South Korea Opens New Visa Application Centers in Chennai and Bengaluru

The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Chennai, India, has opened two new Korea Visa Application Centers (KVACs) in Chennai and Bengaluru.

Travellers to South Korea from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry, and Tamil Nadu will now be able to submit their applications with ease for all visa categories, at these state-of-the-art South Korea Visa Application Centres (KVACs).

The newly opened Korea Visa Application Centres (KVACs) are located at:

• Chennai: 2nd Floor, 701 Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai 600018
• Bengaluru: 100 Feet Road, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bengaluru 560008

The KVACs are open from Monday to Friday, from 9 AM to 1 PM for individuals, 9 AM to 12 PM for travel agents, and 10 AM to 3 PM for passport collection.

The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Chennai launched its new and spacious #visaapplicationcentres in Chennai and Bengaluru. #VFS services to begin from 01.09.2023.

Visit website for visa application: https://t.co/QZgce8p4lQ#Inaugration #VFS #KoreanVisa pic.twitter.com/bUlaSVm3lx

— Korean Consulate in Chennai (@ChennaiKCG) August 31, 2023

The KVACs offer a variety of services to make it easier for Indian citizens to apply for a visa to South Korea. These services include:

• Assistance with filling out the visa application form
• Taking biometric data (fingerprints and photographs)
• Issuing the visa

The KVACs also offer optional services, such as:

• Express visa service
• Courier service
• Document translation service

The opening of the new KVACs is part of South Korea’s efforts to promote tourism from India. The two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year, and the KVACs are expected to help boost tourism between the two countries.

Also Read: VFS Global Starts Accepting UK Visa Applications at Radisson and Taj Hotels

South Korea Promotes Tourism from India

In addition to opening the new KVACs, South Korea is also taking other steps to promote tourism from India. The Korean Tourism Department (KTD) is organizing a roadshow in New Delhi in late August to attract Indian tourists.

The KTO is also offering a special K-incentive Scheme to encourage Indian travel agents to sell Korean travel packages.

Tourism from India to South Korea had been steadily increasing until 2019, but it declined due to the impact of COVID-19. However, the KTO is confident that tourism from India will recover in the coming years.

KVACs to Boost Business Collaboration

The opening of the KVACs in Chennai and Bengaluru is also expected to boost business collaboration between South Korea and India. Chennai is home to over 300 Korean companies, primarily operating in the automobile and electronics sectors. Bengaluru is also a major hub for Korean IT companies.

The KVACs will make it easier for Korean businesses to obtain visas for their employees and clients travelling to India. This will help to facilitate business collaboration between the two countries.

Conclusion

The opening of the new KVACs in Chennai and Bengaluru is a positive development for both tourism and business collaboration between South Korea and India. The KVACs will make it easier for Indian citizens to apply for a visa to South Korea, and they will also help to boost business between the two countries.