🇰🇷South Korea · Visa guide
South Korea Visitor / Tourist Visa
The short-stay C-3 visa for South Korea from India — for tourism, visiting family, or short business meetings. No visa-free entry for Indian passport holders; you apply through the Korea Visa Application Centre (KVAC) before you fly.
- ProcessingAbout 5 – 10 working days for a C-3 tourist visa; longer during spring (cherry-blossom) and autumn peaks or if documents are queried
- Visa categoryVisitor / Tourist Visa
- Your guideOne consultant
Start here
South Korea Visitor / Tourist Visa — overview
What a South Korea visitor visa is
The short-stay C-3 visa is the standard route for Indian travellers visiting South Korea for tourism, to see family or friends, or for short business meetings. It is issued for stays of up to 90 days for a non-remunerated purpose. Crucially, Indian passport holders do not get visa-free entry or visa-on-arrival — you must hold a valid visa before you board your flight.
The visa may be single-entry or, for applicants with a strong travel history, multiple-entry (often valid up to five years, with each individual stay capped). First-time applicants are typically issued a single-entry visa.
Who the C-3 visa is for
The C-3 short-stay visa covers:
- Tourism (C-3-1 / C-3-9) — sightseeing, holidays, a planned itinerary across Seoul, Busan, Jeju and beyond.
- Visiting relatives or friends (C-3-2) — based on an invitation from your host in Korea.
- Short-term business (C-3-4) — meetings, conferences, market research, contract discussions. This is not a work visa and does not permit paid employment.
- Medical or event visits — short treatment or attending a specific event, with supporting evidence.
It is not for working in Korea (that requires a separate work visa, which we do not process), nor for studying long-term, nor for settling.
Where you apply
Applications in India go through the Korea Visa Application Centre (KVAC), operated by VFS Global, and are decided by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in New Delhi or the Consulate-General in Mumbai, depending on the state you live in. Most tourist applications are processed without an interview, though the consulate reserves the right to call you in or request additional documents.
What the officer is looking for
A Korean visa officer reviews your file against three core questions:
- Is the trip genuine? A coherent, realistic itinerary with bookings that match your dates and stated purpose.
- Is it funded? Clean bank statements over 3–6 months, salary or business income, and ITRs proportionate to your trip.
- Will you return to India? Strong ties — stable employment or business, property, and family responsibilities. Weak ties and inconsistent purposes are the most common refusal grounds.
Single vs multiple entry
First-time applicants usually receive a single-entry visa for the trip requested. Applicants with a clean record of travel to developed countries may qualify for a multiple-entry C-3 valid for up to five years, with each stay capped (commonly 30–90 days). We help build the case for multiple-entry where the profile supports it.
Refusals and what to do next
A South Korea visa refusal usually comes down to insufficient ties to India, unclear or insufficient funds, or an itinerary that does not hang together. The better path is normally a fresh, stronger application that directly addresses the issue — rather than rushing the same file back in. We diagnose each refusal individually and tell you honestly whether to reapply and how to strengthen the file.
How we can help
We are a licensed visa consultancy based in Patiala, Punjab. We file South Korea C-3 visitor visas for an all-in service fee from ₹11,999 (18% GST included), with the embassy consular fee and the KVAC/VFS service fee passed through at cost — never marked up. We handle itinerary review, document checklist matched to your jurisdiction (New Delhi or Mumbai), funds and ties documentation, KVAC appointment scheduling, and reapplication strategy where needed. One consultant sees your case from first call to decision. Book a free assessment and we will tell you honestly whether your file is ready.
9 items
Documents you need
Valid passport
Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay, with at least two blank pages. Old passports with prior visas help demonstrate travel history.
Completed visa application form
The Republic of Korea visa application form, fully completed and signed, with accurate trip details matching your supporting documents.
Recent photograph
One colour photo to Korean specification (35mm × 45mm, white background, taken within the last 6 months).
Proof of funds
Bank statements for the last 3–6 months, salary slips or business income proof, and Income Tax Returns — showing you can comfortably fund the trip.
Confirmed itinerary
Round-trip flight reservations and a day-by-day itinerary covering your time in Korea. Reservations are usually sufficient — avoid buying non-refundable tickets before approval.
Accommodation evidence
Hotel bookings for the full stay, or — for family visits — an invitation letter from your host in Korea with their address and status.
Ties to India
Employment letter or business documents, property papers, family responsibilities, and ITRs for the last 2 years — evidence that you will return home.
Invitation documents (if applicable)
For visiting relatives (C-3-2) or business (C-3-4): an invitation letter and, where relevant, the inviting company''s or host''s supporting documents.
Employment / business proof
For salaried applicants, a no-objection / leave letter from your employer; for the self-employed, business registration and GST documents.
6 steps
How the process works
Typical processing: About 5 – 10 working days for a C-3 tourist visa; longer during spring (cherry-blossom) and autumn peaks or if documents are queried. Apply two to four weeks before travel.
Step 1
Confirm you need a visa and pick the right C-3 sub-type
Indian passport holders need a visa for South Korea — there is no visa-on-arrival. Choose tourism (C-3-1/9), visiting relatives (C-3-2) or short business (C-3-4) based on your purpose.
Step 2
Plan your itinerary and bookings
Decide your cities and dates, hold flight reservations, and confirm hotel bookings (or arrange your host''s invitation). A coherent, realistic itinerary is central to approval.
Step 3
Assemble your documents
Application form, photo, passport, funds proof, itinerary, accommodation, ties evidence and any invitation. We build the file to the Korean consulate''s checklist for your jurisdiction (New Delhi or Mumbai).
Step 4
Book your KVAC appointment
Schedule submission at the Korea Visa Application Centre (KVAC), run by VFS Global, for the centre that serves your state of residence.
Step 5
Submit your application
Lodge the application and pay the consular and KVAC service fees at the centre. Most C-3 tourist applications are decided without an interview, though the consulate may request one.
Step 6
Receive the decision
Processing typically takes about 5–10 working days. If approved, the visa is issued and your passport is returned via KVAC. Check the visa''s validity and permitted stay before you travel.
Transparent
Costs & fees
Item
Amount
Lifeset Overseas service fee
All-in visitor-visa filing — itinerary, funds and ties documentation, KVAC appointment, full file preparation (18% GST included)
from ₹11,999 all-in
Korea visa fee — single entry (short stay)
Embassy consular fee, paid at the visa centre at cost; varies with exchange rate
INR 3,400 – 3,700
Korea visa fee — multiple entry
For longer-validity multiple-entry C-3, paid at cost
INR 6,800 – 7,500
KVAC / VFS service fee
Visa Application Centre handling fee, per applicant, paid at cost
INR 1,500 – 2,000
Travel medical insurance
Recommended for the trip; per person for a typical stay
INR 1,000 – 3,000
Photographs (Korean spec)
35mm × 45mm, white background, recent
INR 300 – 600
Government and third-party fees change often — we confirm the exact current amounts for your case before you pay anything.
7 answers
Frequently asked questions
- Q.Do Indian citizens need a visa for South Korea?
- Yes. Indian passport holders need a visa before travelling to South Korea — there is no visa-free entry or visa-on-arrival for tourism. For a holiday or family visit you apply for a short-stay C-3 visa through the Korea Visa Application Centre (KVAC) before you fly.
- Q.How long can I stay on a South Korea tourist visa?
- The C-3 short-stay visa allows stays of up to 90 days, though the exact period granted depends on the visa issued. Multiple-entry visas cap each individual stay, commonly at 30 to 90 days.
- Q.How much does a South Korea visa cost?
- The embassy consular fee is roughly INR 3,400–3,700 for single entry (more for multiple entry), plus a KVAC/VFS service fee of about INR 1,500–2,000 — both paid directly at the visa centre at cost. Lifeset Overseas files the application for an all-in service fee from ₹11,999 (18% GST included).
- Q.How long does processing take?
- Usually about 5 to 10 working days for a tourist visa, and sometimes longer during the spring and autumn peaks or if your documents are queried. Apply two to four weeks before you travel.
- Q.Do I need to attend an interview?
- Most C-3 tourist applications in India are decided without an interview, but the consulate can request one or ask for additional documents at its discretion.
- Q.Can I work in South Korea on a visitor visa?
- No. The C-3 visa is for tourism, visiting family, or short business meetings only. Paid employment requires a separate work visa, which Lifeset Overseas does not process.
- Q.Can I get a multiple-entry South Korea visa?
- Yes, but it is issued at the consulate''s discretion based on travel history. First-time applicants usually receive single-entry; travellers with a clean record of trips to developed countries may qualify for a multiple-entry C-3 valid up to five years.
Why it matters
Going it alone vs filing with us
On your own
- Guessing the document list — one missing or wrongly formatted paper triggers a refusal.
- Generic cover letters copied from the internet that officers recognise and flag.
- No read on peak rejection windows or what this visa post is strict about.
- Government and VFS fees are non-refundable — money lost if you are refused.
- A refusal stamp follows you and weakens every future visa application.
With Lifeset Overseas
- An honest case assessment before you spend a rupee on government fees.
- A file built to the embassy's exact checklist and in the exact order.
- Weak finances, ties or purpose identified and fixed before submission.
- Previously refused? We can rescue and rebuild the file.
- 1,200+ approvals, handled by one licensed consultant end to end.
Refused before?
A refusal isn't the end
Refused applicants often win the second time — once the real reason is fixed. If a South Korea visa has been refused, we:
- Read the actual refusal letter and pinpoint the real gaps.
- Advise whether to pull the officer's notes (CAIPS / GCMS) for the true reason.
- Identify which part was weak — funds, employment, purpose or ties.
- Tell you honestly whether to reapply now or strengthen the file first.
- Rebuild a stronger application — same fixed fee, refusal or first try.
Your next step
Ready to start your Visitor / Tourist Visa?
A visa file is won or lost on the small things — a mismatched date, a thin financial trail, a document formatted wrong. We go deep into your profile, build every document properly, and give you an honest verdict before you commit. If your case isn't ready, we'll tell you — and tell you exactly how to fix it.
Free, honest assessment
We read your full profile and tell you straight whether your case is ready — before you pay anything.
Your file, built right
Every document prepared, apostilled, translated and stress-tested the way the embassy expects.
One consultant, end to end
The same person handles your case from the first call to the visa decision — no hand-offs.
We handle the process
VFS appointment, biometrics, submission and follow-up — we manage the moving parts for you.
licensed (No. 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024)Fixed fees agreed upfrontWe won’t take a case we believe will fail
Start here · One message away
Ready to start your visa journey?
Message us on WhatsApp — share your visa goal and a licensed consultant takes it from there. No forms, no call centres. One person, start to decision.