South Korea Transit Visa for Indians

South Korea does not offer a specific transit visa to some nationalities, including India.

If you have a layover in South Korea and you don’t have any plans to exit the airport, you don’t require any transit visa. You can safely rest in the sterile transit area of the airport.

But if you want to make the most of your trip during your layover, you need to acquire a short-stay tourist visa to explore the nation.

Moreover, there are some transit visa exemptions for Indian travellers who are visiting to or from some

visa-exempt nations, including the USA, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

If you are a PR or visa holder of these four countries, then you can enter and stay in Korea for a period of up to 30 days. It is a great opportunity to enter Korea visa-free from India.

No. There is no visa-on-arrival facility available for Indians in South Korea. You must obtain a visa before entering the country.

If you are flying to a country other than the US, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada, then consider applying for a tourist visa at least a month before your planned departure.

As mentioned above, you need to obtain a tourist visa if you want to exit the airport during your transit for tourism or visit purposes.

A South Korean tourist visa comes with a validity of 3 months and 6 months for single and multiple entities, respectively. However, the duration of stay remains 30 days at a time for both variants.

There are two ways to obtain a South Korea tourist visa from India. You can either apply for a visa at the South Korean Embassy in New Delhi or apply via a South Korea Visa Application Centre near your location. Let’s discuss both ways in detail:**

South Korea Transit Visa Application for Indians Online

Following are the **Steps to obtain a tourist visa (transit visa equivalent) for South Korea.

Step 1: Start your visa process by visiting the official website of South Korea Immigration and download the visa application form. Also, learn about the documents.

Step 2: Contact the South Korean Embassy and schedule the visa appointment.

Step 3: Next, complete the application form carefully and gather the supporting documents.

Step 4: Visit the South Korean Embassy along with your application and documents.

Step 5: Pay the visa fee using your preferred payment method and download the payment receipt. If you have filled out the application online and already paid the fee, then make sure to carry the online payment receipt with you.

South Korea Visa via Visa Application Centre

Step 1: Book a visa appointment by visiting the website or calling the South Korean Visa Application Centre (VAC) near your city.

Step 2: Visit the VAC on the scheduled date and carry all the required documents with you.

Step 3: Complete the visa application and submit all the necessary documents.

Step 4: Pay the visa application charges and request an acknowledgement receipt.

Indian Passport: Your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of your journey.

Passport-style Photographs: Make sure to carry at least 2 recent passport-size photographs as per the given specifications.

Confirmed Tickets: You are also required to carry a copy of your confirmed tickets to another country you are visiting.

Proof of Funds: You must submit your bank statements or payslips for the last couple of months as proof of funds. This is required to check whether or not you can financially support yourself during your stay in South Korea.

Medical Certificate: South Korea has strict medical requirements for foreign visitors. Hence, you must submit an attested medical report by an authentic healthcare provider.

Travel Itinerary: You may also need to submit your travel itinerary to the visa officer. So, make sure to plan it in advance.

The processing time for a South Korea visa can vary based on each case and also the workload of the visa processing authorities.

But on average, it gets processed within 10 to 15 working days. Moreover, if you are in a hurry, then you can opt for a premium visa processing service by paying an additional fee. In this case, your visa application will be processed within 3-4 days.

Look into Immigration Formalities: The first thing you should do after arriving at the South Korean airport is to perform the immigration procedures depending on your visa and requirements.

Rest in the Transit Area: The international airport in South Korea has a designated transit area where you can rest until the departure of your connecting flight. Don’t attempt to exit the airport if you don’t have a South Korean visa. There are plenty of shopping stores, duty-free shops, cafés and restaurants which you can explore during your layover period.

Book a Transit Tour (if available): If you are at Incheon International Airport and have time, then you can book a transit tour which lasts for one to five hours. While it is generally free, you have to pay for your own meals. Also, different nationalities have different requirements for such tours. So, make sure to confirm the same with respected authorities.

Arrange Transportation: In case you already have a visa in hand, arrange your transportation and accommodations. There are plenty of private cabs available at the airport itself.

Get Your Currency Exchanged: If you don’t have a Forex card, then get your currency exchanged at the currency exchange counters available at the airport. This is a must to avoid any kind of currency-related scams.

When it comes to visiting a foreign country, having international travel insurance becomes necessary. It provides financial assistance to the policyholder in case of various unforeseen events such as health-related emergencies, loss of baggage or personal belongings, flight delays/cancellations, and many more.

In essence, it helps you manage unexpected circumstances with ease by providing the necessary financial coverage.

While it is not a mandatory requirement for obtaining a South Korean visa, it is strongly recommended for the above-mentioned benefits.

So, if you are visiting South Korea or any other foreign country and haven’t purchased suitable travelling insurance yet, contact Tata AIG.

Our insurance experts will help you with travel insurance plan comparisons and assist you in selecting the best fit for your needs.

• No transit visa is available for Indian citizens in South Korea. For short-term stays, a tourist visa can be obtained.

• A transit visa is not required for a layover at any South Korean airport. The visa requirement arises only when there is a need to exit the airport.

• A South Korean tourist visa offers a stay duration of no more than 30 days per visit.

• A medical certificate is critical for obtaining a visa to South Korea.

• You can not work on a tourist/visitor visa in South Korea.

• Immigration authorities of South Korea have the right to detain visa holders for overstaying their visas or breaking any regulations.