Residence history is not clean enough
Long-term routes rely on lawful stay, continuity, address history, and compliance over time.
Manual basis: Residency-status manuals review stay history, lawful status, and maintenance conditions.
Residency Visa
Korea F-1-D VisaDigital Nomad Visa
Live and work remotely in Korea for a foreign employer — Korea's workation visa.
Reviewed July 2026 — sourced from official Korean government portals Learn how we verify accuracy
Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Korean Licensed Administrative Attorney (행정사)Reg. No. 220-06-06463 · 대한행정사회Licensed Realtor · Korea
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed July 2026
Reviewed by licensed immigration attorneys on Expert Sapiens
Licensed Immigration AttorneysAILA Members
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.
Stay Duration
1 year at a time, renewable for holders who maintain their overseas employment contract, up to 3 years total
Processing
1–3 weeks
Visa Fee
$74.63
Fees and processing times sourced from HiKorea & Ministry of Justice. Figures are updated periodically but may change — verify before submitting.
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Eligibility fit
I meet the core F-1-D requirements and understand any sponsor, degree, income, family, or experience conditions that apply.
Overview
The F-1-D visa (디지털노마드/워케이션 비자) was introduced in May 2025 under the F-1 (visit-stay) category. It allows foreign remote workers and overseas business owners to legally reside in Korea while continuing to work for their non-Korean employer or operating their overseas business. It does not permit working for Korean companies.
Who is the F-1-D visa for?
Foreign nationals who work remotely for an overseas company or own an overseas business and wish to live in Korea on a medium-term basis. Family members can accompany the primary visa holder. This visa does NOT allow you to be employed by Korean companies.
Eligibility requirements
Owner of an overseas business OR employee of an overseas company with remote-work capability
At least 1 year of work experience in the same industry
Age: 18 years or older (accompanying children of family members are exempt from the age requirement)
Annual income threshold, tiered by age and where you'll live (as of a July 2026 update — previously a flat 2× GNI for everyone): applicants aged 18–34 need ≥1.5× the prior year's per-capita GNI in the Seoul/Incheon/Gyeonggi capital region, or ≥1× GNI outside it (including population-decline-designated areas); applicants 35+ need ≥2× GNI in the capital region, or ≥1.5× GNI outside it. Bringing a spouse or minor children along raises the bar to ≥2× GNI if settling in the capital region, or ≥1.5× GNI outside it, regardless of your age.
Personal health insurance with ₩100M+ coverage including hospital treatment and home-country repatriation
No criminal record
Delay and refusal risks
What can go wrong with F-1-D?
Residency-route delays usually come from income, residence history, integration, criminal-record, or prior-status problems.
Income or integration proof is weak
Official tax, income, KIIP/TOPIK, employment, and asset documents are stronger than informal explanations.
Manual basis: Residency manuals reference income, basic-society knowledge, Korean language, and official proof documents.
Prior violations or unresolved compliance issues
Prior overstays, fines, unauthorized work, tax delinquency, or criminal history can trigger closer review even when the basic visa category looks correct.
Manual basis: The stay manuals repeatedly reference status restrictions, law-violation review, criminal-record checks, tax/payment issues, and status-change limits.
Source note
These are practical risk factors for Digital Nomad Visa, not a complete list of legal refusal grounds. Final review can vary by nationality, filing channel, consulate, immigration office, and case facts.
Required documents
- 1.
Visa application form + passport + passport photo + fee
- 2.
Certificate of employment (must demonstrate 1+ year in the same industry) OR business registration for overseas business owners
- 3.
Income proof: pay stubs, bank statements, or account balance certificate
- 4.
Criminal background check
- 5.
Health/medical insurance certificate (보험증권) showing ₩100M+ coverage
- 6.
Family relationship documents (if bringing family members)
How to apply — step by step
- 1
Confirm your eligibility
Verify you have 1+ year with your current employer in the same field, meet the income threshold for your age and intended region of residence (see eligibility above — it ranges from 1× to 2× GNI depending on age, region, and whether you're bringing family), and have or can obtain the required health insurance with at least ₩100M in coverage.
- 2
Obtain health insurance
Purchase international health insurance that includes Korean hospital treatment AND medical evacuation/repatriation to your home country, with total coverage of ₩100M (approx. USD $75,000) or more.
- 3
Apply at a Korean consulate or in Korea
If outside Korea, apply at the Korean embassy or consulate with all required documents. If already in Korea on a short-term visa, apply for status change (체류자격 변경) at the local immigration office.
- 4
Register after arrival
Register at your local immigration office to obtain your Alien Registration Card (ARC). Keep your overseas employment contract current — the extension requires proof the remote work arrangement is still active.
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From Our Experts
Key Immigration Terms
Unfamiliar with a term? Browse the full Korea Visa Glossary
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.
F-1-D visa — frequently asked questions
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