Vacations to South Korea Are Becoming More Affordable, Indonesian Tourists Are Exempted From Group Visa Application Fees

The South Korean government has extended the group tourist visa application fee waiver policy until 31 December 2026. This comes as welcome news for Indonesian tourists planning holidays to the Land of the Morning Calm.

As reported by Korea Herald, South Korea's Ministry of Justice announced the policy extension as part of efforts to accelerate recovery of the international tourism sector. 

Indonesia is one of six countries eligible for this facility. Alongside Indonesia, the group tourist visa application fee waiver also applies to Cambodia, China, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

Under this policy, travellers visiting in organised groups will no longer be charged the US$15 visa application fee, equivalent to approximately IDR 255,000 based on an exchange rate of IDR 17,000 per US dollar. 

This programme was originally scheduled to end at the close of June 2026, but has now been extended by six months through the end of the calendar year.

This policy extension was driven by rising demand for group travel from Asian regions, particularly China and Southeast Asian nations.

Data from South Korea's Ministry of Justice shows over 790,000 international visitors entered the country using group tourist visas throughout 2025. This figure represents a 39 percent increase compared to the previous year.

Growth was also recorded across tourist origin markets. The number of group tourists from China rose 48 percent compared to 2024, while Vietnam posted a 5 percent growth rate.

India stood as the fastest growing market. Group traveller numbers from the country more than doubled, climbing from 573 visitors in 2024 to 1,120 visitors in 2025.

According to South Korea's Ministry of Justice, the visa fee waiver is cited as one of the key factors driving the rise in foreign tourist arrivals. 

Additionally, improved diplomatic relations along with the global popularity of Korean culture, widely known as Hallyu, have further strengthened South Korea's appeal as an international travel destination.