South Korea Launches F-1-D Digital Nomad Visa With Longer Stays

South Korea has officially launched its F-1-D digital nomad visa, informally called the "workation" visa, making it easier to qualify and allowing longer stays than the earlier pilot program. The visa became available on June 30, following a pilot that ran from January 2024 to May 2026. It lets people employed by overseas companies, or who own foreign businesses, live in South Korea while working remotely. It does not permit working for a Korean employer.

What changed

The two headline updates are lower income requirements and a longer stay. During the pilot, applicants generally needed to earn at least twice South Korea's gross national income (GNI) per capita from the previous year. Under the new rules, thresholds vary by age and intended location. For example, applicants aged 18 to 34 who plan to live outside Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province can qualify by earning just one year's GNI per capita rather than double. South Korea's GNI per capita was $36,963 in 2025.

The maximum stay has also been extended from two years to three. The visa allows multiple entries, and the government is clearly steering remote workers toward regions beyond the Greater Seoul area with the lower income thresholds for those living outside the capital region.

Who qualifies

Applicants must be at least 18, have worked for a foreign employer or owned a foreign company for more than a year, and be able to work remotely from South Korea. They also need a clean criminal record and medical insurance covering at least $75,000 for treatment and repatriation. Spouses and dependent children can join the primary applicant.

Required documents include a completed application form, a passport valid for more than six months, a photo, an employment verification letter, criminal record certificates, proof of insurance, and income evidence such as tax documents and bank statements. Additional paperwork may be requested depending on nationality.

How to apply

Applications go through a Korean embassy or consulate in your country of residence. You book an appointment, submit documents, pay the fee and wait. Processing generally takes from 10 business days to three or four weeks, and there is no expedited option. Fees vary by country, at roughly $45 for US citizens and about CAD 121.50 for Canadians.

What it means for nomads

For remote workers eyeing East Asia, South Korea now offers a more accessible and longer-term base. The lower income bar for younger applicants and those settling outside the capital opens the door to more people, while the three-year ceiling makes it viable for extended stays. Just remember the core restriction: the visa covers remote work for foreign employers or businesses only, not local Korean jobs or profit-generating work inside the country.

Originally reported by economictimes.indiatimes.com.