Here's what you need to know:

🔍 Important Facts

• ‍When: starting from Jan 1, 2024
• ‍Who: foreigners who want to work remotely in South Korea + their family (spouse, children)
• ‍How long: maximum two years (1 year + 1 year extension possible)

👤Eligibility & Requirements

• Work for a company abroad or be a freelancer abroad.
• Earn more than 85 million won ($66,000) in 2023. The visa requires you to earn double Korea's gross national income (GNI) per capita for the previous year.

• Be 18 or older and have worked in the same industry for at least a year.
• Apply in your country's Korean embassy. If you're currently in Korea, you can switch from the visa exemption (B-1), tourist visa (B-2), or short-term stay visa (C-3) (but, as we explain below in the FAQ, we recommend applying in your country, at least for now).
• Personal medical insurance covering at least 100 million won for hospital treatment and repatriation during their stay in Korea.

Digital Nomad Visa FAQ

Sources: Ministry of Immigration and Foreign Affairs website, Hikorea website, Personal emails with the Ministry of Justice, Members of our community who obtained the visa, Korean Embassies, Yonhap News (updated 23.02.24)

Can I work in Korea with a digital nomad/workstation visa?

Travelers visiting under the visa cannot be hired in Korea or involved in local profit-making activities during their stay. They can work for a company overseas.

Which documents are needed?

The following are standard papers required for the workation visa application, but additional documents could be required in your country. We recommend you still ask your embassy for the list of necessary documents. 

• Visa Request Form
• Passport
• Passport Copy
• Passport Picture
• Proof of employment or work
• Pay slip
• Bank statements (to prove income)
• Other financial proof if existing (all taxable income you have in a year)
• Extract of criminal record (no previous convictions of crimes, neither in your home country nor in Korea are allowed)
• Proof of private Insurance that covers at least 100 million won for accidents/transports/medical help
• Address in Korea is REQUIRED for application

The validity period of proof documents such as employment certificates is three months from the date of issue, and visa-related information such as submission documents can be confirmed on the Immigration Service homepage and the Hi Korea homepage.

Do you know if I need to be registered with a company abroad to apply?

Yes, either as a company employee or as a self-employed freelancer. You can apply for the Workation visa if you are currently operating a business, have one year of experience in the same industry, and have proven income. Foreigners not affiliated with an overseas business cannot apply for the visa.

Is the minimum income pre or post-tax?

The minimum is calculated from your gross income, in other words, before tax. If your embassy has been giving you a different answer, please get in touch with us; we are trying to bring these issues to the government officials. 

Will I have to pay taxes in Korea?

According to Article 3 (Scope of Taxable Income) of the Income Tax Act, all income is taxable for residents. However, temporary resident foreigners are only taxed on the portion of their taxable income that is paid or remitted into the country if it is derived from abroad (this applies to resident foreigners who have had a domicile or residence in Korea for a total of five years or less in the ten years preceding the end of the relevant tax period).
In addition, countries with which Korea has a double taxation avoidance agreement are not subject to such tax if the treaty contains relevant content. You can check the treaty's contents on the National Tax Service's Tax Legislation Information System. 
Please get in touch with the National Tax Service Consultation Center (126 without area code) for tax-related questions.

What is the minimum income required to be eligible?

₩7.08 Million per month in 2024.

How is the monthly income calculated? 

From the documents you submit: pay stubs, bank statements, account transactions, etc. It will still be case-by-case since there are no proper guidelines. Embassies and officials still need to learn how to proceed as the visa was just launched. 

I see the visa being called a workstation visa, a digital nomad visa... What's the official name?

The visa is officially called a work visa (F-1-D).

Do you get a resident card with the visa?

Yes! Perks of the Alien Registration Card (ARC) include going through Korean immigration through a faster lane at the airport, getting a Korean bank account, a longer-term phone subscription, access to free Korean classes, etc. You must apply for it at your local immigration office within 90 days of arrival.

Is the visa valid from delivery or first entry in Korea?

The Workation visa is valid from the first entry into Korea. From that date, you can stay for up to 2 years (1 year initial + 1 year extension), and there is no mandatory period of stay in Korea.

How long does it take for the visa to be delivered?

The visa should take about 10-15 days after application to be fulfilled. The visa issuance period may vary depending on the applicant's documentation, embassy conditions, etc.

Which country is eligible?

There are no restrictions on visa applications based on nationality.

Can I apply for a visa if I am currently in Korea?

Yes, if you are on a visa exemption (B-1), tourist visa (B-2), or short-stay visa (C-3). We are working on providing a service that will help you apply for the visa.

Which documents are required for an Apostille?

An apostille (or consular confirmation) is required for criminal convictions. An apostille is not needed for proof of family relationship, proof of employment, proof of income, medical insurance, etc. Additional documents, such as translations and notarizations, may be requested during the visa issuance or change of status examination process.

Can my spouse and I combine our salaries to apply? 

No. One person has to reach the minimum income. Only when the person is eligible can they bring their spouse and children along.

Do my partner and I need marriage to be considered family/spouse?

You can apply for a visa if you can prove a legal family relationship with the primary resident (remote worker).

Can I bring my pet to Korea with me?

Please check with the quarantine authorities, such as the Korea Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Quarantine Center, to see if you can bring an animal into Korea.

Do I need a digital nomad visa to come to Korea?

Not at all! Coming to South Korea on a tourist visa is not difficult for most Digital Nomads. (You might need to register for the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) before arriving, which is a rapid and online process.) There are other visa types, like the Working Holiday Visa, the OASIS startup visa, or the Student visa, which can apply to some Digital Nomads’s situations, but most others don't.

What would I need a Digital Nomad Visa for?

You could rent an apartment at a lower price for extended periods, get a bank account to order food at home conveniently, access free Korean classes… And, of course, stay in this fantastic country for more than three months at a time!

Why is the government launching a digital nomad visa?

The Korean government wants to allow foreigners to work and travel in Korea to revitalize the local economy and promote the country's scenery and culture.