Korea Group Tourist Visa Fee Waiver 2026: Which 6 Countries, How Much, and the December 31 Deadline

Bottom line: Group tourists travelling to Korea from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, or Cambodia have their visa issuance fee of $15 (about 22,500 won) waived through December 31. The waiver applies only to group tourist visas, not individual visas, and only to these six nationalities.

If you didn't know: Paying the fee anyway wastes $15 (about 22,500 won) per traveler, or about $75 (112,500 won) for a group of five. Miss the December 31 deadline and the fee comes back in full.

South Korea's Ministry of Justice (Korea Immigration Service) extended the group tourist visa fee waiver through December 31, 2026, in a notice issued July 1, 2026. It only covers group tourist visas arranged through a travel agency, not individual tourist visas, and only for travellers from the six listed countries. The normal fee is $15 (about 22,500 won) per person. Roughly 614,000 Chinese group tourists entered Korea on this visa type in 2025 alone, so the extension affects a large number of travellers. Because group visas are usually filed through a travel agency or visa agent, it is worth asking in advance whether the agency is actually passing the waiver on, since some agencies bundle the fee into a flat service charge regardless.

This article summarizes official information and is not legal, medical, or financial advice.

Journey stage: Before you go · Verified 2026-11-10