What you need to enter India with a South Korean passport
South Korean citizens need a visa for India, but they can get it on arrival at the border.
- Minimum passport validity
- 6 months on the application date
Why is this passport validity required? →
Last verified: 10 August 2026
Verified practical details
You can get your visa on arrival in India, but it's worth preparing the paperwork ahead of time:
Protected and restricted areas: different entry rules
An Indian visa is not enough to enter the areas declared protected or restricted under the Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order, 1963. The list published by the High Commission of India covers all areas in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim, the whole Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. Every foreigner except a citizen of Bhutan also needs a special permit from the competent authority, applied for through the e-FRRO portal and best requested thirty days ahead. The list has been amended several times, so check it before each trip.
Source: hcikampala.gov.in (Alta Comisión de India, Protected Area Permit / Restricted Area Permit); mha.gov.in, Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order, 1963 (comprobado 18/09/2026)
Required documents
- Passport with at least 6 months' validity on the date of the e-Visa application and two blank pages for immigration stamps.
- Digital photograph meeting the official portal's specifications (square JPEG, full face, no glasses, light background) and a scan of the passport's bio page.
- e-Arrival Card, separate from the e-Visa, within the 72 hours before arrival.
Health insurance
Not mandatory for this destination.
When travel insurance is mandatory → Travel insurance policies ↓More India rules
They don't depend on your passport, so they are on the India page:
Official portal: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in. Destination data verified on 10 August 2026. Sources: indianvisaonline.gov.in, the official e-Visa portal ("Country/Territory Wise e-Tourist Visa Fee" table of 8 September 2026: fees; entry points, passport validity, photograph and e-Arrival Card) (checked 29 September 2026); cbic.gov.in (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, "Guide for International Travellers", February 2026) and pib.gov.in (Ministry of Finance release of 2 February 2026 on the Baggage Rules, 2026): allowances, alcohol, tobacco and currency declaration (checked 29 September 2026); sanidad.gob.es (Spain's Ministry of Health, "Listado de países: requisitos y recomendaciones de vacunación contra la fiebre amarilla") and who.int (WHO, "Country list: yellow fever vaccination requirements and recommendations"): oral polio vaccination requirement (checked 20 September 2026).
Travel insurance for India
It isn't listed as mandatory for this entry, but without insurance, medical care during the trip can get expensive.
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Things to see and do in India
Tours, skip-the-line tickets and day trips, most with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
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This pair in context
In the other direction, citizens of India need an electronic visa to enter South Korea. See the India → South Korea page.
Of the 8 passports from Eastern Asia that VisaRadar tracks, for travel to India 4 need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival and 4 need a visa. Same result as South Korea: Japan, Mongolia and Taiwan.
With a passport from South Korea, in the rest of Southern Asia you need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival for Bangladesh, Bhutan, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka; you need a visa for Afghanistan.
A passport from South Korea ranks 3 of 199 in the VisaRadar passport ranking and reaches 160 of 198 destinations without applying for a visa in advance.
Counts from the same requirements matrix behind this page's verdict, using the UN M49 subregions.
Frequently asked questions
Do South Korean citizens need a visa for India?
Yes, but you can obtain it directly upon arrival at India's entry point.
What minimum passport validity is required?
Passport with at least 6 months' validity on the date of the e-Visa application and two blank pages for immigration stamps.
What currency is used in India?
Indian Rupee (INR).
What do South Korean passport holders need for the countries near India?
With a passport from South Korea, in the rest of Southern Asia you need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival for Bangladesh, Bhutan, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka; you need a visa for Afghanistan.
Related pages
See India requirements for other passports →
Informational only. Always verify requirements with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.