South Korea launches digital nomad visa

A remote-work visa with easier rules

South Korea has officially opened its digital nomad visa to applicants under significantly easier eligibility rules than those used during the program’s pilot phase. The F-1-D visa, informally called the “workation” visa, launched on June 30, 2026, and targets foreign nationals working remotely for companies based outside Korea.

Unlike a standard Korean work visa, the F-1-D does not require employment by a Korean company. It is aimed at remote workers earning income from overseas employers or clients.

What changed from the pilot

The visa followed a trial that ran from January 2024 through May 2026. During that period, applicants typically needed earnings equal to two times South Korea’s previous-year GNI per capita, a high threshold that limited access.

The revised rules lower that threshold for specific groups. Applicants aged 18 to 34 who commit to living outside Greater Seoul (Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province) now need earnings equal to one times the previous-year GNI per capita. South Korea’s 2025 GNI per capita was $36,963.

Income requirements also vary by settlement location, including designated population-declining regions, encouraging remote workers to settle beyond the capital.

Longer stays now possible

The program extended the maximum stay from two years under the pilot cap to three years, giving digital nomads more time to establish themselves.

How the government sees it

Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho said the program aims to “expand opportunities for creative talent from around the world” and to “establish a settlement model that encourages highly skilled individuals to experience the country’s appeal.”

More on entry documents is available on the South Korea destination hub.