Ministry of Justice, Digital Nomad Visa permanent-programme announcement (published July 8, 2026; new rules effective June 30, 2026), and the attached
F-1-D programme overview;
Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Singapore,
F-1-D visa requirements.
Income amounts use the 2025 per-capita GNI benchmark shown in our
Korea GNI 2026 reference.
Last checked: July 31, 2026.
Quick answer
The F-1-D visa allows an eligible overseas employee or overseas business owner to live in Korea while continuing qualifying remote work connected to the overseas business. Applicants generally need at least one year of experience in the same industry, qualifying income, private medical insurance and the required supporting documents.
Under the rules effective June 30, 2026, the income threshold ranges from 1 to 2 times Korea’s per-capita GNI, depending on age and intended residence. The visa is granted for one year and may be extended one year at a time, up to a total maximum stay of three years.
What changed on June 30, 2026?
Korea first operated the Digital Nomad, or Workation, Visa as a pilot from January 2024. The Ministry of Justice made the programme permanent from June 30, 2026 and introduced a lower income threshold for younger applicants and people who will live outside the Seoul metropolitan area or in designated population-declining regions.
| Item | Earlier pilot rule | Rule from June 30, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Programme status | Pilot programme | Permanent programme |
| Income test | Generally 2× GNI | 1×, 1.5× or 2× GNI depending on age, residence and accompanying family |
| Maximum stay | Up to 2 years | Up to 3 years |
| Regional incentive | No comparable nationwide matrix | Lower threshold for qualifying non-metropolitan or population-declining areas |
Who can apply for the F-1-D visa?
The Ministry of Justice programme overview identifies the principal applicant as a foreign national who is employed by an overseas company or owns an overseas business, can work remotely, and has worked in the same industry for at least one year.
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Age | The principal applicant must be at least 18. The age minimum does not apply to accompanying children. |
| Overseas work connection | You must be employed by an overseas company or own an overseas business. The visa is not a route for taking a normal job with a Korean company. |
| Remote work | Your overseas work must be capable of being performed remotely while you stay in Korea. |
| Experience | You must have worked in the same industry for at least one year. |
| Income | You must satisfy the applicable GNI multiple in the official age-and-location matrix below. |
| Insurance | You need qualifying private medical insurance covering treatment in Korea and repatriation. |
2026 income requirement by age and intended residence
The income test uses the per-capita GNI announced by the Bank of Korea for the previous year. For applications using the 2025 GNI benchmark, the reference amount is KRW 52,416,000. The current GNI figure and generic multiples are maintained in our GNI reference page.
| Applicant’s age | Seoul metropolitan area* | Non-metropolitan or designated population-declining area |
|---|---|---|
| 18–34 | 1.5× GNI KRW 78,624,000 per year |
1× GNI KRW 52,416,000 per year |
| 35 or older | 2× GNI KRW 104,832,000 per year |
1.5× GNI KRW 78,624,000 per year |
*For this table, the Seoul metropolitan area means Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi, excluding locations that separately qualify as designated population-declining or at-risk regions. The official decision depends on the address and evidence accepted for your application.
What if your spouse or children accompany you?
The lower threshold for young applicants does not apply in the same way when family members accompany the principal applicant. Under the official programme overview:
| Family’s intended residence | Income requirement |
|---|---|
| Seoul, Incheon or Gyeonggi metropolitan area | 2× GNI — KRW 104,832,000 per year, regardless of the principal applicant’s age |
| Qualifying non-metropolitan or population-declining area | 1.5× GNI — KRW 78,624,000 per year |
Eligible accompanying family members are the spouse and minor children. Family documents must be submitted, and each family member’s stay and permitted activities should be confirmed with the responsible embassy or immigration office. Accompanying the principal applicant does not automatically authorize employment with a Korean company.
How do you qualify for the regional income reduction?
You must show that you genuinely plan to live in the qualifying region. The Ministry of Justice lists examples such as:
- a lease agreement for at least one month;
- a reservation confirmation from a workation facility; or
- another accommodation confirmation that identifies the qualifying location.
Required documents
The Ministry of Justice programme overview lists the following core documents:
- Visa Application Form No. 17, passport, standard photograph and fee;
- employment certificate or overseas business documentation;
- payslips, bank transaction records or other evidence of qualifying income;
- criminal record certificate;
- private medical insurance certificate;
- family-relationship documents when applying with a spouse or minor children; and
- proof of intended residence when using a regional income reduction.
Document age, translation, legalization and submission rules can differ by embassy. Use the checklist published by the Korean diplomatic mission responsible for the country or region where you apply. Do not assume that a document accepted by one embassy will automatically be accepted by another.
How to apply
- Determine your correct income tier. Check your age, intended residence and whether your spouse or minor children will accompany you.
- Check the responsible embassy’s instructions. Confirm appointment rules, fees, document validity, translation and legalization requirements.
- Prepare work and income evidence. Your documents should make the overseas employer or business, remote-work arrangement, one-year industry history and applicable income threshold clear.
- Prepare insurance and background documents. Make sure the policy expressly covers both treatment in Korea and repatriation.
- Submit the application and respond to additional requests. Processing time is set by the embassy and may increase when further verification is required.
- After entry, complete foreigner registration and observe your approved stay conditions.
Stay period, extension and work restrictions
| Item | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Initial period | One year from the date of entry when foreigner registration is completed |
| Extension | One year at a time, subject to continuing eligibility and immigration approval |
| Maximum total stay | Three years |
| Korean employment | Restricted; obtain an appropriate work-authorized status before working for a Korean employer |
| Domestic profit-making activity | Restricted under the F-1-D programme conditions |
Your extension is a new immigration decision, not an automatic right. Keep your employment, income, residence and insurance evidence current and check the document list before each extension.
Private insurance, Korean NHIS and tax
Private medical insurance
The application requires private medical insurance with at least KRW 100 million in coverage for hospital treatment in Korea and repatriation to the home country. Check that both elements are stated in the certificate or policy wording.
National Health Insurance
Official Korean embassy guidance states that F-1-D holders who live in Korea for more than six months are generally required to subscribe to National Health Insurance. Private insurance used for the visa application and later NHIS enrollment are separate issues; confirm exemptions or special treatment directly with the National Health Insurance Service.
Korean tax
The F-1-D visa is not a special tax exemption. Tax residence, income source, treaty rules and the applicant’s home-country obligations can produce different outcomes. Review our Korea income tax guide for foreigners and obtain advice from a qualified Korean tax professional before relying on a particular tax treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Is the income requirement still KRW 104,832,000 for everyone?
No. That is now the 2× GNI tier, not a universal threshold. A principal applicant may fall under the 1×, 1.5× or 2× tier depending on age, intended residence and accompanying family.
Can I live in Seoul and use the non-metropolitan threshold?
No. The reduced threshold depends on a qualifying intended residence and supporting accommodation evidence. Seoul is part of the metropolitan category.
Does being 34 automatically give me the lowest threshold?
No. An applicant aged 18–34 falls under 1.5× GNI in the Seoul metropolitan area and 1× GNI only in a qualifying non-metropolitan or population-declining location. Family accompaniment can also raise the applicable tier.
Can a freelancer apply?
The official wording covers overseas company employees and overseas business owners. A freelancer with a properly registered overseas business may be able to document the business-owner route, but a person with only informal client relationships should obtain a case-specific answer from the responsible embassy or immigration office.
Can I work for Korean clients or a Korean company?
The programme restricts employment and profit-making activity in Korea. Do not accept Korean employment or domestic commercial work without confirming and obtaining the appropriate status or permission first.
Can I stay for three years immediately?
No. The initial stay is one year. Extensions are granted one year at a time, with a maximum total stay of three years, subject to immigration approval.
Can I work remotely in Korea as a tourist instead?
Tourist or visa-free entry does not automatically provide long-term residence or employment authorization. The correct route depends on nationality, duration and activity. Confirm the position with the responsible Korean embassy or Immigration Contact Center 1345 before relying on short-term visitor status for remote work.
Related guides
- Korea GNI 2026: Current Reference Amount and Multiples
- How to Work in Korea as a Foreigner: Complete Visa Roadmap
- E-7 Visa Korea: Complete Guide for Foreign Professionals
- Korea Income Tax for Foreigners
Disclaimer: This guide provides general information, not legal, immigration or tax advice. Visa rules, the annual GNI benchmark, designated regions, embassy procedures and document requirements can change. Confirm your current requirements with the responsible Korean embassy or consulate, Immigration Contact Center 1345 or a qualified professional before applying.