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Visa Comparison — South Korea
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.
Yes — you must already be employed by a foreign (non-Korean) company
| Income requirement | None — you are job-seeking | Annual income of USD $84,000 or more (from the foreign employer) |
| Can I work for a Korean company? | No — D-10 prohibits commercial employment while job-seeking | No — you may only work remotely for your existing non-Korean employer |
| Can I work remotely for a foreign employer? | Not authorized — D-10 is strictly for job-seeking activities in Korea | ✓ Yes — this is the entire point of F-1-D |
| Maximum stay | D-10-1: 6 months (extendable once to 1 year maximum); D-10-T: up to 2 years | 1 year, renewable once for a total of 2 years |
| Health insurance required? | Enroll in National Health Insurance (NHIS) as a long-term resident | Must hold comprehensive private health insurance covering Korea for the full stay |
| Path to Korean employment | ✓ | No direct path — to work for a Korean company, you must change to an appropriate work visa separately |
| Bring family? | F-3 dependent visa possible if holder's status qualifies | ✓ |
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
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.
Can I do freelance work for foreign clients on a D-10 visa?
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?
After F-1-D ends, can I switch to a Korean work visa without leaving?
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Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed April 2026
