Visa Comparison — South Korea

D-10 vs F-1-D Visa — Job Seeker or Digital Nomad: Which One Do You Need?

The and both allow foreign nationals to live in Korea without a Korean employer — but for opposite reasons. D-10 is for people trying TO find work in Korea. F-1-D is for people who already HAVE work, just for a company based outside Korea. Choosing the wrong one is a common and avoidable mistake.

D-10 vs F-1-D — side-by-side comparison

	D-10	F-1-D
Who it's for	Graduates and former E-visa holders who want to find employment in Korea	Remote workers employed by a company based OUTSIDE Korea, earning their salary abroad
Do I need a job already?	No — you are looking for one

Inquiry K-VISA AI

Yes — you must already be employed by a foreign (non-Korean) company

Who it's for

D-10

Graduates and former E-visa holders who want to find employment in Korea

F-1-D

Remote workers employed by a company based OUTSIDE Korea, earning their salary abroad

Do I need a job already?

D-10

No — you are looking for one

F-1-D

Yes — you must already be employed by a foreign (non-Korean) company

Income requirement

D-10

None — you are job-seeking

F-1-D

Annual income of USD $84,000 or more (from the foreign employer)

Can I work for a Korean company?

D-10

No — D-10 prohibits commercial employment while job-seeking

F-1-D

No — you may only work remotely for your existing non-Korean employer

Can I work remotely for a foreign employer?

D-10

Not authorized — is strictly for job-seeking activities in Korea

F-1-D

Yes — this is the entire point of

Maximum stay

D-10

D-10-1: 6 months (extendable once to 1 year maximum); D-10-T: up to 2 years

F-1-D

1 year, renewable once for a total of 2 years

Health insurance required?

D-10

Enroll in National Health Insurance (NHIS) as a long-term resident

F-1-D

Must hold comprehensive private health insurance covering Korea for the full stay

Path to Korean employment

D-10

Yes — when you receive a job offer, change status to E-series visa (, , etc.)

F-1-D

No direct path — to work for a Korean company, you must change to an appropriate work visa separately

Bring family?

D-10

dependent visa possible if holder's status qualifies

F-1-D

dependent visa for spouse and children explicitly authorized for holders

Which should you choose?

D-10is right for you if…

You want to find employment in Korea and don't have a job yet
You recently graduated from a Korean or foreign university and want to job-hunt in Korea
You previously held an E-series work visa and are between jobs
Your annual income from a foreign employer is below $84,000

F-1-Dis right for you if…

You already work remotely for a company based outside Korea and earn $84,000+/year
You want to live in Korea for up to 2 years while maintaining your current job
You don't want to go through Korean job market competition — you want to keep your existing career
You have dependents who want to join you in Korea

Typical path:

D-10-1 leads naturally to an E-series work visa (most commonly ) when a job offer is secured — change of status can be done inside Korea. holders who want to eventually work for Korean companies must separately apply for an appropriate work visa after finding an employer; F-1-D itself does not create a direct pathway to Korean employment.

Frequently asked questions

Can I do freelance work for foreign clients on a D-10 visa?

No. D-10 prohibits commercial work activity. Freelancing or remote work for foreign clients while physically in Korea on D-10 is not authorized. If you are freelancing for foreign clients, F-1-D (Digital Nomad) is the correct visa — provided your income meets the $84,000 threshold.

What qualifies as the $84,000 income for F-1-D?

The income requirement is based on the latest version of the F-1-D guidelines. You must demonstrate annual income of at least USD $84,000 (or equivalent) from a foreign employer. Documentation includes employment contract, recent payslips, and a bank statement showing salary deposits. Self-employed individuals with equivalent income may also qualify — consult the Korean consulate for your specific situation.

Can I work for a Korean startup on F-1-D if they pay in USD?

No. F-1-D prohibits employment for any Korean entity regardless of the currency of payment. If your employer is registered in Korea or primarily operates in Korea, you need a Korean work visa (E-7 or similar), not F-1-D.

After F-1-D ends, can I switch to a Korean work visa without leaving?

Yes — status changes from F-1-D to work visas (E-7, etc.) can be processed inside Korea, provided you have a valid job offer from a Korean employer and meet all requirements for the target visa. No need to leave Korea to make this change.