India Visa for South Korean Citizens
South Korean citizens share a privilege almost no other nationality gets: a true Visa on Arrival at six designated Indian airports, alongside full e-Visa eligibility. This guide covers what is specific to Korean travellers — including the spoofed 'embassy' website to avoid; the documents and process for each visa type are the same for all foreign nationals and are covered on our service pages.
Last reviewed: · Independent consultancy — verify with official sources
India Visa Essentials for South Korean Citizens
- •India's Visa-on-Arrival facility is available only to citizens of South Korea, Japan and (conditionally) the UAE. For Korean nationals it works at six designated airports — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad — for a fee of ₹2,000, with a duly filled VoA application form on landing.
- •The VoA cannot be extended and converts to another category only in specific cases, such as marriage to an Indian national — for anything beyond a short, simple visit, the e-Visa or a regular visa is the safer instrument.
- •Beware the lookalike site: the Embassy of India in Seoul has warned that indembassy.or.kr is NOT its website. The only official embassy site is indembassyseoul.gov.in, and the only official e-Visa site is indianvisaonline.gov.in.
- •Korean companies' India operations (a large and growing corridor) put staff on Employment Visas — the VoA and e-Visa do not permit work, and stays over 180 days trigger FRRO registration.
- •Tourist visas — e-Visa and paper alike — may only be used to enter at a designated air or sea immigration check post. Arriving overland or by riverine route on a tourist visa is not permitted, which matters if you were planning to enter from Nepal, Bhutan or Bangladesh.
- •The Visa on Arrival works at six airports only — Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. Other airports accept e-Visa holders but cannot issue a VoA, so plan your arrival point around it.
- •The VoA is not available on diplomatic or official passports, and is excluded where the applicant or either parent or grandparent was born in, or was a permanent resident of, Pakistan.
Which India visa do you need?
The requirements and process for each category are the same for all foreign nationals. For tourism, Korean travellers use the official e-Visa portal. For everything below, we handle the paperwork end to end:
Meetings, conferences, investment exploration.
Paid work with an Indian employer.
Spouses and children of visa holders.
Persons of Indian origin and spouses.
Treatment at recognised Indian hospitals.
Mandatory for stays beyond 180 days.
Extend an eligible long-stay visa.
Leave India after an overstay or expiry.
For short visits, South Korean citizens can use the e-Visa portal or the Visa on Arrival at the six designated airports. For business, employment, family (X), medical, or any FRRO/compliance matter, apply through the Embassy of India in Seoul — our team handles the paperwork end to end.
India Visa FAQs for South Korean Citizens
Do South Korean citizens get Visa on Arrival in India?
Yes — South Korea is one of only three nationalities (with Japan and, conditionally, the UAE) eligible for India's Visa on Arrival. It is available at six designated airports — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, costs ₹2,000, and cannot be extended; it converts to another category only in specific cases, such as marriage to an Indian national.
Is indembassy.or.kr the Indian embassy's website?
No — the Embassy of India in Seoul has warned that indembassy.or.kr is not its official website. Use indembassyseoul.gov.in for the embassy and indianvisaonline.gov.in for e-Visas; treat anything else asking for fees or personal data as suspect.
Should a Korean traveller use the e-Visa or Visa on Arrival?
For predictability, the e-Visa — approval is confirmed before you fly, while VoA involves queues and an on-arrival decision. The VoA is best as a fallback for genuinely last-minute, short trips arriving at one of the six designated airports.
Can I enter India overland on a tourist visa?
No. Tourist visas restrict entry to designated air and sea immigration check posts; land border and riverine routes are not permitted. If your itinerary includes crossing from Nepal, Bhutan or Bangladesh, you need a category that allows it — check before you book.
Which airports issue India's Visa on Arrival to Korean citizens?
Six: Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. Airports such as Kochi, Kozhikode and Ahmedabad take e-Visa holders but do not issue Visa on Arrival.
How long is the Visa on Arrival valid for Korean nationals?
Up to 60 days with multiple entry, for tourism, business, conference or medical visits. It cannot be extended, and converts to another category only in specific cases such as marriage to an Indian national, so a longer stay or a change of purpose means applying for the right visa before you travel.
Official government sources
We base our guidance on official Indian government sources and update it as rules change. Requirements are set by the authorities and can change — always verify the current position directly before you apply:
Disclaimer: India Visa Experts is an independent consultancy and is not affiliated with the Government of India, its missions, or any government agency. Visa decisions rest solely with the relevant authorities. Nationality-specific terms (validity, eligibility) can change — verify the current position on the official sources above before you apply. This page is general guidance, not legal advice. See our editorial policy.
Applying for an India visa from South Korea?
Tell us your situation and we'll confirm the right visa category and handle the process.
Independent consulting service. Not affiliated with the Government of India or any government agency.