South Korea launches F-1-D digital nomad visa with lower income rules

South Korea now has a real digital nomad visa. The Ministry of Justice said on July 7, 2026 that the F-1-D route, also called the workation visa, is live from June 30.

You must work for a foreign employer or your own foreign company. This is not a Korean work visa. Paid work for a Korean boss still needs a different permit.

This is a news summary, not legal advice.

What changed

• Named route: The pilot became the official F-1-D visa on June 30, 2026, after a test run from January 2024 through May 2026.
• Remote work only: You live in Korea while working for companies outside Korea.
• Income tests eased: Rules now depend on age and where you plan to live, not one flat pilot threshold.
• Younger + regional discount: Applicants aged 18 to 34 who live outside Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi may qualify at about one times Korea's prior-year GNI per capita. The Korea Herald cites USD 36,963 for 2025.
• Longer stay: Maximum stay rose from two years to three years.
• Family: Press reports say spouses and children can apply under the same route when the main applicant qualifies.

What you still need

• Proof you worked for a foreign company for at least one year, or that you own a foreign company you run remotely.
• Income documents such as pay slips, tax filings, or bank records that match the tier for your age and address plan.
• A higher income bar if you target Greater Seoul or do not fit the younger regional discount. The pilot often used about twice GNI per capita.
• Health insurance, housing plans, and standard immigration forms per your embassy or immigration office checklist.
• A clear story that your clients and payroll stay abroad. Local Korean work is still off limits on this stamp.

Who this affects

• Remote employees paid by companies outside Korea.
• Founders running a foreign-registered business from Korea.
• Younger movers open to Busan, Daejeon, Jeju, or other bases outside the capital region for a lower income test.
• Japan comparers weighing East Asia hubs. See Japan vs South Korea.

What to do next

1. Read the Korea Herald summary and check HiKorea or your Korean consulate for the live F-1-D checklist.
2. Open our South Korea F-1-D residence page for step-by-step planning.
3. Compare Japan vs South Korea if you are still picking a base.

News summary only, not legal advice. Confirm income tables and forms on HiKorea before you apply.