Last updated: September 2026

Learn everything you need to know about South Korea’s Digital Nomad Visa, including how to apply, income requirements, eligibility, documents, family applications, and more.

South Korea’s F-1-D Workation Visa, commonly known as the Digital Nomad Visa, was first introduced in January 2024. On June 30, 2026, the Korean government moved the visa from its pilot phase to full implementation.

The 2026 update brought two important changes: the maximum stay increased from two to three years, and the income requirement now depends on your age and where you plan to live in Korea.

So if you’ve read older guides saying every applicant needs to earn around KRW 100 million per year or that the visa is limited to two years, those rules are now outdated.

In short, here’s what you need to know:

🔍 Important Facts

• Official name: Workation Visa (F-1-D)
• Introduced: January 1, 2024
• Updated: Full implementation from June 30, 2026
• Who: Eligible remote workers employed by an overseas company, or owners/operators of an overseas business
• Family: A legal spouse and minor children can accompany the main applicant
• How long: Up to 3 years — normally 1 year initially, extendable one year at a time
• Work in Korea: You can continue your overseas work, but local employment and profit-making activities in Korea are restricted
• Income: Between 1× and 2× Korea’s GNI benchmark, depending on your age and intended place of residence

👤 Eligibility & Requirements

You generally need to:

• Be 18 or older
• Work remotely for a company based outside Korea, or own/operate an overseas business
• Have worked in the same or relevant industry for at least one year
• Meet the applicable income requirement
• Have private medical insurance covering at least KRW 100 million for medical treatment and repatriation
• Meet the criminal-record requirements
• Submit the supporting documents requested by the Korean embassy, consulate, or immigration office handling your application

If you plan to use the lower income threshold available in qualifying regional areas, you should also expect to show proof that you actually intend to live there.

Because visa documents and application procedures can differ by country, always check the requirements of the specific Korean embassy, consulate, or immigration office that will process your application.

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Digital Nomad Visa FAQ

Primary official sources used for this guide: Korea Immigration Service / Ministry of Justice, Korean embassies and consulates, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, National Health Insurance Service, and National Tax Service.

Information last verified: September 2026.

I see it called a Workation Visa and a Digital Nomad Visa. What’s the official name?

The official immigration status is the Workation Visa (F-1-D). “Digital Nomad Visa” is the name most commonly used in English when referring to the program.

Can I work in Korea with a Digital Nomad Visa?

You can continue working remotely for your overseas employer or overseas business while living in Korea. However, the F-1-D does not give you general permission to be hired by a Korean company or engage in local profit-making activities. If you want to work for a Korean employer or operate a Korean business, you may need a different visa status.

Can freelancers apply?

The F-1-D is intended for people who are employed by an overseas company or who own/operate an overseas business. Freelancers who do not have an overseas employer or business affiliation should not assume that they are eligible. For example, the Korean Embassy in Singapore explicitly states that freelancers are not eligible.

If you are self-employed through a registered overseas business, you may fall under the overseas business owner category. Check with the office processing your application if your business structure is not straightforward.

What is the minimum income required?

There is no longer one minimum income for everyone.

For the current F-1-D standard, Korean consular guidance uses a GNI benchmark of KRW 52,416,000.

Your required annual income depends on your age and where you plan to live:

For reference, that works out to approximately:

• 1× GNI: KRW 4.368 million/month
• 1.5× GNI: KRW 6.552 million/month
• 2× GNI: KRW 8.736 million/month

These monthly figures are only simple equivalents. The visa itself is assessed using the annual income requirement and supporting financial documents. The GNI benchmark is updated periodically, so check the latest official figure when you apply.

What counts as a “regional area”?

The Seoul Metropolitan Area generally includes Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province. The lower income threshold applies to people intending to live outside the Seoul Metropolitan Area or in an officially designated population-declining or at-risk area.

If you apply using the reduced regional threshold, you should expect to provide proof that you intend to live in a qualifying area, such as an accommodation booking or lease. Regional designations can change, so check the latest official information when you apply.

Is the minimum income calculated before or after tax?

Official Korean guidance is currently not fully consistent on this point. Some official sources use gross income before tax, while others refer to income after tax deductions.

If your income is close to the threshold, confirm how it will be calculated with the Korean embassy, consulate, or immigration office handling your application.

Can my family come with me?

Yes. The main applicant can generally be accompanied by their legal spouse and minor children. Current official F-1-D guidance uses the term “minor children.” If your child is in their late teens, we recommend confirming the exact age requirement with the Korean embassy, consulate, or immigration office handling the application.

The income requirement is higher when family members accompany the main applicant:

• Seoul Metropolitan Area: 2× GNI
• Qualifying regional area: 1.5× GNI

These thresholds apply regardless of the main applicant’s age.

Can my spouse and I combine our incomes to meet the requirement?

Current public F-1-D guidance does not clearly state that spouses can combine their incomes to meet the threshold. We therefore recommend not assuming that combined household income will qualify. If you need to rely on both incomes, confirm this with the office processing your application before applying.

Which documents are needed?

Exact requirements differ between Korean embassies and immigration offices, so always check the current checklist where you will actually apply.

Commonly requested documents include:

• Visa application form
• Passport and passport photo
• Proof of overseas employment or overseas business ownership
• Proof of at least one year of relevant work experience
• Proof that you can work remotely from Korea
• Payslips and/or other income documents
• Bank statements
• Tax or income certificates
• Criminal-record certificate
• Proof of private medical insurance
• Address or accommodation information in Korea
• Proof of qualifying regional accommodation if using the reduced regional threshold
• Marriage or birth certificates if applying with family

Some documents may require an apostille, consular authentication, translation, or notarization, depending on where they were issued and where you apply. Criminal-record requirements can also depend on your travel and residence history. For example, some Korean embassies and consulates request certificates from additional countries where you have lived for an extended period. Because these details vary, use your embassy’s current checklist rather than relying solely on a checklist from another applicant or country.

What medical insurance do I need?

For the F-1-D application, you need private medical insurance with at least KRW 100 million in coverage for medical treatment and repatriation during your stay in Korea. The exact documents required to prove coverage can vary by embassy. Separately, foreign residents who stay in Korea for more than six months are generally subject to Korea’s National Health Insurance system, although exemptions may be possible in certain circumstances if you already have equivalent coverage. For questions about National Health Insurance after moving to Korea, check with the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS).

Can I apply for the visa if I am currently in Korea?

In some cases, yes. Current official guidance states that foreigners already in Korea under K-ETA or certain short-term statuses such as B-1, B-2, or C-3 may be able to change their status to F-1-D at a local immigration office if they meet the requirements. Because your eligibility can depend on your current immigration status and individual circumstances, contact the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 or your local immigration office before applying.

Do you get a Residence Card with the visa?

Yes. If you live in Korea long term under F-1-D, you need to complete foreign-resident registration and obtain a Residence Card. You may still hear people call it an ARC (Alien Registration Card), which was the previous commonly used English name.

Foreign residents generally need to complete registration within 90 days of arrival. Having a Residence Card makes long-term life in Korea much easier. It is commonly used for things such as banking, phone plans, online identity verification, and signing up for Korean services. If you’re preparing to move, check out our Moving to Korea: Complete Guide for more information about setting up your life here.

How long can I stay, and how do I renew the visa?

The F-1-D is generally granted for up to one year initially. You can apply for an extension in Korea one year at a time, for a maximum total stay of three years. Extensions are handled by your local immigration office. You should expect to show that you still meet the F-1-D requirements, such as your overseas employment or business status, income, accommodation, and insurance. Check the current extension checklist with HiKorea or your immigration office before your period of stay expires.

How long does the application take?

There is no single processing time that applies everywhere. For example, some Korean embassies and consulates currently quote around two weeks, but processing can take longer if additional verification or documents are required. Check the estimated processing time published by the embassy or consulate where you will actually apply. Visa fees can also vary depending on your nationality and place of application.

Which nationalities are eligible?

The F-1-D is not structured like Korea’s Working Holiday Visa, which is based on agreements with a specific list of countries. However, this does not mean you can necessarily apply at any Korean embassy. Individual embassies and consulates have jurisdiction rules, and some only accept applications from citizens or established residents of the country they serve. Check which Korean embassies and consulates has jurisdiction over you before preparing your application.

Will I have to pay taxes in Korea?

Possibly, but your visa status and tax status are separate questions.

Your Korean tax obligations can depend on factors such as:

• How long you stay in Korea
• Whether you are considered a Korean tax resident
• The type and source of your income
• Where the income is paid or remitted
• Your previous period of residence in Korea
• Whether a tax treaty applies between Korea and another country

Because international remote-work arrangements can involve more than one tax jurisdiction, we do not recommend using a visa guide to determine your individual tax liability. For your specific situation, contact the Korean National Tax Service (NTS) or a qualified tax professional familiar with international taxation.

Do I need a Digital Nomad Visa just to come to Korea?

Not necessarily. Short-term entry requirements depend on your nationality, purpose of travel, and how long you plan to stay. The F-1-D is designed for eligible remote workers who want a long-term residence status in Korea while continuing their overseas work. Its main advantages include being able to stay for up to three years, obtain a Residence Card, arrange longer-term accommodation, and set up everyday services more easily.

Visa-free entry, K-ETA, and short-term visitor visas are separate immigration categories and should not automatically be treated as equivalent to F-1-D. If remote work will be a significant purpose of your stay, check the appropriate immigration status before traveling.

Moving to Korea after getting the visa?

Getting your visa is only the first step. Once you arrive, you’ll need to think about your Residence Card, Korean phone number, bank account, housing, health insurance, and everyday Korean services.

Check out our Moving to Korea: Complete Guide for practical information on getting settled. And if you want to meet other remote workers already living in Korea, join the Digital Nomads Korea community.

Official Sources & Disclaimer

We take the accuracy of this page seriously.

This guide is based primarily on information published by:

• Korea Immigration Service / Ministry of Justice
• Korean embassies and consulates
• Ministry of the Interior and Safety
• National Health Insurance Service
• National Tax Service

Last verified: September 2026.

Visa rules, annual GNI thresholds, regional designations, and individual embassy procedures can change. Korean embassies and consulates may also request different supporting documents depending on where you apply.

Always confirm your individual eligibility, required documents, and current income threshold with the Korean embassy, consulate, or immigration office that will actually process your application before making financial, accommodation, or travel commitments.

If you notice an official rule change or receive materially different guidance from a Korean immigration authority, please let Digital Nomads Korea know so we can review and update this guide.