South Korea has officially introduced its permanent F-1-D “Workation” (Digital Nomad) visa, allowing eligible remote workers to live, travel, and work remotely from the country for up to three years.
The visa is aimed at professionals employed by overseas companies or those running businesses registered outside South Korea. Holders are not permitted to take up local employment or engage in profit-making activities within the country.
Eligibility
- Must be 18 or older with at least 1 year of work experience in your current remote industry.
- Must be employed by or own a business registered outside South Korea. Local employment/profit-making is restricted.
- Applicants aged 35 and above, or those living in the Greater Seoul area, including Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province, must meet an income threshold of approximately twice South Korea’s Gross National Income (GNI) per capita. Applicants aged 18 to 34 residing outside Greater Seoul are subject to a reduced requirement of one times the GNI per capita.
- Mandatory private medical insurance covering at least KRW 100 million for treatment and repatriation.
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How to Apply
Applications can be submitted through South Korean embassies or consulates in the applicant’s home country, or by eligible visitors already in South Korea seeking to change their visa status.
Required documents include a valid passport, proof of overseas employment or business ownership, recent salary or bank statements, an apostilled criminal background check, and evidence of accommodation in South Korea.
The visa also allows spouses and minor children to accompany the primary applicant under the same F-1-D status. However, family members cannot combine their incomes to satisfy the financial eligibility requirements.
