This page lists exactly what documents you need for a South Korea visa in 2026 — the paperwork immigration actually checks, drawn from South Korea's official requirements. Prepare these correctly and you remove the most common cause of delays and refusals.
South Korea visa at a glance
| Visa required? | Yes, for many nationalities |
|---|---|
| Main visa type | K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) |
| Government fee | KRW 10,000 (approx USD 7) |
| Processing time | Usually within 72 hours |
| Validity | 3 years, multiple entries (or until passport expiry) |
| Permitted stay | 90 days |
| Where to apply | https://www.k-eta.go.kr |
| HolidaySG assistance fee | S$50 per applicant (usually S$100) |
South Korea visa documents checklist
For the K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization)
- Passport valid at least 6 months
- Recent photo (JPG)
- Email address
- Payment card
For the C-3 Short-term Visit Visa
- Passport valid at least 6 months
- Application form
- Photo
- Flight and hotel bookings
- Bank statements / 2 years ITR (proof of funds)
- Employment/business proof
For the Temporary K-ETA Exemption (Singapore)
- Singapore passport valid for the stay
- Onward ticket and proof of funds may be checked
Photo and passport specification
Most South Korea rejections at the document stage are avoidable: use a recent colour photo with the correct size and background, no glasses or headwear (unless religious), and a passport with at least six months of validity and free pages. Names and dates must match exactly across your form, passport and bookings.
South Korea visa for children and families
Children usually need their own visa or entry authorisation, even infants. For family applications, prepare each traveller's passport and photo, and add birth certificates for minors and, where a child travels with one parent or a guardian, a consent letter. Applying for the whole family together keeps travel dates and reference numbers consistent.
Common mistakes, delays and rejection reasons
From handling South Korea visa applications, these are the issues that most often cause delays or refusals. Avoiding them is the single biggest thing you can control:
- Passport validity: many countries require at least six months' validity beyond your travel dates — renew early if yours is close.
- Insufficient proof of funds: bank statements that are too thin, too new, or not in your name are a common reason for delays. Show a stable balance over the last 3–6 months.
- Photo specification errors: wrong size, background colour, glasses or a smile can bounce an application. Follow the exact spec for South Korea.
- Applying too late: submit well before departure — allow the full processing window plus a buffer, not the minimum.
- Mismatched documents: names, dates and passport numbers must match exactly across your form, flight and hotel bookings.
- Weak ties to your home country: employment letters, leave approval and return bookings help show you intend to return.
- Prior overstays or refusals: declare them honestly; hiding history causes more problems than the history itself.
- Forgetting the arrival card: Arrival card waived for K-ETA holders; e-Arrival card otherwise — complete it in the correct window or you can be delayed at the border.
Before you travel to South Korea
- Arrival card / declaration: Arrival card waived for K-ETA holders; e-Arrival card otherwise
- Onward or return ticket: carry proof — airlines and immigration can ask for it.
- Funds: have evidence of enough money for your stay (card and some KRW (South Korean Won)).
- Travel insurance: strongly recommended, and mandatory for some destinations.
- Copies: keep a digital and paper copy of your visa/approval and passport photo page.
Requirements by South Korea visa type
| Option | Official fee | Max stay | Processing | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) | KRW 10,000 (approx USD 7) | 90 days | Usually within 72 hours | https://www.k-eta.go.kr |
| C-3 Short-term Visit Visa | Single-entry approx INR 3,400 visa fee plus VFS/BLS service fee approx INR 1,100 (approx INR 4,500 total). Group-of-5+ fee waiver promotion ran through 30 Jun 2026. | 90 days | Around 10 working days | https://www.visa.go.kr |
| Temporary K-ETA Exemption (Singapore) | Free | 90 days | On arrival | https://www.k-eta.go.kr |
Apply for your South Korea visa with HolidaySG
Flat S$50 assistance fee per applicant (usually S$100) — official government fee: Free (exempt) · ETA: KRW 10,000 · C-3 Short-term Visit: INR 3,400. We check your eligibility, send a personalised document checklist, complete the forms and track your application until the outcome.
Things to do once your South Korea visa is sorted
- One-day tour / Incheon | Gwangmyeong Cave + Songwol-dong Fairy Tale Village & Chinatown + Wolmido seagull feeding + Yeongjongdo rail bike (departing from Seoul) — from KRW 103,488
- Discover Seoul Pass — from KRW 70,224
- Sea Life Busan — from KRW 15,600
- Seasonal | Jeonju Hanok Village and Jangtaesan, Daedunsan Serenity in Nature — from KRW 117,752
- Figure Museum Jeju Ticket — from KRW 7,500
- Seoul Dongdaemun City Tour Bus｜Traditional Culture Route Coupon — from KRW 13,182
Official sources
- K-ETA (Korea Immigration) — verified 19 August 2026
- MOFA Republic of Korea — verified 19 August 2026
- Official government source — verified 19 August 2026
Last updated 20 August 2026. Written and reviewed by the HolidaySG visa team and checked against the official sources above (facts verified 19 August 2026). Visa rules change and depend on your passport, residence and purpose of travel — always confirm with the official source before booking, or use our visa checker. HolidaySG re-confirms current requirements at the time of your application.
