Last updated: October 2026
Quick answer: Korea’s Ministry of Justice is running a temporary visa exemption for Indonesian tour groups from May 28 to December 31, 2026. Groups of three or more travelling on an itinerary organized through a designated Indonesian travel agency can enter visa-free and stay up to 15 days. It does not cover independent travelers, who still follow the normal visa process. With under three months left, groups that want to use it need to book soon.
Who Qualifies for Korea’s Indonesian Group Visa Exemption?
The pilot is built around organized tours, not individual trips. Based on published reports of the Ministry of Justice announcement, a traveler qualifies when all of the following are true:
- They hold an Indonesian passport and travel as part of a group of at least three people.
- The group’s itinerary is organized by an Indonesian travel agency designated under the scheme.
- The Korean-side travel agency submits the visitor list for screening 24 hours before arrival.
- The stay is 15 days or less.
The 24-hour list is Korea’s safeguard against illegal overstays, so group leaders should have passport details finalized well before departure. Check the current rules directly with the Korean Ministry of Justice or your agency before booking.
What About Indonesians Travelling Independently?
Individual and small-family travelers are outside this pilot and still apply for a visa as usual. Separately, Korea has extended group-tourist visa fee waivers for several countries through the end of the year, so cost is less of an issue for those groups, though the visa itself is still required. If you are comparing paths, our Korea entry requirements guide explains how K-ETA, visas and the e-Arrival Card fit together.
Do You Still Need the e-Arrival Card?
Entry formalities beyond the visa are a separate question. The free e-Arrival Card is the Korean arrival declaration that most visitors file online within three days before arrival at the official e-arrivalcard.go.kr site. Ask your tour operator whether they handle it for the whole group, and have it done before you reach Incheon.
Why Does the December 31 Deadline Matter?
The exemption is a pilot tied to Korea’s tourism promotion year and ends on December 31, 2026. Nothing in the announcement guarantees an extension. Groups planning autumn foliage or winter trips should lock in dates now, and anyone eyeing a 2027 visit should plan for the standard visa process. Visa-waiver travelers from other countries face their own change at year end, covered in our K-ETA exemption 2027 update.
How Should a Group Prepare for Arrival at Incheon?
Most groups land at Incheon, so expect immigration lines at peak hours; our Incheon immigration wait times post shows when queues are shortest. Keep return tickets, the agency itinerary and passports together for the whole group, and stay within the 15-day limit. Once you are in, our 7-day Korea itinerary and fall festival map are good starting points for filling the days.
Rules can change; confirm eligibility with your designated travel agency and official Korean government sources before you travel.