- South Korea has extended the visa fee waiver for organized groups from six Asian countries until June 2027.
- The policy applies to groups of five or more travelers from India, China, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, and Cambodia.
- The waiver specifically covers C-3-2 short-term visas to boost corporate incentive travel and large family bookings.
(SOUTH KOREA) — South Korea extended its visa processing fee waiver for organized group travelers from India and five other Asian countries through June 30, 2027, keeping in place a measure aimed at drawing more visitors and group bookings.
The South Korean Ministry of Justice manages the policy, which applies to travelers from India, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia. Officials confirmed the extension on April 30, 2026, pushing back an earlier end date in June 2026.
The waiver covers the C-3-2 short-term group tourist visa and removes a processing charge of about 18,000 KRW per person, roughly $12.50 USD or ₹1,150 INR. Groups must include five or more people, book through government-approved travel agencies and follow the same itinerary.
South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol tied the policy to a broader tourism push earlier this year. “The plan is to maintain momentum in inbound tourism and sustain the strong recovery in visitor numbers, which has accelerated in recent months,” Koo said during a policy briefing on January 5, 2026.
In its April 30, 2026 release, the Ministry of Justice described the extension as a step to make South Korea a stronger destination for “corporate groups and large families” from high-potential markets. The measure fits a wider effort to build on the pull of Hallyu, the Korean Wave of music, television and film that has deepened South Korea’s profile across Asia.
Indian demand has become one of the clearest markers of that push. Arrivals from India rose 37% year-on-year in 2025 to 235,000, and tourism officials are targeting 250,000 Indian visitors by 2027.
That growth has commercial value beyond leisure travel. South Korea is competing with Japan and destinations across Southeast Asia for MICE business, shorthand for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, where group size and administrative cost often shape booking decisions.
The fee waiver changes the economics for those trips. A 100-person corporate incentive group would save more than ₹1.15 Lakhs in administrative costs under the current fee structure.
Approved agencies can also submit bundled applications, a process that typically cuts handling times from ten working days to five working days. That reduction matters for companies planning employee trips and for large family groups traveling on fixed schedules.
Not every traveler qualifies. Solo travelers, independent tourists and applicants who do not use accredited agencies still pay the standard processing fee.
Entry rules remain in place even when the fee is waived. Group travelers still need biometric enrollment and proof of accommodation, and officials have piloted biometric processing at Incheon Airport’s satellite terminal since March 2026.
The policy sits within South Korea’s own visa system, which is governed by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. U.S. immigration agencies have not issued statements on South Korea’s visa fee policies for Indian citizens.
Washington has addressed a different South Korea travel rule. The U.S. Department of State says the K-ETA, or Korea Electronic Travel Authorization, exemption for U.S. citizens runs through December 31, 2026.
Travel agencies and prospective visitors checking the group waiver can verify current rules through the South Korea Ministry of Justice and the Korea Tourism Organization. Those sites carry the formal notices that now keep the group visa fee waiver in force until June 30, 2027.
