now continue for an additional six months, through June 2026.
- The extension covers group tourists from China, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Cambodia.
Benefit: Eligible travelers will not pay the standard processing fee of 18,000 won (approx. $12.46 USD). Officials have used this visa fee waiver to support tour demand and make group packages more competitive.
📝 The waiver saves about 18,000 won per group visa, but it applies only to organized group travelers, not individuals; factor this into package pricing and marketing to avoid misalignment.
“The plan is to maintain momentum in inbound tourism.” — Koo Yun-cheol
Purpose and context
- The announcement was reported by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and confirmed via the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the Ministry of Justice (MOJ).
- The policy specifically targets organized group tourists as South Korea seeks to sustain its tourism recovery following the pandemic.
Tourism numbers and government targets
- Foreign arrivals reached 17.42 million from January to November 2025, an 8.6% increase over pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
- The government aims to surpass the all-time high of 18.7 million visitors and approach the 20 million mark annually.
Related pilot programs and events
- The extension aligns with separate pilot programs, including visa-free entry for Chinese tourist groups of 3 or more people, which runs through June 30, 2026.
- That program is intended to facilitate smoother travel ahead of the 2025 APEC summit in Gyeongju.
How the waiver affects travel packages
- By extending the waiver for C-3-2 group visas, officials are offering a direct cost reduction that can be incorporated into travel packages sold by tour operators.
- The policy is restricted to organized group tourists, so the benefit does not apply to individual travelers.
⚠️ End date is June 2026 and policy could change; also watch U.S. travel changes (K-ETA starts Jan 1, 2026) to avoid mismatched visa rules for your customers.
Contrast with U.S.-related entry/visa changes
- Changes affecting U.S. travelers to South Korea begin in 2026: U.S. passport holders will require a K-ETA starting January 1, 2026, following the end of a temporary exemption.
- Travelers checking entry requirements were directed to official sources including the U.S. Department of State’s South Korea travel information and the official K-ETA website. South Korea’s tourism promotion information is also available through the Korea Tourism Organization.
Broader immigration and security developments mentioned
- The announcement made no statements from U.S. immigration agencies about the South Korean waiver; it is an internal policy of the Republic of Korea.
- Separate U.S. policy developments cited alongside the travel context included:
- A USCIS “Hold and Review” directive dated Dec 19, 2025, pausing pending adjustment of status applications under the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program for comprehensive vetting.
- The State Department’s Dec 22, 2025 announcement of visa issuance and entry suspensions for nationals of 39 countries, effective January 1, 2026, based on security and vetting deficiencies.
- The six countries covered by South Korea’s C-3-2 fee waiver extension are separate from the U.S. list of 39 countries.
Key dates, fee and covered countries (at a glance)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Extension end date | End of June 2026 |
| Visa category | C-3-2 group visa |
| Standard processing fee waived | 18,000 won (approx. $12.46 USD) |
| Covered countries | China, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia |
| Related pilot program | Visa-free for Chinese groups of 3+, through June 30, 2026 |
| U.S. K-ETA requirement starts | January 1, 2026 (for U.S. passport holders) |
Where to find official information
- More information on South Korea’s immigration administration is available through the Ministry of Justice.
- Other official travel and visa resources:
- U.S. Department of State’s South Korea travel information
- K-ETA official site
- Korea Tourism Organization
Final note
South Korea’s extension keeps the fee exemption in place through the peak summer travel period in 2026 for group tourists from the six named countries, removing the 18,000 won (approx. $12.46 USD) visa processing fee from eligible group applications until the end of June 2026.
South Korea is extending a visa fee waiver for organized group tourists from six countries—China, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Cambodia—through June 2026. This extension of the C-3-2 visa program aims to sustain tourism growth, following an 8.6% rise in arrivals compared to 2019. The government hopes to surpass 18.7 million visitors annually while preparing for the 2025 APEC summit.
