South Korea to waive group visa fee for PH until the end of the year

Traveling to South Korea with the family or the whole barkada? Good news, Korea has extended its visa fee waiver program until Dec. 31, 2026 for group tourists, including those from the Philippines.

The Ministry of Justice announced Wednesday that the extension will apply to group tourists from China, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

The ministry expects this move to stimulate local economies and the tourism industry, noting that group visa arrivals reached 790,000 in 2025—a 39% increase from 2024.

Earlier this year, finance minister Koo Yun-cheol announced the extension of the waiver for C-3-2 visas, or group visas, which was originally scheduled to expire on Dec. 31, 2025, until the end of June 2026.

The current processing fees for C-3-2 visas are 18,000 won (about P735). 

Based on information from the Korea Visa Portal, groups tourist visas are exclusively available for groups of 3 people and above. Eligible groups include those who are visiting Korea for short-term travel or for "small-scale cross-border trading, guaranteed by an applicant's travel agency."

It is recommended that applicants apply for the visa in person at Korea Visa Application Center in Manila. If a personal appearance is not possible, the applicant may submit the application through a travel agency designated by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines. 

Alternatively, a member of one travel group can apply on behalf of the others. The individual can be a staff member of a travel agency, a tour guide, a coworker, or just anyone from the group. 

Take note that the C-3-2 visa is only for short-term travel, and cannot be converted to a study or work visa once in South Korea.