South Korea

Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa

South Korea's F-1-D Workation Visa is a digital nomad visa that allows foreign nationals employed by or operating businesses outside South Korea to reside in the country while working remotely. Designated as residence status F-1-D under the broader F-1 (Visiting/Family Stay) category, the program is administered by the Ministry of Justice through the Korea Immigration Service. It was launched as a pilot program on 1 January 2024 and has since been extended, with consulates indicating it will continue through at least 31 December 2026 and possibly indefinitely. The visa targets remote workers and overseas business owners who earn a high income from foreign sources and wish to experience life in South Korea.

• Age 18 or older
• Employed by a foreign company or own an overseas business with remote work capability
• At least 1 year of work experience in the same industry
• Gross annual income of at least 2x South Korea's per capita GNI (approximately USD 73,000/year for 2025-2026)
• Valid passport with 6+ months validity
• Criminal background check from home country with apostille, issued within 6 months
• Private medical insurance with minimum coverage of KRW 100,000,000 (~USD 76,000) for hospital treatment and medical repatriation
• Open to all nationalities; dual Korean citizens are ineligible

• Completed visa application form (Form 17)
• Valid passport and copy
• Passport-size colour photograph (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, white background, taken within 6 months)
• Employment verification letter confirming remote work capability, 1+ year tenure, and intended stay of 90+ days (issued within 1 month of application)
• At least 2 of the following income documents: 3 months of pay stubs, 3 months of bank statements, 3 months of account transaction records, or 2 years of tax returns (all issued within 6 months)
• Criminal background check with apostille (issued within 6 months)
• Medical insurance certificate meeting the KRW 100 million coverage threshold
• Family relationship documents if applicable (marriage/birth certificates with English translations and apostille)

The visa is valid for 1 year from the date of entry, with multiple entries permitted. Holders may apply for a 1-year extension at a regional immigration office in Korea before the original visa expires, bringing the maximum total stay to 2 years. Full documentation must be resubmitted for the extension. If employment ends after arrival, the extension is not available and the holder must depart by the expiration date.

Legal spouses and unmarried children under 18 may accompany the primary applicant on the same F-1-D visa category. Each family member requires a separate application, their own passport, photograph, and individual medical insurance meeting the KRW 100 million coverage threshold. Family relationships must be proven through official marriage certificates (for spouses) or birth certificates (for children), with notarised English translations and apostille authentication. Working spouses must also provide a company letter from their employer, and school-age children must provide a school enrolment letter. No additional income requirement applies to dependants. Children under 14 are exempt from the criminal background check. Dependants are subject to the same employment restrictions as the primary holder.

Employment in South Korea and profit-making activities within the country are strictly prohibited. Holders may only work remotely for overseas employers or their own overseas businesses. Violations result in punishment under the Immigration Control Act, which may include fines, detention, and deportation.

Tax liability is determined by physical presence, not visa type. Individuals present in Korea for 183 or more days in a tax year are classified as tax residents. Foreign tax residents whose cumulative period of residence in Korea is five years or less within the preceding ten-year period are taxed only on Korean-sourced income and on foreign income paid in or remitted to Korea. Bilateral double taxation avoidance agreements may apply.

Applications must be submitted at the Korean embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over the applicant's place of residence. Many consulates require an appointment booked in advance; some also accept mail-in applications. Processing takes approximately 10 to 15 days at most consulates, though some report 3 to 4 weeks. No expedited processing is available. The visa is issued electronically as a multiple-entry visa with no physical sticker in the passport. Application fees vary by nationality: USD 45 for US citizens, CAD 121.50 for Canadian applicants, and standard Korean visa rates for other nationalities.

Foreign nationals already in South Korea on short-term visas (B-1, B-2, or C-3) may apply for a status change to F-1-D at a regional immigration office without needing to leave the country.

Holders intending to stay for more than 91 days must apply for Foreigner Registration at a local immigration office within 90 days of arrival. Upon registration, the holder receives an Alien Registration Card (ARC), which enables access to Korean banking services, mobile phone subscriptions, delivery services, and a faster immigration lane at airports. Any change of address must be reported within 14 days. Foreigners staying more than 6 months become subject to mandatory enrollment in Korea's National Health Insurance system.

The F-1-D visa does not lead to permanent residency or citizenship. The maximum stay is 2 years, and time on this visa does not count toward permanent residence eligibility.

Links

• https://www.immigration.go.kr/bbs/immigration/47/580178/artclView.do
• https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/us-losangeles-en/brd/m_26385/view.do?seq=12
• https://www.mofa.go.kr/us-seattle-en/brd/m_23042/view.do?seq=41
• https://www.moj.go.kr/moj/221/subview.do

Other Digital Nomad Visas in Asia