South Korea extends its visa fee waiver program for group tourists from six countries until Dec. 31, 2026, the Justice Ministry says. The extension covers group tourists arriving from China, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Under the program, visa issuance or application fees are waived for eligible group travelers. One report notes the waived amount is $15 (about 23,000 won), and another describes the waiver as covering visa issuance fees for group tourists.
The measure was originally introduced as part of South Korea’s tourism efforts following a national tourism strategy meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae in February. The ministry says it expects the continued waiver to help revitalize inbound group tourism and support recovery in local economies.
The Justice Ministry also cites recent entry figures: around 790,000 foreigners entered South Korea on group visas in 2025, which is reported as a 39% increase from the previous year. It also says the overstay rate among group visa entrants is very low—0.07%—and is down by more than half compared with the year before. The program was set to expire at the end of June before this extension.
