South Korea Waives Visa Fees for Six Countries Through June 2026
In an effort to maintain robust inbound tourism as visitor numbers surpass pre-pandemic levels, South Korea has extended its visa fee waiver for group travelers from six countries until June of next year.
One modest but helpful inducement for foreign visitors is still in effect in South Korea. For a further six months, the nation will forgo the visa processing charge for group travelers from six other nations.
The goal of the action is to maintain strong inbound travel while tourist numbers keep rising.
Who Is Eligible for a Visa Fee Waiver?
Group travelers from the following six nations are eligible for the extension of the visa fee waiver:
India and China
Vietnam and the Philippines
Indonesia
Cambodia
The C-3-2 group tourist visa processing fee will not be due until the end of June of the following year for visitors from these nations.
Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol confirmed the continuation of the waiver, which was set to expire this week, stating that the objective is to maintain the inbound tourist recovery on course.
The typical cost of the visa is 18,000 won, or roughly $12.50 USD.
Comprehending the Group Tourist Visa C-3-2
Organized tour groups can travel to South Korea for brief visits with a C-3-2 group tourist visa. Tourists arriving together on a single itinerary typically use applications, which are submitted through authorized travel agents and need group travel arrangements.
The Significance of This for Travelers
This saves time and money for group travelers, particularly families and tour groups. Additionally, it makes South Korea a little more appealing than other places where the cost of a visa is still increasing.
This actually implies that organizing a group trip will cost less up front, which is more important than it may seem.
The number of foreign visitors is rapidly increasing.
The timing is not coincidental. Tourism in South Korea has already surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
The Korea Tourism Organization reports that approximately 1.6 million foreign tourists arrived in November. That is about 10% more than November 2019 and a 17.3% increase over the same month last year.
Where Visitors Are Coming From With 378,000 arrivals in November, China continues to be South Korea's biggest source market. Japan came in second with 363,000 tourists.
Other important sources were:
Taiwan: 158,000
US: 133,000
Philippines: Japanese tourism has increased by more than 40% compared to the same period prior to the pandemic, while 60,000 Chinese arrivals have returned to almost 75% of 2019 levels.
It looks like 2024 will be a record year.
17.42 million foreign visitors visited South Korea between January and November. This is an increase of 15.4% over the previous year and 8.6% over 2019.
With over 5 million travelers, over 30% of all arrivals came from China alone.
By the end of the year, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism anticipates that over 18.7 million foreign visitors will have arrived. That would set a new record and bring the nation very near to the important 20 million tourist milestone.
K-ETA Exemption for Travelers Without a Visa
In addition to waiving the visa charge, South Korea has made it easier for foreign visitors to enter the country. It extended until the end of 2026 the K-ETA exemption for travelers without a visa. For travelers from 67 nations and areas in Europe, Asia, the Americas, Oceania, the Middle East, and Africa, this modification eliminates a crucial entry point.
Nothing new to do.
No more paperwork.
Travelers without a visa just need to confirm that they still fulfill all standard entrance requirements, including having a valid passport and return ticket.
Things Travelers Need to Know
This extension provides you with a clear window to apply without having to pay the visa fee if you are organizing a group trip to South Korea from one of the qualifying nations.
Although it is a minor regulatory change, it demonstrates South Korea's commitment to welcoming foreign visitors when combined with growing flying capacity and robust demand.
