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KR · Visas

South Korea digital nomad visa

South Korea has a digital nomad visa, the “workation” (F-1-D) visa, which moved from a pilot to a permanent scheme on 30 June 2026. It is for people who have worked remotely for a company abroad for at least a year. The income you need depends on your age and where you will live: from about KRW 52.4 million to KRW 104.8 million a year. The stay is one year, renewable up to three.

Seoul · Busan · Jeju

A street of traditional Korean houses in Seoul with N Seoul Tower beyond
Nomad Hub editorial teamEditorial update: Next review: 11 November 2026

General guidance · not legal or tax advice

General information based on cited official sources, to help you get oriented and prepare questions. It does not replace the competent authority or a professional: confirm requirements and amounts at the source before applying.

Financial amounts in this edition refer to 2026; historical figures in the text are not automatically updated.

Financial reference
From KRW 52,410,000 a year (1× GNI)
Duration
1 year, renewable up to 3
Family
Spouse and minor children

Who can apply

The visa is designed for foreigners who belong to a company abroad, can work remotely and have at least one year in the same industry. You must be 18 or older. During your stay you cannot take employment or do profit-making work in Korea, and the official release refers to employees of foreign companies: if you are a freelancer, check with the embassy whether your case qualifies.

How much you need to earn

The threshold is based on the previous year's gross national income (GNI) per person, about KRW 52.41 million for 2025. If you are 18 to 34, you need 1× GNI outside the Seoul area or in depopulating regions, and 1.5× in the capital area. From 35, it is 1.5× outside the Seoul area and 2× inside it (about KRW 104.83 million). If you bring your family to the Seoul area, 2× applies whatever your age; outside it, 1.5×.

You also need private medical insurance with at least KRW 100 million of cover for treatment and repatriation for your whole stay. If you use a lower threshold because you will live outside the Seoul area, you must prove it, for example with a lease of a month or more or a booking at a workation facility.

How to apply and how long it lasts

You apply at a Korean embassy or consulate abroad with the form, your passport, a photo, the fee, an employment certificate, payslips and bank statements, a criminal record certificate and your insurance policy. If you are already in Korea as a visitor (B-1, B-2 or C-3) and meet the requirements, you can switch to this visa without leaving. When you register as a foreigner you get one year, renewable a year at a time up to three.

Taxes and tax residence

For Korea's National Tax Service, a resident is someone with a domicile in Korea or who lives there for at least 183 days; domicile is judged by facts such as family, property or occupation in Korea. On a one-year renewable visa, you should expect to become resident. Residents are in principle taxed on their worldwide income, and non-residents only on Korean-source income.

Taxes and tax residence: South Korea ↗

Things to keep in mind

These points vary with your situation, your home country or the consulate. They are worth confirming with the official source before you take the next step.

  • Whether your embassy accepts freelancers or only employees of foreign companies.
  • The exact threshold for your age, the region where you will live and whether you travel with family.
  • Fee and processing times of the Korean embassy or consulate for your country of residence.

Health and travel insurance

Travel and health insurance

Medical cover for long stays.

What to compare before choosing ↗

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Sources and scope

Dates record editorial consultation, not professional approval. Consular, nationality and profile conditions are checked separately.