- Waiver ends
- 31 December 2026
- Category
- C-3-2 group tourist visa
- Standard fee waived
- US$15
If a group trip to South Korea has been sitting on the "maybe next year" list, this is the year the government is quietly nudging you to book it.
South Korea's Justice Ministry has extended its visa application fee waiver for group tourists from six countries - India among them - through 31 December 2026. It's not a headline-grabbing announcement, but for anyone planning a group trip, it's a real, if modest, saving that's worth knowing about.
What's actually being waived
The fee being waived is the C-3-2 short-term group visa fee, normally US$15, about 23,000 won (roughly ₹1,300) per traveller. It applies specifically to group tourist visas, not individual tourist visas.
This waiver has actually been running in extensions since last year, and this latest extension pushes it all the way to the end of 2026.
Who actually qualifies
- Travellers from India, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, or Cambodia
- Applying under the C-3-2 group tourist visa category
- Confirm the applicable minimum group size with your travel agency
- Booked and processed through an accredited travel agency, with itinerary, return flights, and hotel confirmations submitted as part of the application
If you're travelling solo or as a couple, this particular waiver doesn't apply - it's specifically built for organised group tourism.
Why this matters more than the rupee amount suggests
₹1,300 per person doesn't sound like a headline saving, and on its own, it isn't. What matters more is the context: South Korea has seen a sharp rise in Indian arrivals recently, driven by K-pop tourism, corporate MICE travel, and growing interest from India's IT and pharma sectors organising conferences and incentive trips in Seoul and Busan. This extension is Korea's way of keeping that momentum going rather than letting a fee reintroduction slow it down.
For a family or friend group of, say, 8-10 people, that's close to ₹10,000 shaved off the group's total visa cost - which starts to feel more meaningful once you're looking at the full trip budget.
What this actually means if you're planning a group trip
- Confirm your group qualifies with the travel agency - if you're organising a trip for a family reunion, a friend group, or a company incentive trip, this directly reduces cost.
- Book through an accredited travel agency. The waiver is processed as part of the group visa application, not something you claim separately afterward.
- You'll still need a full itinerary, return flights, and hotel confirmation as part of the visa application - this isn't a shortcut around documentation, just a fee removed from it.
- Processing typically takes about five working days for group visas, so build that into your planning timeline.
- The window now runs to 31 December 2026 - plenty of time, but confirm details with your travel agency closer to your actual travel dates in case terms shift again.
A Miranda House graduate and lawyer who traded courtrooms for slow travel. Cheshta travels with the batches we host ourselves, with a soft spot for travelling alongside elders.
Planning your next trip?
We'll handle insurance, hotels, airport assistance and the itinerary — the same way we do it for every trip.
Questions on this article
asked by readers, answered by us
Was this helpful?
one tap, no sign-up