South Korea extends group visa fee waiver for PH until June

The Philippines will enjoy six more months of being exempt from paying visa processing fees for tourists traveling in a group. 

On Wednesday, 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. The waiver will remain in effect until the end of June 2026.

Aside from the Philippines, group travelers from China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Cambodia are also covered by the extension, as reported by The Korea Herald. 

According to Koo, the extension was put in place "to maintain momentum in inbound tourism." It is aligned with South Korea's aim to increase the number of foreign visitors. 

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

Based on information from the Korea Visa Application Center in Manila, groups eligible for C-3-2 visas are 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 KVAC. 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.