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By Robert Johnson•Last Updated April 15, 2025

Complete Guide to Korea Visa Costs: Everything You Need to Know

Complete guide to Korea visa costs: everything you need to know

Plan a trip to South Korea require understand the visa application process and associated costs. Whether your visited for tourism, business, or study purposes, know precisely how much a Korean visa costs can help you budget decent for your journey. This comprehensive guide cover everything about Korean visa fees, application requirements, and helpful tips to make your visa application process smoother.

Types of Korean visas and their costs

South Korea offer various visa categories, each with different fees depend on your nationality, purpose of visit, and duration of stay.

Tourist visa (c 3 )

The nigh common visa for travelers is the c 3 tourist visas, which allow stays of up to 90 days.

Single entry tourist visa: $40
Double entry tourist visa: $70
Multiple entry tourist visa (valid for 5 years ) $ $90

Business visa (c 3 4 )

For those travel to Korea for business meetings, conferences, or short term work:

Single entry business visa: $40
Multiple entry business visa: $90

Student visa (d 2 )

Students plan to study at Korean educational institutions need to apply for a d 2 visa:

Student visa application fee: $60

Work visa (e series )

Various work visas are available to depend on your profession and employment circumstances:

Work visa application fee: $60 $90 ((ary by type ))

Working holiday visa (h 1 )

For young adults from countries with work holiday agreements with Korea:

Work holiday visa fee: $45

Visa fee variations by nationality

Visa costs can vary importantly base on your country of citizenship. Some countries have reciprocal agreements with South Korea that affect visa fees and requirements.

Visa free countries

Citizens from roughly 112 countries can enter South Korea without a visa for short stays, include:

United States (up to 90 days )
Canada (up to 6 months )
Most European Union countries (up to 90 days )
Australia (up to 90 days )
New Zealand (up to 90 days )

If you’re from one of these countries, you won’t will need to pay any visa fees for short term visits.

Reciprocal fee arrangements

Some countries face higher fees base on reciprocity. For example:

Chinese citizens: $30 $90 ((epend on visa type ))
Russian citizens: $45 $90
Filipino citizens: $25 $70

Forever check with the Korean embassy or consulate in your country for the near accurate fee information.

Additional costs to consider

The base visa fee isn’t the only expense you might incur during the application process.

Visa processing service fees

If you apply through a visa processing agency or travel service:

Service fee: $20 $100 ((ary by agency and service level ))

Express processing

Need your visa promptly? Express processing options are available:

Same day processing: additional $30 $50
Next day processing: additional $15 $30

Document authentication

Some documents may require authentication or notarization:

Notarization fees: $5 $20 per document
Apostille services: $25 $50 per document

Visa extension fees

If you need to extend your stay while in Korea:

Visa extension application: $30 $60

Korea electronic travel authorization (k eta )

Many visitors nowadays need to obtain a k eta before travel to Korea, regular if they’re from visa exempt countries.

K eta fee structure

Application fee: $10 ((onon-refundabletill if reject ))
Validity: multiple entries for up to 2 years

The k eta is not a visa but a travel authorization that must be obtained before board your flight tKoreaea.

How to pay for your Korean visa

Understand payment methods can help you avoid delays in your application process.

Accepted payment methods

Cash (exact amount, in local currency of the embassy / consulate )
Money order
Cashier’s check
Credit card (at some locations )
Online payment (for k eta and some visa applications )

Personal checks are typically not accept for visa fee payments.

Payment timing

Visa fees must be pay at the time of application and are non-refundable, disregarding of whether your visa is approved or deny.

Required documents for Korean visa applications

Along with pay the correct fee, you will need to will submit several documents:

Basic requirements

Complete visa application form
Valid passport (with at least 6 months validity beyond intended stay )
Recent passport sized photo (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm with white background )
Proof of payment of visa fee
Proof of travel plans (flight itinerary )
Proof of accommodation
Proof of financial means (bank statements show sufficient funds )

Additional documents by visa type

Different visa categories require specific support documents:

Tourist visa: travel itinerary, hotel reservations
Business visa: invitation letter, business registration documents
Student visa: acceptance letter from Korean institution, proof of tuition payment
Work visa: employment contract, business registration of employer

Visa application process timeline and costs

Understand the timeline help you plan your application process expeditiously.

Standard processing time

Tourist and business visas: 5 7 business days
Student and work visas: 2 4 weeks
K eta: 24 72 hours

Cost time tradeoffs

Expedite processing is available at near consulates for an additional fee:

Regular processing: base fee, 5 7 business days
Rush processing: base fee + $30, 2 3 business days
Super rush processing: base fee + $50, same business day ((f submit other ))

Money saving tips for Korean visa applications

Several strategies can help you minimize visa relate expenses:

Apply direct

Skip visa agencies and apply direct at the Korean embassy or consulate to avoid service fees.

Check visa exemptions

Verify if your nationality qualifies for visa free entry before pay for a visa application.

Apply for long term multiple entry visas

If you plan to visit Korea often, a multiple entry visa may be more economical than several single entry visas.

Prepare documents cautiously

Ensure all documents are correct and complete to avoid rejection and reapplication fees.

Plan beforehand

Apply wellspring in advance to avoid rush processing fees.

Special visa categories and their costs

Korea offers several specialized visa options for specific circumstances:

Overseas Korean visa (f 4 )

For ethnic Koreans with foreign nationality:

Application fee: $50
Validity: up to 5 years

Marriage migrant visa (f 6 )

For those married to Korean nationals:

Application fee: $60
Documentation requirements are more extensive

Medical tourism visa (m 1 )

For those seek medical treatment in Korea:

Application fee: $40
Require confirmation from a Korean medical institution

Visa fee refund policy

It’s important to understand when visa fees can and can not be refund.

Non-refundable circumstances

Visa application rejection
Withdrawal of application after submission
K eta application fee (disregarding of outcome )

Potential refund situations

Double payment (refund of the duplicate amount )
Payment of incorrect (higher )fee
Application not accept for processing

Refund processes typically require submit a formal request with proof of payment.

Often ask questions about Korean visa costs

Do visa fees change oftentimes?

Visa fees may change base on diplomatic relations and policy updates. Invariably check the official Korean embassy website for current fees before apply.

Can I pay visa fees online?

Some Korean consulates directly accept online payments, while others nevertheless require in person payment. Check with your local consulate for available payment options.

Are there discounts for children or seniors?

Broadly, visa fees are the same careless of age. Notwithstanding, some consulates may offer reduced rates for children under certain circumstances.

How much does a group visa cost?

Group visas for tourists travel unitedly may be available at a rate of roughly $15 per person, with a minimum of 5 people require.

What currency should I use to pay visa fees?

Visa fees are typically pay in the local currency of the country where you’re applied. The embassy or consulate will specify acceptable currencies.

Conclusion: budgeting for your Korean visa

When plan your trip to South Korea, be sure to factor in visa costs as part of your travel budget. For most tourists from the United States and similar countries, you can expect to pay between $40 $90 for a visa iif requiredire,$10$ 10 for a k eta if you’re from a visa exempt country.

Remember that visa requirements and fees can change, so invariably verify the current information with the official kKoreanembassy or consulate in your country before make travel plans. By understand the full cost structure and prepare consequently, you can ensure a smooth visa application process and focus on enjoy your kKoreanadventure.