How to Get Korea's Digital Nomad Visa (F-1-D)
Korea launched its digital nomad visa (F-1-D, officially called the '워케이션 비자') in May 2025 under the F-1 (visit-stay) category. It lets foreign remote workers and overseas business owners legally reside in Korea, granted 1 year at a time and renewable up to 3 years total, while continuing to work for their overseas employer. A July 2026 update changed the income requirement from a flat threshold to one tiered by age and region — see below. This guide explains the requirements and how to apply.
Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed July 2026
Review & source basis
Reviewed against
James Chae, 행정사 (Korean Licensed Administrative Attorney). License No. 220-06-06463 · 대한행정사회 (Korean Administrative Agents Association). Reviewed against the HiKorea 사증·체류업무 자격별 안내 매뉴얼 and cross-checked with Ministry of Justice issuances.
Last reviewed
July 14, 2026
Source references
Filing caution
Requirements can change by nationality, local immigration office, and filing channel. Confirm exact requirements with HiKorea, the responsible Korean consulate, or a licensed immigration specialist before filing.
What is the F-1-D visa?
The F-1-D is a sub-category of the F-1 (방문동거, visit-stay) visa. It is not a work visa — you cannot work for Korean companies, hire Korean employees, or generate income from Korean sources on this status. The visa covers remote work performed for overseas employers or self-employed ownership of an overseas business.
Key eligibility requirements
You must: (1) be an owner of an overseas business OR an employee of an overseas company, and able to perform your work remotely; (2) have at least 1 year of work experience in the same industry; (3) be 18 years old or older (accompanying children are exempt from the age requirement); (4) meet the income threshold that applies to your age and where you'll live in Korea (see below — this changed in July 2026 from a flat requirement to one tiered by age and region); and (5) have personal health insurance with at least ₩100M in coverage including Korean hospital treatment and medical repatriation to your home country.
Step-by-step process
Check your income against the GNI threshold
As of a July 2026 rule change, the income bar is tiered by age and by where in Korea you'll be living — it's no longer a flat multiple for everyone:
| Age | Capital region (Seoul/Incheon/Gyeonggi) | Outside capital region (incl. population-decline areas) |
|---|---|---|
| 18–34 | 1.5× GNI | 1× GNI |
| 35+ | 2× GNI | 1.5× GNI |
If you're bringing a spouse or minor children, the bar rises to 2× GNI (capital region) or 1.5× GNI (outside it), regardless of your age. GNI is the prior year's per-capita Gross National Income as announced by the Bank of Korea — confirm the current figure before calculating your exact threshold. If you qualify at a lower non-capital-region rate but later move to the capital region, you get a 6-month grace period to either meet the higher threshold or move back. Prepare recent pay stubs, salary bank transfers, or account balance statements as income proof.
Obtain the required health insurance
Purchase international travel/health insurance that covers: (1) medical treatment at Korean hospitals, and (2) medical evacuation and repatriation back to your home country. The total insured amount must be at least ₩100,000,000 (₩100M, approximately USD $75,000). Keep your insurance certificate (보험증권) — you will need it for the application.
Prepare your employment documents
If employed: get a certificate of employment from your overseas employer confirming your position, start date, and remote work capability. The document must show at least 1 year in the same industry. If self-employed: prepare your overseas business registration. Have income documents ready: recent pay stubs, bank statements, or an accountant's letter confirming annual income.
Apply at a Korean consulate (from abroad) or immigration office (in Korea)
From abroad: apply at the Korean embassy or consulate in your country with the full document set. In Korea: if you are on a short-term visa (B-1, B-2, C-3), you can apply for a status change (체류자격변경허가) at your local immigration office or Hi Korea online. You cannot apply from within Korea on a long-term visa of a different type without first leaving and re-entering.
Register as a foreign resident
After approval, register at the immigration office to receive your Alien Registration Card (ARC). Registration is required if your authorized stay exceeds 90 days.
Tips from 행정사s
Living outside the Seoul/Incheon/Gyeonggi capital region — especially in a population-decline-designated area — meaningfully lowers your required income (as low as 1× GNI for applicants under 35, versus up to 2× GNI in the capital region). Weigh this against your actual living-cost needs before choosing where to base yourself.
The income requirement is checked in KRW at current exchange rates — if your income is in USD or EUR, currency fluctuations could affect eligibility. Prepare a recent bank statement rather than only a salary letter.
The ₩100M insurance requirement includes evacuation/repatriation — standard travel insurance or most Korean national health insurance plans do not meet this threshold. Look for international plans that specifically include medical evacuation.
The 1-year same-industry requirement means continuous employment in the same sector, not necessarily the same company. A career change 6 months ago could affect eligibility.
Family members (spouse and children) can be included on the same application. Bring marriage certificates and birth certificates for children, all translated into Korean if not in English or Korean.
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Key Immigration Terms
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Visa Process
Alien Registration Card (ARC)
The Alien Registration Card (ARC) is the official ID card issued to foreigners staying in South Korea for 91 days or longer. It is required to open a bank account, sign a phone contract, and access most public services.
Visa Process
HiKorea
How to use HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr) — Korea's official immigration portal for visa extensions, status changes, and ARC renewal. Processing time: 3-10 business days.
Visa Process
Visa Extension (Stay Period Extension)
A visa extension — officially called a 'stay period extension' (체류기간 연장) in Korean immigration law — allows a foreigner to legally remain in Korea beyond the expiry date on their current visa or ARC without leaving the country.
Visa Process
Status of Sojourn Change (체류자격 변경)
A status of sojourn change allows a foreigner already in South Korea to switch from one visa category to another without leaving the country — for example, from a D-2 student visa to an E-7 skilled worker visa upon graduation and employment.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work for Korean clients as a freelancer on the F-1-D visa?
No. The F-1-D visa is specifically for remote work for overseas employers or operating an overseas business. Accepting contracts from Korean companies or earning income from Korean sources is not permitted under F-1-D status. That would require a work visa such as E-7.
What income does the visa actually require?
Since a July 2026 update, it depends on your age and where you'll live: ages 18–34 need 1.5× the prior year's per-capita GNI in the Seoul/Incheon/Gyeonggi capital region or 1× GNI outside it; age 35+ need 2× GNI in the capital region or 1.5× GNI outside it. Bringing a spouse or minor children raises the bar to 2× GNI (capital region) or 1.5× GNI (outside it) regardless of age. GNI is published annually by the Bank of Korea — confirm the current figure before applying.
Can I extend the F-1-D beyond one year?
Yes, up to 3 years total, granted 1 year at a time — for those who continue to maintain an active overseas employment contract and still meet all eligibility requirements (income, insurance, industry tenure).
What if I qualified at the lower non-capital-region income rate and then want to move to Seoul?
You get a 6-month grace period to either meet the higher capital-region income threshold or move back outside the capital region. Immigration checks that you actually lived at the address you claimed when you obtained the reduced rate, so don't claim a non-capital-region address you don't intend to use.
Does the F-1-D lead to permanent residency?
Not directly. The F-1-D is a temporary stay visa. However, time spent on F-1-D may count toward the continuous legal residence needed for F-2 or F-5 applications if you later transition to a qualifying long-term status. Consult an 행정사 for your specific situation.