How to Apply for a South Korea Tourist Visa from Hyderabad — A Complete Guide

Summer is around the corner, and if South Korea is on your travel list — Seoul's buzzing streets, Busan's coastline, the food, the K-drama filming spots — I completely get it. We visited last year and it was honestly one of the best trips we've taken. But before you get there, there's the visa to sort out, and that's where most people get stuck.

The information online is scattered, half of it is outdated, and if you're based in Hyderabad like us, there's a very specific wrinkle that catches people off guard. I'm writing this guide because I wish something this straightforward had existed when we were applying. Consider this your one-stop, no-fluff guide to getting your South Korea tourist visa sorted from Hyderabad.

First: Which Visa Do You Need?

For tourism — sightseeing, vacation, leisure — you need the C-3-9 visa (Short-Term General Tourist Visa). It's for people visiting South Korea for the purpose of tourism during vacation or leisure. You can check the official visa navigator to confirm your category and see the full requirements list:

Step-by-Step Process

1. Check your visa type using the official navigator For leisure tourism, select C-3-9. The navigator lists all required documents for your specific category.
2. Gather all your documents Use the complete checklist below — this is the most time-consuming part. Start at least 3–4 weeks before your planned travel.
3. Fill the visa application form online Go to visa.go.kr to fill the form. You can either do it yourself or have an authorized agent do it for a small additional fee.
4. Prepare your Visa Request Letter This is a personal cover letter addressed to the Visa Officer. See the format guide below — it's simpler than it sounds.
5. Submit to VFS Mumbai (in person or via authorized agent) Since Hyderabad applicants can't submit locally, you'll either travel to Mumbai yourself or use one of the 14 consulate-authorized travel agents to submit on your behalf.
6. Track your application online Use the official status tracker. Normal processing takes 10–12 working days; express takes 3–5 working days.
7. Receive your passport with visa Your passport is couriered back to you (or you collect in person). Pack your bags!

Complete Documents Checklist

Here's everything you need for a standard C-3-9 tourist visa application. Read each item carefully — small things like missing a bank seal or submitting a wrong photo size can delay your application.

Identity & Travel Documents

• Original Passport — valid for at least 6 months from your departure date, with minimum 2 blank pages. No need to send old passports.
• Passport copy — front page and last page of your passport.
• PAN Card copy — this is mandatory for all applicants.
• Visa Application Form — filled online at visa.go.kr, printed and signed.
• Visa Request Letter — personally written cover letter (see format guide below).

Photographs

• 2 recent studio photographs — not older than 6 months, taken specifically for this visa.
• Size: 35mm × 45mm, white background, mat finish.
• Face should cover at least 80% of the photo.
• No white clothes, no spectacles.

Travel Proof

• Return confirmed air ticket copy — both onward and return flights must be confirmed, not just on hold.
• Hotel confirmation for your entire stay — all nights must be covered. Booking.com or similar printouts are fine, but the reservation must show your name and dates.
• Day-to-day itinerary — a simple typed plan of what you'll do each day. It doesn't have to be overly detailed; even a brief city-by-city breakdown works.

Financial Documents

• Personal bank statement — last 6 months — savings bank account statement with original bank seal on it. Recommended balance above ₹1 lakh with evidence of regular transactions. This must be sent with the original bank stamp; a downloaded PDF statement is not accepted.
• Personal Income Tax Return — last 3 years — e-verified acknowledgment receipt (ITR Saral copy only, no computation sheet needed). If you cannot provide ITR, submit an explanatory letter.

Proof of Income — Based on Your Employment Type

If you're salaried:

• Salary slips for the last 3 months
• Original Leave Letter from your employer or HR, on company letterhead with company seal, authorized signature, and contact details of the signing person.

If you're a freelancer or self-employed:

• Last 3 months' invoices billed to clients, OR a letter from your client/company with seal and signature, OR a copy of your freelance contract.
• For media influencers: proof of payments received in your bank account.
• Proof of profession — qualification certificate, degree certificate, or professional registration.

If you own a business or company:

• Company registration proof — GST certificate, Partnership Deed, MoA, AoA, Gumasta, or Shop & Establishment Certificate.
• If the company is funding the trip: 6-month company bank statement with original bank seal is also required.

Emergency Contact

• Name, mobile number, and relationship of a family member — typed or handwritten on A4 paper. This person should be reachable if the consulate calls to verify your application. This matters — make sure the person you list actually picks up calls from unknown numbers.

Additional Documents — If Applying as a Dependent

This applies if you're a student, unemployed, a minor, or don't have your own financial documents (ITR, strong bank balance). Your sponsor must have a blood relationship with you — only blood relatives can sponsor your application.

• Sponsorship and consent letter from both parents (Mother and Father)
• Sponsor's last 6 months bank statement with original bank seal
• Sponsor's last 3 months salary slips
• Sponsor's last 3 years income tax returns
• Sponsor's proof of income (employment letter or business registration)
• Sponsor's retirement certificate (if applicable)
• Aadhaar card of the applicant along with the parent
• If student or minor: school/college/university ID card

How to Write Your Visa Request Letter

This is a simple personal cover letter — don't overthink it. Here's what it needs to contain:

• Your name, residence address, mobile number, and email as a header (personal letterhead style on A4)
• Addressed to: The Visa Officer, Consulate General of the Republic of Korea, Mumbai
• Subject: SHORT TERM TOURIST VISA REQUEST
• A brief paragraph covering: your name, passport number, purpose of visit, travel dates and duration, where you'll stay, and who will bear all expenses
• A closing request to grant the visa
• Your signature at the bottom

If you're travelling with family and applying together, the principal applicant can include all dependents' names, passport numbers, and their relationship in the same letter. Photocopy this letter for each dependent applicant once it's signed.

Visa Fees Breakdown

There are two components to the total cost: the consulate fee (paid to the Korean government) and agent service charges if you're using an authorized agent. Here's the full picture.

Consulate Fees

Process	Timeline	Single Entry	Multiple Entry*
Normal	10–12 working days	₹3,200	₹7,200
Express	3–5 working days	₹5,600	₹10,400
*Multiple Entry is only available if you have travelled to South Korea at least twice in the past year.

Working days exclude Saturdays, Sundays, and all public holidays (both Indian and Korean). Plan accordingly — if you're applying in May, factor in any long weekends.

Agent Service Charges (e.g. Hana Travels)

If you're going through an authorized agent, here's what the charges typically look like. We found these very reasonable compared to other agents we checked — some were quoting thousands more for the same service.

Charge	Amount (incl. GST)	Notes
Agent service fee	₹1,180	Mandatory — for submission and handling
Form filling	₹590	Optional — skip this if you fill the online form yourself
Courier (passport return)	₹590	Optional — skip this if you collect in person from their Mumbai office
Minimum agent cost (form self-filled, self-collection): ₹1,180. Full-service (form filled + passport couriered back): ₹2,360 extra on top of consulate fees.

The Hyderabad Situation: Using an Authorized Agent

Here's the thing that trips up a lot of Hyderabad travelers: the South Korean consulate's jurisdiction means Hyderabad applications must be submitted to the Mumbai consulate, and submissions must be made in person. You can't mail documents directly or drop them at a VFS centre in Hyderabad.

Your options are:

• Travel to Mumbai yourself to submit and collect — only practical if you have other reasons to be in Mumbai anyway.
• Use one of the 14 authorized travel agents approved by the consulate to submit applications on your behalf.

The consulate maintains an official list of authorized agents. This list may be updated periodically. Here are all 14 agents currently authorized (as of March 2025):

1. Hana Travels LLP — +91-99207 69944 | vphanatravels@gmail.com | Kemp's Corner, Mumbai
2. Greenlight Travel Solutions — +91-93218 79181 | skvisa@gltsonline.in | Dadar/Wadala, Mumbai
3. Jetsave India Tourist — +91-74000 91929 | ashish@jetsavetours.com | Dhobi Talav, Mumbai
4. Travel Point Holidays — +91-91672 97453 | contact@tpvisa.com | Fort, Mumbai
5. Visa Consultancy Services — +91-22-4301-4000 | support@visaconsultancy.com | Fort, Mumbai
6. MS Ideal Visum India — +91-8779 382447 | as.msideal@gmail.com | Fort, Mumbai
7. Prominent Visa Services — +91-84258 50326 | vikas@prominentvisa.com | Wadala, Mumbai
8. FCM Travel Solutions India — +91-22-4030-8698 | sanjay.patel@in.fcm.travel | Andheri East, Mumbai
9. Sambhav Trade Tours — +91-98339 92839 | rajesh@sambhav.net | Andheri West, Mumbai
10. Atlys India Private Limited — +91-79870 59612 | southkorea@atlys.com | Khar West, Mumbai
11. Akbar Travel of India — +91-98214 87068 | izuvan@akbarholidays.com | Near Crawford Market, Mumbai
12. Thomas Cook India — +91-98218 18119 | nilesh.ghare@thomascook.in | Fort, Mumbai
13. BLS International Services — +91-120-691-7531 | info.korea@blshelpline.com | Nariman Point, Mumbai
14. HyFlyer Global — +91-90993 74242 | info@hyflyerglobal.com | Ahmedabad

Our Experience: Hana Travels

We used Hana Travels LLP for our application and honestly had a great experience. What stood out was how clear and concise their communication was — they sent us a straightforward checklist, no unnecessary back-and-forth, no confusing jargon. The instructions were to the point and made the whole process feel manageable. We submitted our documents, paid the fees, and they handled the rest. The visa came through, and a few weeks later we were in Seoul.

Quick Tips From Our Experience

• Start early. The bank statement collection alone — getting it stamped at a branch with an original seal — can take a few days. Don't leave it to the last minute.
• Book refundable hotels. You need confirmed hotel reservations before you have your visa. Use Booking.com's free cancellation options so you're not out of pocket if anything changes.
• Be reachable on your emergency contact's phone. The consulate does occasionally call to verify applications. Make sure whoever you've listed knows to answer calls from unknown numbers during the processing window.
• Keep originals safe. Your original passport, original bank statement with seal, and original leave letter cannot be photocopies. Everything else can be a self-attested copy.
• The itinerary doesn't need to be fancy. A simple typed day-wise plan is fine. "Day 1: Arrive Seoul, Hongdae area. Day 2: Gyeongbokgung, Insadong..." is perfectly acceptable.
• Track religiously once submitted. The online tracker is updated regularly. You'll see your status move through stages — it's reassuring once you know it's in the system.