Issue · October 2026 · everything a nomad needs, city by city

Nomadzine

The visa · South Korea

South Korea

South Korea now has a permanent Digital Nomad (Workcation) visa, the F-1-D, alongside a working-holiday scheme for under-31s from partner countries, a 90-day visa-free stay for most Western passports and an OASIS start-up track for founders. The F-1-D suits salaried remote employees and owners of overseas businesses with at least a year in their field and a high, GNI-linked income; it forbids any paid activity inside Korea. The one thing to check before applying is which income tier applies, because the age and region tiers introduced in mid-2026 are reported differently by the ministry, the consulates and the press.

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The routes

Researched 9 September 2026 · rules as of September 2026 · as published, not legal advice

  1. Nomad visa

    Digital Nomad (Workcation) Visa (F-1-D)

    디지털 노마드(워케이션) 비자 F-1-D / Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa, F-1-D

    Employees of overseas companies and owners of overseas businesses who can work fully remotely, have at least one year in the same industry and earn well above the Korean average; families can accompany.

    Income floor
    Base rule: at least twice Korea's GNI per capita of the previous year. On the 2025 GNI per capita of KRW 52,416,000 that is KRW 104,832,000 a year (KRW 8,736,000 a month), as stated in the consular notice for 2026. Reduced tiers were introduced when the programme became permanent: reporting and consular notices agree that applicants aged 18 to 34 living outside the Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi capital region (or in designated population-decline areas, with proof of local accommodation) qualify at about 1x GNI, roughly KRW 52 million; the Korea Herald reports a middle 1.5x tier for most other applicants and 2x only for those aged 35 and over in the capital region, while the Danish embassy notice describes the 18 to 34 relief as 'up to 1.5x'. The exact tier mapping is therefore disputed between sources and should be confirmed with the consulate handling the application. The threshold is re-set each year with the new GNI figure.
    Duration
    1 year from entry, extendable in Korea one year at a time, up to 3 years in total (the 2024 to May 2026 pilot allowed 2 years). Multiple-entry visa.
    Cost
    Set by each mission; reported examples are US$45 for US applicants and about CAD 121.50 for Canadian applicants, plus any document legalisation costs.
    Processing
    No statutory time. Consulates and applicants report 10 working days to 3 or 4 weeks; no expedited service.
    Eligibility
    Aged 18 or over; employed by an overseas company or owner of an overseas business, capable of remote work, with at least one year in the same industry; income above the applicable GNI multiple; private medical insurance of at least KRW 100 million covering treatment and repatriation; clean criminal record; open to any nationality.
    Work rights
    Remote work for an overseas employer or one's own overseas business only. Employment or any profit-making activity in Korea, including work for Korean clients, is expressly restricted and breaches are punishable under the Immigration Act.
    Dependants
    Spouse and minor children may accompany on the same status; they must show family relation certificates and they cannot work in Korea.
    Leads to
    No published pathway. F-1 is a non-settlement status; time on it is not listed among the statuses that count toward the F-5 permanent residence or toward naturalisation.
    Apply
    Korean embassy or consulate in the applicant's country of residence, in person; the consular notice also allows a change of status at a local immigration office for those already in Korea on another status. Document lists vary by mission.

    Documents Visa application form and passport photo · Passport with at least 6 months' validity · Certificate of employment or proof of business ownership showing at least 1 year in the industry · Proof of income: salary certificate, tax records and bank statements · Criminal record certificate, apostilled or consular-legalised · Medical insurance certificate showing KRW 100 million cover including repatriation · Family relation certificates for an accompanying spouse or children · Proof of accommodation outside the capital region if applying under the regional tier

    Official page →

  2. Working holiday

    Working Holiday Visa (H-1)

    관광취업 비자 H-1 / Working Holiday (H-1)

    Nationals of partner countries aged 18 to 30 who want a year in Korea with the right to take short-term local work to fund the trip; the United States uses a separate WEST variant for students and recent graduates.

    Income floor
    No income figure published; applicants must show funds sufficient for the initial period of stay plus a return ticket or the money for one. The amount is set by each mission and is not stated in the consular notice.
    Duration
    Up to 12 months, multiple entry, once in a lifetime per country agreement; extensions are not provided for in the notice.
    Cost
    Not stated on the consular notice; visa fees are set per mission.
    Processing
    Not published; consulates handle applications individually and annual quotas apply per country.
    Eligibility
    Passport of a partner country and application from that country; aged 18 to 30 inclusive; no accompanying dependants; criminal record check; medical certificate issued within 3 months; passport valid for at least 12 months; health insurance for the whole stay; tourism must be the main purpose. Partner countries listed by consulates include Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, the United States, France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Italy, the United Kingdom, Austria, Hungary, Israel, the Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Chile, Poland, Spain, Argentina, Hong Kong and Taiwan; lists differ by date of the notice.
    Work rights
    Short-term local work to supplement funds is allowed as the programme's stated purpose; holiday must remain the main purpose. Remote work for an overseas employer is not addressed in the notice.
    Dependants
    Not permitted; the applicant must be unaccompanied by dependants.
    Leads to
    No. Korea does not grant H-1 to people already in the country on another status, and H-1 time is not a settlement route.
    Apply
    The Korean embassy or consulate in the applicant's own country only.

    Documents Visa application form and 3.5 x 4.5 cm photo · Passport valid for at least 12 months · Return ticket or proof of funds to buy one · Bank statements showing funds for the initial stay · Health insurance valid for the whole stay · Travel plan · Criminal record check · Medical certificate issued within 3 months · Proof of education or qualifications

    Official page →

  3. Temporary stay

    Short-term visa (C-3) for passports without visa-free entry

    단기방문 C-3 / Short-term Visit (C-3)

    Visitors whose passport is not on the visa-waiver list, for example India, who want up to 90 days for tourism or business meetings.

    Income floor
    None published; missions ask for proof of funds and a return ticket.
    Duration
    Up to 90 days per entry; single or multiple entry depending on the mission and applicant history.
    Cost
    Set by each mission according to length of stay and number of entries; check the Korea Visa Portal for the local tariff.
    Processing
    Not statutory; missions commonly quote around one to two weeks.
    Eligibility
    Any nationality not covered by a waiver; purpose limited to tourism, visiting or business meetings; no employment.
    Work rights
    No employment or profit-making activity in Korea. Remote work for an overseas employer is not addressed in the published rules.
    Dependants
    Each family member applies separately.
    Leads to
    No.
    Apply
    Korean embassy or consulate abroad; some categories can be lodged through the Korea Visa Portal.

    Documents Visa application form and photo · Passport · Proof of funds and return travel · Itinerary or invitation, as required by the mission

    Official page →

  4. Other route

    Start-up Visa (D-8-4) via OASIS

    기술창업 비자 D-8-4 / Technology Start-up (D-8-4), with the D-10-2 Start-up Preparation status

    Founders with a bachelor's degree and intellectual property or completed OASIS training who want to incorporate a technology company in Korea; used by some long-stay nomads who want a status that leads to residence.

    Income floor
    No minimum capital; entry is by points, with 80 points required on the OASIS scoring matrix and at least one mandatory item such as a registered patent or completion of the Global Startup Immigration Center training.
    Duration
    Issued for up to 12 months and extended while the company operates; the D-10-2 preparation status is used first by those completing OASIS in Korea.
    Cost
    Standard visa and status-change fees set by the immigration office; not published as a single figure.
    Processing
    Not statutory; OASIS training cycles run on published schedules and the visa is assessed after incorporation.
    Eligibility
    Bachelor's degree from any country or an associate degree from a Korean university; intellectual property or equivalent; a newly established corporation in a technology field; OASIS training is open only to foreigners already legally resident in Korea.
    Work rights
    Runs the founder's own Korean corporation; local revenue and clients are the point of the visa. Not a remote-work-only status.
    Dependants
    Spouse and minor children can be sponsored on F-3 dependant status under the general rules for D-8 holders.
    Leads to
    Yes: holders with revenue, tax records and Korean language ability can move to the points-based F-2-7 residence, and D-8 time counts toward the F-5 permanent residence after the qualifying years of stay.
    Apply
    In Korea through the OASIS programme and the local immigration office, or at a Korean mission abroad for direct D-8-4 applicants.

    Documents OASIS points certificate or patent registration · Degree certificate · Corporate registration documents · Business plan

    Official page →

Without a visa, by passport

The stay you get on arrival, and whether working remotely on it is tolerated

  • EU / EEA / Switzerland90 days visa-free for most member states (a few bilateral waivers differ, for example Portugal at 60 days); K-ETA waived for listed states until 31 December 2026, e-Arrival Card requiredVisa-free entry is for tourism, visiting and business meetings; employment and profit-making activity in Korea are prohibited. Working remotely for a foreign employer on a short visit is not expressly regulated and is widely reported as tolerated; the F-1-D exists for anything longer.
  • United Kingdom90 days visa-free by exchange of notes; K-ETA waived until 31 December 2026Same position: no Korean employment; remote work for a UK employer during a short visit is reported as tolerated rather than authorised.
  • United States90 days visa-free; K-ETA waived until 31 December 2026Same position as above. The MOJ's data show the largest F-1-D applicant groups come from countries with visa-free access.
  • CanadaUp to 6 months visa-free, the longest waiver on the list; K-ETA waived until 31 December 2026No local employment. Remote work for a Canadian employer is not addressed in law and reported as tolerated; note that 183 days or more in a year triggers Korean tax residency.
  • Australia90 days visa-free; K-ETA waived until 31 December 2026Same position as the EU.
  • New Zealand90 days visa-free; K-ETA waived until 31 December 2026Same position as the EU.
  • Japan90 days visa-free; K-ETA waived until 31 December 2026Same position as the EU.
  • Brazil90 days visa-free under the bilateral waiver; K-ETA required (not on the 2026 exemption list)No local employment; remote work on a short stay is unregulated and reported as tolerated.
  • South Africa30 days visa-free; K-ETA requiredShort waiver only; no local employment, and the 30-day limit makes a workcation impractical without the F-1-D.
  • IndiaVisa required (C-3 short-term visa, up to 90 days)No visa-free entry. Remote work on a C-3 is not addressed in the published rules; the F-1-D is the published route.
  • Turkey90 days visa-free; K-ETA requiredSame position as the EU.

Tax

When the country starts counting you as its taxpayer

Residency trigger
An individual is tax resident when they have a domicile in Korea or are present for 183 days or more in a tax year. From 1 January 2026 presence for 183 consecutive days spanning two tax years also creates residency. People whose occupation normally requires 183 days or more in Korea, or who keep family and substantial assets there, can be deemed resident. Dual residency is resolved under the applicable treaty.
Special regime
Two provisions matter. First, a foreign national who has been resident in Korea for 5 years or less in the past 10 is taxed on foreign-source income only where it is paid by a Korean entity or remitted into Korea; this is the rule most relevant to a remote worker on foreign payroll. Second, foreign employees may elect a 19 per cent flat rate on earned income (plus 1.9 per cent local tax) for up to 20 years from their first working day in Korea, currently open only to those who start work by 31 December 2026 unless extended again; it is designed for foreign workers employed in Korea and its application to remote work for an overseas employer is not published. Standard rates run from 6 to 45 per cent plus a 10 per cent local surtax.
Social security
National Health Insurance enrolment becomes compulsory for registered foreigners after 6 months of stay, as a local subscriber with premiums assessed on income and assets; commentators report an average of roughly KRW 142,000 a month for foreign local subscribers in 2026, a figure not published by the insurer. F-1-D holders must also hold private cover of KRW 100 million to get the visa. National Pension applies to employees of Korean workplaces and to the self-employed; a remote worker with no Korean employer is not enrolled through a workplace. Korea has social security agreements with 24 countries as of 1 January 2026, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, India, Brazil, Switzerland and Türkiye, under which a certificate of coverage from the home institution avoids double contributions.
Treaties
Korea has an extensive double-taxation treaty network including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, India, Brazil, South Africa and most EU states. For a remote employee the practical effect is that below 183 days and with no Korean payer, employment income stays taxable at home under the dependent-services article; once Korean resident, treaty tie-breakers and foreign tax credits govern, and the 5-year foreign-source rule limits Korean exposure for income kept offshore.

Practicalities

Residence Card (ARC)
Anyone staying more than 90 days must register at an immigration office and obtain a Residence Card; late registration is reported to be fined up to KRW 1,000,000. A mobile Residence Card has been issued since March 2025 and is accepted by major banks. Card-in-hand commonly takes a few weeks after landing.
Bank account
A full account requires the Residence Card and a Korean mobile number in the holder's name; short-stay visitors are limited to travel cards and prepaid products. Shinhan, Hana, iM, Busan, Jeonbuk and Jeju are reported to accept the mobile Residence Card.
SIM registration
A postpaid or prepaid line in one's own name needs the physical Residence Card; the registration-fact certificate is not accepted. Visitors under 90 days use data eSIMs or airport tourist SIMs.
Health insurance
Automatic NHIS enrolment after 6 months of continuous stay (absences over 30 consecutive days reset the count); the F-1-D separately requires private cover of KRW 100 million including repatriation.
Tax number
The Residence Card number serves as the taxpayer identifier; there is no separate application for a remote worker who is not on a Korean payroll.
Entry formalities
K-ETA waived for 22 listed countries until 31 December 2026; an optional K-ETA costs KRW 10,000 and is non-refundable. From 1 January 2026 travellers not holding a K-ETA must file the e-Arrival Card within 3 days before arrival.
Overstay penalties
No grace period. Practitioners report fines scaling from KRW 100,000 for 1 to 10 days to KRW 2,000,000 beyond 6 months, with a statutory ceiling of KRW 30 million under the Immigration Control Act; re-entry bans run from 1 year for 1 to 3 months' overstay to 5 years or more for over a year or forced deportation. Voluntary departure reduces both.

South Korea: a real workcation visa, made permanent in 2026, but still strict on any Korean income

Where remote workers base, and why the ministry wants that to change

Ministry data reported in July 2026 show 84 per cent of F-1-D holders in Greater Seoul, 24 in Busan and none at all in five provinces including Jeju and North Jeolla. Holders cluster where co-working, hospitals with English-speaking staff, international banking and social life are dense, which in Korea means Seoul first and Busan a distant second.

The 2026 permanent rules are built to push people outward: the lowest income tier is reserved for applicants aged 18 to 34 living outside the Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi capital region or in designated population-decline areas, on proof of local accommodation. Tourism academics quoted in the Korean press doubt it will work while provincial support stops at 10-day stay programmes and there is no coordination between the ministries, cities and the immigration service.

What applicants report about the process

Applications are lodged in person at the consulate for the applicant's country of residence, and document lists differ from mission to mission, which is the most common complaint. Missions ask for an employer letter proving a year in the same industry, income evidence and an apostilled criminal record certificate, and several ask for the KRW 100 million insurance certificate to name repatriation explicitly.

Decisions are reported within 10 working days to about a month with no expedited option. The pilot issued 743 visas in 29 months, a small number that reflects the high income bar rather than refusals; the main refusal ground reported is income evidence that does not reach the GNI multiple after tax, or employment history under a year.

The income tiers introduced in mid-2026 are described inconsistently. The Korea Herald reports three tiers (1x, 1.5x and 2x GNI by age and region), the Danish embassy notice speaks of relief 'up to 1.5x' for 18 to 34 year olds plus a regional relaxation, and some consular pages still show the single 2x figure. Applicants should ask their consulate which tier applies before assembling income proof.

Banking and daily money

Korea runs on domestic cards and apps, and most of those need a Residence Card and a Korean mobile number. Until the card arrives, which commonly takes a few weeks after the immigration appointment, the practical toolkit is a foreign card with low FX fees, a T-money or WOWPASS travel card and a data eSIM. Once registered, the mobile Residence Card introduced in March 2025 is accepted by the main banks for opening an account.

Tax exposure for a remote worker is lighter than the headline 45 per cent rate suggests: a foreign national resident for 5 years or less in the past 10 is taxed on foreign-source income only when it is paid by a Korean entity or brought into Korea. That rule, not the 19 per cent flat rate aimed at foreign employees of Korean workplaces, is the one that usually governs nomad income.

What is changing

The visa itself is now settled law after two and a half years as a pilot, and the ministry has signalled it wants holders to stay longer and consider relocating, hence the 3-year cap. The pieces still moving are annual: the GNI figure that resets the income floor each January, the K-ETA exemption that currently runs only to 31 December 2026, and the 19 per cent flat-rate election whose start-date cut-off is again 31 December 2026 unless the tax law is amended.

Nothing published connects the F-1-D to permanent residence; the settlement routes remain the points-based F-2-7 and the F-5, reached through employment, investment or the OASIS start-up track rather than through remote work.

Researched from overseas.mofa.go.kr · overseas.mofa.go.kr · overseas.mofa.go.kr · mofa.go.kr · kpmg.com · koreaherald.com · humanresourcesonline.net · visasupdate.com · taxsummaries.pwc.com · taxsummaries.pwc.com · the authority