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Korea Digital Nomad Visa 2026: F-1-D Income Tiers and Requirements
Korea's F-1-D workation visa became permanent on June 30, 2026. Income tiers from KRW 52.41M, stays of up to 3 years, required documents and how to apply.
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Korea's F-1-D workation visa became permanent on June 30, 2026. Income tiers from KRW 52.41M, stays of up to 3 years, required documents and how to apply.
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South Korea's digital nomad visa, officially the Workation visa (F-1-D), started as a pilot in January 2024 and became a permanent program on June 30, 2026. When Korea's Ministry of Justice announced the change on July 7, it lowered the income requirement for many applicants and extended the maximum stay. This guide covers the new income tiers, who qualifies, what to prepare, and why where you live in Korea now matters.
Key facts
According to the Ministry of Justice, 743 people received the visa during the pilot (January 2024 to May 2026). Of the 398 holders registered in Korea as of May 2026, about 85% lived in the Seoul metropolitan area (Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon). The new regional tiers are meant to spread digital nomads beyond the capital.
The benchmark is Korea's gross national income (GNI) per capita for the previous year, published by the Bank of Korea. For 2025 it is KRW 52.41 million.
The amounts change every year with the new GNI figure, and dollar amounts move with the exchange rate. Confirm the figure for your application year with the Korean embassy or consulate that handles your case.
You cannot take a job with a Korean employer or earn money from Korean clients while on this visa.
Korean embassies list the following. Requirements vary slightly between missions, and the consul may ask for more.
The biggest change in the permanent program is that your income threshold depends on where you stay. A 30-year-old remote worker needs KRW 78.62 million a year to live in Seoul, but KRW 52.41 million to live anywhere outside the Seoul metropolitan area.
Sokcho, on Korea's east coast, is one of those places. It sits between the sea and Seoraksan National Park and is a little over two hours from Seoul by express bus. HINOMAD runs a coworking space there, HINOMAD LAB, and hosts regular meetups for remote workers. To compare Korea with other countries, see our digital nomad visa directory and the South Korea visa summary.
A visa sets your immigration status, not your tax position. Under Korean income tax law, a person who has a domicile in Korea or stays 183 days or more may be treated as a tax resident, and tax residents can owe Korean tax on worldwide income. Tax treaties, the number of days you stay and how you are paid all change the outcome, so if you plan a long stay, talk to a tax professional before you go.
No. The F-1-D visa is for doing your foreign employer's or company's work remotely from Korea. Local employment and for-profit activity in Korea are restricted.
Yes, your spouse and minor children can apply with you. With dependents, the income requirement rises to 2x GNI in the Seoul area and 1.5x elsewhere.
Yes. The Seoul metropolitan area means Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon, so Busan, Jeju and Gangwon Province (including Sokcho and Gangneung) are all outside it.
The announcement does not explain how existing holders move to the new rules. Ask your immigration office when you extend.
Checked on October 20, 2026. Rules and amounts change, so confirm with your Korean embassy or consulate before you apply.
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