South Korea F-1-D Digital Nomad Visa

Key requirements

We model the lowest published tier at about USD 3,080 per month (1x 2025 GNI per capita). Budget more if you target Greater Seoul or do not fit the younger regional discount.

• Income we use for estimates~$3,080 / month (estimate)
• SavingsNot modeled as required
• Accepted income typesRemote salary, Freelance income
• Remote work allowedYes
• Local employment allowedNo
• Health insuranceUsually required
• Criminal record checkUsually required
• Accommodation proofUsually required
• Bank accountNot flagged in model
• Processing (rough)Weeks to a few months (embassy or immigration office review)

Embassies and immigration offices can ask for different translations and notarizations. Follow the checklist for the office that handles your nationality.

1. 1

   Confirm F-1-D fits your work

   Check that you are 18 or older, paid by foreign employers or clients, and not taking a local Korean job on this route.

2. 2

   Prove overseas employment history

   Gather contracts, HR letters, or company registration papers showing at least one year with a foreign employer or ownership of a foreign company.

3. 3

   Match the income tier for your profile

   Collect pay slips, tax returns, and bank records that meet the GNI-based threshold for your age and planned city or province.

   • •If you are under 35 and living outside Greater Seoul, press reports cite about 1x prior-year GNI per capita.
   • •Capital-area plans or older applicants should budget closer to 1.5x or 2x unless official tables show otherwise.
4. 4

   Document remote work abroad

   Show that your role, clients, and payroll stay outside Korea with employer letters and recent invoices or transfer records.

5. 5

   Prepare housing and stay plans

   Line up a lease, hotel booking, or host address that matches the region you list on the form, especially if you rely on a regional income discount.

6. 6

   Buy health insurance

   Get coverage that meets Korean immigration expectations and keep policy certificates ready for submission.

7. 7

   Add spouse or children if needed

   Prepare marriage or birth certificates and dependent income proof if family members will join under the same route.

8. 8

   Complete visa application forms

   Fill immigration and consular forms, attach photos, and include any criminal-record or education papers your office requests.

9. 9

   Apply at the embassy or immigration office

   File at the Korean mission abroad or through the channel HiKorea lists for your case, pay fees, and keep copies of everything.

10. 10

    Enter Korea and register if required

    Travel on the approved F-1-D status, complete any alien registration steps, and follow the stay conditions on your card.

11. 11

    Plan renewal or departure before year three

    Track your three-year maximum, renew only if rules allow, or switch to another eligible status before your stay ends.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Korea’s F-1-D income tables, regional lists, and consulate checklists can change. Read Ministry of Justice notices and HiKorea guidance before you apply.

Pathway last reviewed: 2026-06-15

Citizenship & nationality

The F-1-D route is for adults who already work for foreign employers or foreign-owned businesses and want to live in Korea while keeping income abroad.

• •Show at least one year with a foreign employer, or ownership of a foreign company you operate remotely.
• •Income must meet the GNI-based tier for your age and address plan. Press coverage cites about USD 36,963 as Korea’s 2025 GNI per capita benchmark.
• •Applicants aged 18 to 34 who live outside Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi may qualify at about 1x GNI per capita. Greater Seoul plans and other profiles often need about 1.5x to 2x.
• •Spouses and children may join when the main applicant qualifies. Keep marriage, birth, and dependent income papers ready.
• •Maximum stay is up to three years under the June 30, 2026 launch rules, up from the two-year pilot cap.

Check HiKorea, visa.go.kr, and current Ministry of Justice immigration notices for the active income table before you file.

Best for

• •Remote workers looking for a formal digital nomad visa
• •Remote employment or freelance income from outside the host country

Long-term path

• Permanent residence: No
• Citizenship: No

F-1-D is a temporary remote-work stay of up to three years, not permanent residence. Other Korean routes such as points-based F-2-7 or investor visas apply for longer settlement goals.

Practical difficulty

medium

Rough guide only. Your case depends on papers, timing, and rule changes.

Rated medium because the route is now named and clear, but income tiers, regional address plans, and document checks still need careful matching.