South Korea has decided to extend the visa processing fee waiver for group tourists from six countries, including India, for another six months.
The waiver will now remain in effect until the end of June 2026. Finance Minister Koo Eun-chol stated that the 18,000 won (about US$12.5) processing fee for C-3-2 visas (group tourist visas) will be temporarily waived. This scheme was originally set to end on December 31, 2025.
The move is aimed at boosting inbound tourism. The six countries that will benefit from this extension are China, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Cambodia.
Rising Foreign Tourist Arrivals
Government data shows a 17.3% year-on-year increase in foreign tourist arrivals in South Korea in November.
Nearly 1.6 million foreign tourists visited the country that month, which is not only higher than last year but also 9.6% higher than the pre-pandemic level in 2019.
China remains the largest source of tourists, with 37.8 million visitors, followed by Japan, Taiwan, the United States, and the Philippines.
Japanese tourist arrivals have increased by over 40% compared to 2019. From January to November, a total of 17.4 million foreign tourists visited South Korea, surpassing the 2019 level.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism expects total arrivals in 2025 to exceed 18.7 million, nearing the historic 20 million mark.
