South Korea has expanded its visa application services across South Asia, with VFS Global now operating six Korea Visa Application Centres across India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The expansion is intended to provide applicants with greater access to visa submission facilities as travel, business and people to people connections with South Korea continue to develop across the region.
The six centres are located in New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata in India, along with Dhaka in Bangladesh and Colombo in Sri Lanka. With the addition of the centres in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, VFS Global now manages six South Korea Visa Application Centres across three South Asian countries.
The new Korea Visa Application Centre in New Delhi was inaugurated on September 15, 2026. South Korean Ambassador to India Lee Seong-ho attended the inauguration. The new facility is intended to provide applicants with an accessible and streamlined location for submitting their visa applications and completing the required administrative procedures.
VFS Global has been providing visa processing services for the Government of the Republic of Korea in India since 2011. Before the latest regional expansion, the company operated Korea Visa Application Centres in New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata. The opening of centres in Dhaka and Colombo has extended the service network beyond India.
For Indian applicants, the four available locations are particularly relevant because they cover major regions of the country. The centres in New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata provide applicants with designated locations to submit applications and supporting documents according to the applicable requirements.
The Chennai centre is particularly important for applicants in southern India. Bengaluru also serves applicants in the southern region, while New Delhi and Kolkata provide access for applicants in northern and eastern parts of the country. Applicants should check the applicable jurisdiction and current requirements before visiting a centre because visa application procedures can vary depending on the applicant's location and visa category.
VFS Global's role is primarily administrative. The company collects completed application forms and supporting documents according to the relevant checklist and conducts biometric enrolment where required. Visa decisions are not made by VFS Global. The final decision on whether a visa is issued remains with the South Korean embassy or consular authorities.
Applicants should therefore distinguish between the visa application centre and the Korean diplomatic authorities. A VFS Global centre provides the facilities and administrative support needed to submit an application, but approval or refusal of the application is determined by the appropriate South Korean authorities.
The expansion comes amid continued interest in South Korea as a destination for tourism, education, business and other forms of travel. South Korea has also seen growing international interest because of its cultural, entertainment, technology and business sectors. The availability of additional application centres can make the submission process more accessible for applicants who previously had to travel longer distances.
VFS Global said the expansion reflects demand for Korean visas across South Asia. The company has described the six centre network as an important milestone in its partnership with the Republic of Korea and said it is focused on improving the visa application experience through modern facilities and trained teams.
The company has also linked the expansion to its 25th anniversary year. VFS Global provides visa, passport and citizen services for governments and diplomatic missions in multiple countries. Its involvement in visa processing generally focuses on administrative support rather than making decisions on applications.
For travellers planning to visit South Korea, the availability of the six centres provides more options for submitting visa applications within the region. Applicants should still prepare their documents carefully and follow the current requirements for their specific visa category.
The official VFS Global Korea visa portal provides information about visa types, the application process, appointment procedures and supporting documents. Applicants should use the official information available for their location and visa category rather than relying solely on information from travel agents or social media posts.
The expansion does not mean that every applicant can submit an application at any centre without restrictions. Visa applicants should verify the relevant jurisdiction, appointment requirements, fees, document checklist and biometric requirements before visiting a centre. Requirements may differ depending on the purpose and duration of travel.
The South Korean authorities continue to retain responsibility for visa decisions. Therefore, the establishment of additional VFS Global centres should be viewed as an expansion of application submission and administrative services rather than a change in South Korea's visa approval policy.
The six centre network also represents a broader regional approach to visa services. Instead of limiting application facilities to India, the expanded network provides dedicated centres in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well. This gives applicants in three South Asian countries access to VFS Global's administrative services for South Korean visa applications.
For Indian travellers, the four centres in New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata are the key locations. Applicants should confirm the latest information before making travel arrangements for visa submission, particularly because appointment availability, application requirements and operating procedures can change.
The expansion is expected to make the administrative side of the South Korean visa application process more accessible across South Asia. However, applicants should remember that submitting an application through VFS Global does not guarantee visa approval.
South Korea's expanded visa service network comes as the country continues to strengthen international travel and people to people connections. The new six centre arrangement gives applicants in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka additional access points for submitting Korean visa applications while keeping the final visa decision with the relevant South Korean authorities.