South Korea’s Digital Nomad (Workation) Visa
IMPORTANT UPDATE (July 7, 2026)
South Korea Makes Digital Nomad Visa Permanent: Lower Income Bar, Longer Stays
Ministry of Justice press release, July 7, 2026
- Overview: The Ministry of Justice (Minister Jeong Seong-ho) announced that the Digital Nomad (Workation) visa, piloted since 2024, becomes a permanent, formal visa category starting June 30, 2026.
- Background: The formal program follows a 2.5-year pilot (Jan 2024–May 2026), refined through consultations with 7 regional governments, the Seoul Tourism Organization (Feb 2026), and a visa/residency policy council (April 2026).
- Pilot program numbers:
- 743 foreigners received Digital Nomad visas during the pilot period
- As of May 2026, 398 digital nomads were registered residents
- 70% (278) hold OECD-country nationality
- 85% (340) reside in the greater Seoul metro area (Seoul/Gyeonggi/Incheon)
- By age: 52% in their 30s, 19% in their 40s
- Key Change #1 — Lower income threshold for young/regional applicants:
- Previously: flat requirement of 2x per-capita GNI (₩52.41 million for 2025) regardless of age or location
- Now: applicants who are younger and/or based outside the greater Seoul area (or in population-decline regions) qualify for a reduced threshold of 1x–2x GNI
- Example: applicants aged 18–34 doing “workation” outside the Seoul metro area now only need 1x GNI
- Detailed income brackets (2025 GNI basis):
- Ages 18–34: 1.5x GNI (~₩78.62M) in Seoul metro area / 1x GNI (~₩52.41M) outside it
- Age 35+: 2x GNI (~₩104.83M) in Seoul metro area / 1.5x GNI (~₩78.62M) outside it
- If bringing family (spouse/minor children) to the Seoul metro area: flat 2x GNI regardless of age; 1.5x GNI if outside the metro area
- Key Change #2 — Longer maximum stay:
- Previously: renewable annually up to a 2-year maximum
- Now: renewable annually up to a 3-year maximum
- Rationale cited: encouraging skilled foreign talent to experience Korea long enough to consider settling permanently, and boosting local consumption/spending
- Comparative note: of the 38 OECD members, at least 8 operate a digital nomad visa; Germany, Spain, and Greece already allow up to 3 years
- Ministerial statement: Minister Jeong framed the reform as going beyond simple “vacation-and-work” tourism, aiming to give “the world’s creative talent” broader opportunity to experience Korea, with a goal of building a model for voluntary long-term settlement of skilled foreign talent.
- Visa basics (Annex – F-1-D):
- Eligible applicants: Foreign employees of overseas companies who can work remotely, with 1+ year of tenure in the same industry, plus accompanying family (spouse, minor children); minimum age 18 (exception for accompanying minors)
- Health insurance: Mandatory private medical insurance with minimum ₩100 million coverage for treatment and repatriation
- Required documents: Visa application form, passport, photo, fee; employment/salary/bank statements as income proof; criminal record certificate; insurance certificate; family relationship documents (if applicable); proof of regional residence (lease agreement of 1+ month, workation facility/accommodation booking) if claiming the reduced regional rate
- Stay conditions: 1 year granted upon alien registration, renewable annually up to 3 years total; no work/profit-making activity permitted
- Status change: Holders of short-term tourist visas (B-1, B-2, C-3) may switch to F-1-D status if they meet the requirements
1. Overview
Korea does have a visa program for digital nomads. Since January 1, 2024, the Ministry of Justice has been running a (temporary) pilot program for a Digital Nomad (Workation) visa, which allows high-income foreign nationals to combine tourism with remote work while residing long-term in Korea (Seoul Administrative Court, Judgment of Oct. 25, 2024, Case No. 2024Gudan57630).
2. Legal Basis
This is a type of long-term residence status established under Article 10-2(1)(2) of the Immigration Control Act, with status code F-1-D (Workation). The scope of a foreign national’s residence status and permitted activities is prescribed by Presidential Decree (Immigration Control Act, Art. 10-2(2)).
3. Issuance Requirements
To be issued a Digital Nomad (Workation) visa, an applicant must satisfy all of the following requirements (Seoul Administrative Court, Judgment of Oct. 25, 2024, Case No. 2024Gudan57630; Seoul High Court, Judgment of Sept. 26, 2025, Case No. 2024Nu67131).
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Employment requirement | Currently employed by a foreign company, in a position where remote work is possible |
| Work experience | At least one year of experience in the same field |
| Income requirement | Annual income of at least twice the prior year’s per-capita Gross National Income (GNI) as published by the Bank of Korea |
| Core principle | No domestic employment activity permitted (engaging in for-profit activity within Korea is prohibited) |
4. Period of Stay
- Base period of stay: One year from the date of entry, upon completing alien registration
- Extension: A one-year extension is available, allowing for a maximum stay of two years (Seoul High Court, Judgment of Sept. 26, 2025, Case No. 2024Nu67131)
5. Eligibility for Status Change
A person who enters Korea on a short-term tourist visa (B-1, B-2, or C-3) may change their status to a Digital Nomad (Workation) visa if they satisfy the above requirements (Seoul High Court, Judgment of Sept. 26, 2025, Case No. 2024Nu67131). To change status, the applicant must first obtain permission for a change of residence status from the Minister of Justice, pursuant to Article 24(1) of the Immigration Control Act (Immigration Control Act, Art. 24(1)).
6. Key Points to Note
A. Prohibition on Domestic Employment Activity
The central principle of this visa is that employment or for-profit activity within Korea is restricted. In other words, only remote work performed for an employer based abroad is permitted; taking a job with a Korean company or engaging in for-profit activity within Korea is not allowed (Seoul Administrative Court, Judgment of Oct. 25, 2024, Case No. 2024Gudan57630).
B. Administrative Discretion Regarding Foreign Nationals’ Stay
The courts have held that matters concerning a foreign national’s stay in Korea are essential to the exercise of state sovereignty and must be strictly managed, with emphasis placed on the public interest in safeguarding the nation’s interests and security (Seoul Administrative Court, Judgment of Oct. 25, 2024, Case No. 2024Gudan57630). Accordingly, the Ministry of Justice retains considerable discretion in reviewing whether requirements are met, and strictly scrutinizes matters such as the credibility of submitted documents.
C. Review Criteria Seen in Actual Denial Cases
Grounds for denial identified in court rulings include: ① inconsistent monthly salary figures in income-verification documents; ② insufficient reliability of submitted documents; ③ residence in the relevant country under a visitor visa rather than a work visa; and ④ doubts as to the authenticity of the employment contract, among others (Seoul Administrative Court, Judgment of Oct. 25, 2024, Case No. 2024Gudan57630; Seoul High Court, Judgment of Sept. 26, 2025, Case No. 2024Nu67131).
7. Additional Notes
As this visa is part of a temporary pilot program, the requirements and procedures are subject to future change or discontinuation. Readers are advised to check the Ministry of Justice’s Hi Korea website (www.hikorea.go.kr) for the most up-to-date requirements and procedures.
Thank you for reading.
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