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South Korea Extends Group Tourist Visa Fee Waivers for China, India, Vietnam & 4 Additional Countries Until December 31, 2026 – Significant Boost for Tourism

  • Writer: Xavi
    Xavi
  • Jul 1
  • 2 min read

Updated: Jul 1

South Korea extends group tourist visa fee waiver for China, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines until December 31, 2026 to boost tourism.
South Korea extends group tourist visa fee waiver for China, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines until Dec 31, 2026

Seoul, 1 July 2026 — The Republic of Korea has officially extended its popular group tourist visa fee waiver program for nationals of six key countries through the end of 2026.

The Ministry of Justice announced that visa issuance fees will continue to be waived for group tourists from China, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines until December 31, 2026.

Key Details of the Extended Visa Fee Waiver

  • Eligible Countries: China, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

  • Benefit: Complete waiver of visa issuance fees for approved group tourist applications.

  • Validity: Extended until the end of the year (December 31, 2026).

  • Target: Primarily organised group tours, supporting the recovery and growth of inbound tourism.

This extension builds on the program originally introduced following a high-level national tourism strategy meeting at the Blue House in February 2026, aimed at revitalising foreign group tourism after the pandemic slowdown.

Why This Move Matters for Tourism Recovery

The fee waiver is part of South Korea’s broader strategy to attract more international visitors, particularly from high-potential Asian markets. By removing financial barriers for group travel, the government hopes to:

  • Increase arrivals from major source countries.

  • Support the tourism industry, including hotels, tour operators, and cultural sites.

  • Strengthen people-to-people ties with key partner nations.

Impact on Travellers and Tour Operators

  • For Tourists: Lower overall costs for group travel packages to South Korea.

  • For Travel Agencies: Greater flexibility to design competitive group tour itineraries.

  • For South Korea: Expected rise in visitor numbers from China, India, Vietnam, and Southeast Asia.

This policy is especially significant for Indian travellers, who have shown growing interest in South Korea as a tourism destination in recent years.


For the latest South Korea visa updates, group tourist fee waivers, Korea tourism news for Indian and Asian travellers, and 2026 visa policy changes, visit: visasupdate.com/blog/categories/south-korea


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