Dreaming of working remotely from a cozy cafe in Seoul or near the beaches of Busan while keeping your overseas job? South Korea’s Digital Nomad Visa (F-1-D) allows remote workers and freelancers employed abroad to live in Korea for up to 2 years!
Here is the breakdown of the requirements, income thresholds, and application process.
1. Key Eligibility Requirements
- Employment Status: Must be employed by a foreign company or be a business owner/freelancer with overseas clients for at least 1 year in the same industry.
- Minimum Income Requirement: Your annual income from the previous year must be at least twice the Korean Gross National Income (GNI) per capita (typically around $65,000–$70,000 USD / approx. 85,000,000–90,000,000 KRW, depending on the latest Bank of Korea GNI announcement).
- Age: 18 years old or older.
- Family Accompaniment: You can bring your spouse and dependent children under the same visa status.
- Private Health Insurance: Must hold international travel/medical insurance with coverage of at least 100,000,000 KRW for emergency medical treatment and evacuation.
2. Required Documents Checklist
Submit these to your nearest Korean Embassy/Consulate (or local immigration office if converting from a valid visa inside Korea):
- Visa Application Form + Passport Photo.
- Valid Passport (with at least 6 months validity).
- Employment Verification Letter: Stating your position, start date, and permission to work remotely abroad.
- Proof of Income: Tax returns, official payslips, and bank account statements showing income deposits over the last 12 months.
- Criminal Background Check Certificate: Apostilled or consular-authenticated by your home government.
- Proof of Medical Insurance Coverage.
- Family Relation Certificates: (If applying with dependents, apostilled/notarized).
3. Essential Rules & Limitations
- No Local Employment: You are strictly not allowed to work for a Korean company or earn domestic income within Korea. All income must originate from overseas employers or clients.
- Stay Duration: The visa is initially issued for 1 year and can be extended for 1 additional year (maximum 2 years total).
- Tax Notice: Stays exceeding 183 days within a calendar year may trigger tax residency status, so consult a tax advisor regarding international tax treaties.
