South Korea made its F-1-D digital nomad visa a permanent program on June 30, 2026, after a pilot that began in January 2024. The Ministry of Justice announced the change on July 7, 2026. This guide covers who qualifies, the new income tiers, documents, costs, and the steps to apply. The details were checked on October 24, 2026.
What the F-1-D Visa Is
The F-1-D lets a person live in Korea while working for a company or business outside Korea. People also call it the Workation visa. The Ministry of Justice runs the program, and the visa does not allow work for Korean employers.
- Official name: Digital Nomad (Workation) visa, status code F-1-D.
- Status: Permanent since June 30, 2026. The pilot ran from January 2024.
Ministry data shows 84 percent of holders counted in August 2025 lived in Greater Seoul. The 2026 rules aim to draw remote workers elsewhere, so the income bar is lower outside Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province.
Who Can Apply
Applicants must meet five basic conditions. The program has no nationality restrictions, according to the Korea Herald.
- Age: 18 or older. Dependent children can be younger.
- Overseas employer or business: More than one year in the same industry with a company outside Korea, or ownership of a business registered outside Korea.
- Remote work: The job must be possible to do remotely from Korea. The employer confirms this in a letter.
- Clean record: No criminal record, shown by a police certificate.
- Insurance: Private medical insurance for the whole stay.
Freelancers need extra care. The ministry told the Korea Herald that freelancers qualify only if they run an overseas business or are affiliated with an overseas company. People who do only one-off projects generally would not qualify. The Korean embassy in Singapore goes further and says freelancers are not eligible, so the answer may depend on the embassy that handles the application.
Income Requirements for 2026
The income test uses Korea’s gross national income (GNI) per person for the previous year, as announced by the Bank of Korea. The ministry cites about KRW 52.4 million for 2025. The multiple that applies depends on age and on where the applicant plans to live.
- Aged 18 to 34, living outside Greater Seoul: 1 times GNI, about KRW 52.4 million a year.
- Aged 18 to 34, living in Greater Seoul: 1.5 times GNI, about KRW 78.6 million a year.
- Aged 35 or older, living outside Greater Seoul: 1.5 times GNI, about KRW 78.6 million a year.
- Aged 35 or older, living in Greater Seoul: 2 times GNI, about KRW 104.8 million a year.
Greater Seoul means Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province. Designated population-decline areas inside Greater Seoul can use the lower tier. In monthly terms, the three amounts are about KRW 4.4 million, 6.6 million, and 8.7 million.
Reports convert 1 times GNI to between $35,000 and $40,000, depending on the exchange rate. Two times GNI is therefore about $70,000 to $80,000. Readers comparing programs can see how income requirements differ by country.
Four details change the result for some applicants.
- Family: Only the main applicant’s income counts, and a spouse’s income cannot be added. Korean embassy guidance says applicants with a spouse or children face 2 times GNI in Greater Seoul and 1.5 times elsewhere.
- Proof of location: Applicants claiming a lower tier must show they will live outside Greater Seoul for at least one month. A lease or a booking confirmation for approved lodging works.
- Moving later: A holder who moves into Greater Seoul must meet the higher bar at renewal or move back within six months. Immigration officers may check the actual address.
- Older pages: Some embassy pages still show pilot figures, such as a single 2 times bar. The Seattle consulate page, dated January 2, 2026, is one example.
The lowest tier clearly favors younger applicants outside the capital area. A 40-year-old working from Seoul needs about double the income of a 30-year-old in Busan.
Documents You Need
Document lists differ by embassy, so the list from the embassy that handles the application is the one that counts. The core items match across the Seattle, Singapore, and Philippines pages checked for this guide.
- Application: Visa Application Form No. 17, a passport valid for at least six months, and one photo.
- Employment proof: An employer letter confirming the role, at least one year of work, and permission to work remotely from Korea. Business owners submit business registration papers instead. Seattle wants the letter issued within two weeks, and Singapore allows one month.
- Income proof: Pay slips, bank statements, and tax returns. Seattle asks for three months of bank statements.
- Criminal record: A police certificate from the home country, issued within six months, with an apostille or consular confirmation. Some embassies also ask for certificates from other countries where the applicant lived.
- Insurance: A certificate showing the coverage details.
- Family papers: Marriage and birth certificates for a spouse and children.
- Lodging proof: Needed only when claiming a lower income tier. Flight and hotel bookings are not otherwise required, according to the Singapore embassy.
US applicants should note one Seattle consulate detail. The six-month limit on the FBI check starts on the date the FBI issues it. Ordering the record first leaves time for the apostille.
How to Apply
Most applicants apply at the Korean embassy or consulate in the country where they live. The Singapore embassy, for example, does not accept short-term visitors.
- Work out the income tier from your age and planned city.
- Find the visa page of the embassy that covers your place of residence, and book an appointment if the embassy requires one. Seattle does.
- Collect the documents. Order the criminal record and apostille first, since they depend on outside offices.
- Submit the application and pay the fee.
- Wait for the decision, then download the visa grant notice online if the embassy issues no sticker. The Singapore embassy no longer issues physical stickers.
- Enter Korea and register as a foreigner at the local immigration office within 90 days of arrival.
- Report any change of address within 14 days.
Visitors in Korea on a B-1, B-2, or C-3 status can apply to switch to F-1-D at a local immigration office. The switch is not automatic, so calling the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 first is wise.
Cost and Processing Time
- Application fee: Varies by nationality. The Seattle consulate lists $45 for US citizens, while the Korea Herald reports $90 for the one-year multiple-entry visa. The Philippines embassy lists PHP 4,500.
- Extension fee: KRW 60,000, about $41, per extension, according to the Korea Herald.
- Processing time: The Singapore embassy lists a minimum of one week. The Seattle consulate lists three to four weeks. Extra review can add time.
Fees and times are set embassy by embassy, so a month or more between filing and arrival is a sensible buffer.
Length of Stay, Extensions, and Work Limits
- First visa: One year, with multiple entries.
- Extensions: One year at a time at the local immigration office, up to three years in total from the first entry. Each extension is a new decision, and eligibility is checked again.
- After three years: No further renewal. Holders must leave and apply for a new visa, with no grace period, according to the Korea Herald.
- Work in Korea: Allowed only for overseas employers or clients outside Korea. Taking a Korean job without changing visa could lead to revocation and deportation.
The three-year limit is firm. For how other countries handle renewals, see digital nomad visa renewal and extension rules.
Insurance, Health Coverage, and Tax
- Private insurance: The policy must cover treatment in Korea and return to the home country for the whole stay. The Korea Herald reports a minimum of KRW 100 million. Embassy pages list other amounts, such as 70,000 euros (Seattle) and SGD 150,000 (Singapore), so the figure depends on the embassy. Our guide to health insurance plans for digital nomads lists providers to compare.
- National Health Insurance: The Singapore embassy says F-1-D holders who live in Korea for more than six months must join the national plan. Premiums follow the same rules as for Koreans, with a minimum equal to the average premium, which was KRW 150,990 in 2024. Holders with equal foreign coverage can apply for an exclusion through the National Health Insurance Service.
- Income tax: The Korea Herald reports that foreigners who stay more than 183 days may owe Korean income tax, with possible relief under tax treaties. The Singapore embassy says short-term residents owe tax on foreign income only if it is sent to Korea. US citizens also have home-country duties, covered in how US citizens file taxes while working abroad.
The visa itself is not a tax exemption. This section is general information, not tax advice, and a qualified tax professional can check an individual situation.
Can You Work From Korea Without This Visa?
Many passports can enter Korea without a visa for up to 90 days. The K-ETA is waived through December 31, 2026 for eligible nationalities. Visa-free entry covers tourism and short business visits. It gives no long-term residence, so checking with the embassy before working remotely on a short stay is wise. Our comparison of a digital nomad visa vs tourist visa explains when each one fits.
Who It Fits and Who Should Skip It
The visa fits remote workers with steady overseas income who want a base for a year or more.
Good fit
- Employees or business owners with more than one year in the same field and income at or above their tier.
- Applicants aged 18 to 34 who will live outside Greater Seoul, since they face the lowest bar.
- Couples and families, since a spouse and minor children can join, though the higher bar applies.
Better to skip
- Freelancers with informal or one-off clients.
- Anyone below the income tier for their age and city.
- People who plan to take Korean clients or jobs.
- Nomads who prefer to move often, since the visa involves foreigner registration and a registered address.
Korea is on UTC+9 all year. A 9:00 start in London is 17:00 or 18:00 in Seoul, and a 9:00 start in New York is 22:00 or 23:00.
Remote workers below the income bar may compare Japan’s digital nomad visa, Malaysia’s DE Rantau pass, or Taiwan’s nomad visa. Families can also see our list of digital nomad visas with family provisions.
Official Sources
- Korean embassy and consulate visa pages: Seattle (January 2, 2026), Philippines (July 9, 2026), and Singapore.
- Korea Visa Portal (visa.go.kr) and HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr), the government sites for visa and immigration services.
- Ministry of Justice statements of July 2026, as reported by the Korea Herald (July 7, July 10, July 29) and an EY Global Immigration Alert.
Plan Your Trip to Korea
The F-1-D visa now gives eligible remote workers up to three years in Korea. If your income tier fits, pick a city and a landing date. Search flights to Seoul or Busan on FlyBibe and book once the visa timeline is clear.
Note: Immigration and tax rules change. This article reflects information researched on October 24, 2026. Confirm current requirements with the Korean embassy or consulate that handles your application, or with a qualified immigration or tax professional, before making plans. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.