Korea Digital Nomad Visa (F-1-D): Requirements, Income Tiers and How to Apply (2026)

1. What the F-1-D is — and what changed on 30 June 2026

The F-1-D “workation” (digital nomad) visa lets foreign nationals who work remotely for overseas companies reside in Korea without a Korean employer sponsoring them. It ran as a pilot from 1 January 2024. On 30 June 2026 the Ministry of Justice made it permanent and, in its announcement of 7 July 2026, loosened two things:

• Stay: previously 1 year + 1 extension (max 2 years); now extensions up to a maximum of 3 years.
• Income: previously a flat 2× GNI per capita for everyone; now 1× to 2× GNI depending on age and whether you settle outside the Seoul capital region or in a designated depopulation area.

During the pilot (January 2024 – May 2026) 743 visas were issued; 398 holders were resident in May 2026, 85% of them in the capital region and 70% from OECD countries. The new tiers are explicitly designed to pull applicants toward regional Korea.

2. Who qualifies

• Aged 18 or over.
• At least one year of work in the same industry, evidenced by an employment certificate (or, for the self-employed, business registration and contracts).
• The work is performed remotely for an overseas employer or overseas clients. Working for, or earning from, a Korean entity is not permitted on this visa.
• Income at or above the threshold for your tier (section 3).
• Private medical insurance with cover of at least ₩100,000,000 for treatment and repatriation for the entire stay.
• A clean criminal record certificate from your country of nationality.

A spouse and minor children may accompany you as dependents.

3. Income thresholds by tier

The benchmark is the previous year's GNI per capita published by the Bank of Korea — ₩52,410,000 for 2025. “Capital region” means Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon; everywhere else counts as regional, and designated depopulation (or at-risk) areas also receive the reduced rate.

The table reproduces the annex to the Ministry of Justice press release of 7 July 2026. The capital-region column excludes designated depopulation (or at-risk) areas within Gyeonggi and Incheon, which take the regional rate. The benchmark is the previous year's GNI at the date of application, so the won amounts move every year.

Income is assessed in Korean won. If you are paid in another currency, the office converts at its own rate, so build in a margin rather than sitting exactly on the line.

4. Documents

• Visa application form, passport, one standard photo.
• Employment certificate stating role, start date (1+ year in the industry) and that the work is remote / location-independent.
• Pay statements for recent months and bank transaction records.
• Criminal record certificate issued within the last 6 months, apostilled (or consular-legalised for non-Hague countries).
• Proof of private medical insurance meeting the ₩100M cover.
• Family relationship documents (marriage / birth certificates, apostilled) for dependents.
• If you rely on a regional tier: proof that you will stay outside the capital region — a lease of one month or longer, or a workation facility / accommodation booking confirmation. The office will expect you to actually live there.

Documents not in Korean or English generally need a translation.

5. How and where to apply

• From abroad: apply for the F-1-D visa at the Korean embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over your residence. Fees and processing times vary by mission.
• From inside Korea: if you hold B-1, B-2, C-3 short-term status (visa waiver, tourist or short-term visitor), you can apply to the local immigration office for a change of status to F-1-D. This is where a registered immigration representative — a lawyer or licensed administrative agent — can file on your behalf.
• After arrival (or approval), complete foreigner registration within 90 days; your first year runs from that date. Apply for extensions before expiry, up to 3 years in total.

6. Pitfalls we see

• Contractors and founders.If you invoice multiple clients or own the company that pays you, the “employment certificate” needs careful substitution (registration, contracts, tax filings). This is the most common reason applications stall.
• Korean-source income. Any paid work for a Korean company — even a short consulting gig — falls outside the visa. Plan to switch to E-7 or D-8 if that is the goal.
• Tax residency.Staying 183 days or more in a tax year generally makes you a Korean tax resident with reporting obligations on worldwide income, subject to your country's tax treaty. The visa does not change this.
• Leases. Korean jeonse / wolse contracts and deposits work differently from most countries. Have the contract reviewed before transferring a large deposit.
• Regional tier, capital life. Claiming a regional tier and then living in Seoul risks refusal of your extension.

7. Do you need a lawyer?

Many applicants with a standard salaried job file successfully on their own. Professional help pays off when your income is near a threshold, your work structure is unusual, you want the change-of-status filed inside Korea, or you also need a lease reviewed and a view on how Korean tax law will apply to you. Sanghyun Cho handles these questions in English — please reach out by email or through the consultation form.