Korea’s Digital Nomad Visa, officially classified as the F-1-D Workation Visa, allows eligible remote workers to live in Korea while continuing to work for a company or business overseas.
It is designed for foreign professionals who can perform their work remotely and want to stay in Korea for an extended period.
However, the F-1-D visa does not allow you to take a job with a Korean company or freely engage in profit-making activities in Korea.
Before applying, you need to consider your work history, income, intended place of residence in Korea, criminal record, health insurance, and family status.
Who Can Apply for the F-1-D Visa?
The F-1-D visa is generally available to foreign nationals who:
- are at least 18 years old;
- work for or own a business located outside Korea;
- are able to perform their work remotely while staying in Korea; and
- have at least one year of relevant employment or work experience.
Dependent family members may accompany the principal applicant even if they are under 18.
The purpose of the visa is to allow an overseas-based professional to continue overseas remote work while living in Korea, rather than to enter the Korean labor market.
How Much Income Do You Need?
Income is one of the most important requirements for the F-1-D visa.
For 2026 applications, the reference amount is Korea’s 2025 GNI per capita of KRW 52,416,000.
The applicable income requirement may vary depending on the applicant’s age and intended place of residence in Korea.
| Age | Seoul Metropolitan Area | Non-Metropolitan / Eligible Population-Declining Areas |
|---|---|---|
| 18–34 | 1.5 × GNI | 1 × GNI |
| 35 or older | 2 × GNI | 1.5 × GNI |
The Seoul Metropolitan Area includes Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.
If you intend to use the reduced income requirement based on your place of residence, you may also need to provide evidence of accommodation in the relevant area.
Because the GNI amount changes annually, the applicable income standard should be checked based on the rules in effect when you apply.
How Do You Prove Your Income and Remote Work?
Applicants need to show both their overseas work relationship and their income.
Depending on the circumstances, supporting documents may include:
- Employment verification or a business-related certificate
- Documents showing at least one year of work experience
- Employment or service contracts
- Payslips
- Tax records
- Bank statements and transaction records
- Other documents showing regular income from overseas work
For business owners or independent professionals, the documentation may look different from that of a regular employee.
The key is to show clearly what work you do, how long you have been doing it, and how the income is generated and paid.
Can You Work for a Korean Company?
No. The F-1-D visa is intended for remote work connected to an overseas employer or business.
Employment or profit-making activities in Korea are restricted under this status.
If you receive an offer from a Korean company and want to work locally, you need to determine whether you qualify for an appropriate employment status, such as an E-7 visa, before beginning that work.
Can Your Family Come With You?
Eligible family members may accompany an F-1-D visa holder.
Family relationship documents such as a marriage certificate for a spouse and birth certificates for children are generally required.
This means that documentary proof of the legal family relationship is important when applying together with family members.
Documents issued outside Korea may also require an Apostille or other authentication depending on the issuing country and the applicable consular requirements.
Criminal Record and Medical Insurance
Applicants are generally required to submit a criminal record certificate.
If you have lived in another country for at least one year during the previous five years, a criminal record certificate from that country may also be required.
You must also have medical insurance valid during your stay in Korea. The insurance must provide at least KRW 100 million in coverage for medical treatment and repatriation to your home country.
Can You Change to F-1-D While Already in Korea?
In certain cases, yes.
Foreign nationals staying in Korea under a short-term status such as B-1, B-2 or C-3 may apply for a change to F-1-D in Korea if they meet the requirements.
However, eligibility and required documents should be reviewed before the current period of stay expires.
Your place of residence in Korea can also affect the applicable income requirement, so accommodation and jurisdiction should be considered when preparing an in-country application.
How Long Can You Stay in Korea?
The F-1-D visa is initially granted for one year.
It can be extended in Korea for one year at a time, for a maximum stay of three years, as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
If you stay in Korea for more than 90 days, you must also complete foreigner registration after entering Korea.
Documents for an F-1-D Application
The exact documents may vary depending on your nationality, country of application and individual circumstances.
Typical documents include:
- Visa or change-of-status application form
- Passport and photo
- Proof of overseas employment or business
- Proof of at least one year of work experience
- Income and tax documents
- Bank statements
- Criminal record certificate
- Medical insurance certificate
- Proof of accommodation, when required
- Marriage or birth certificates for accompanying family members
Additional documents may be requested during the review.
Prepare Your F-1-D Application Based on Your Actual Work and Income
The F-1-D visa is particularly useful for foreign professionals who want to stay in Korea without leaving their overseas career or business.
However, applicants can have very different employment and income structures. Some are salaried employees, while others operate their own companies or work under service contracts.
Before applying, it is important to organize your documents so that your work history, remote-work arrangement and income can be clearly understood together.
Contact Hyunsol
Hyunsol Visa & Immigration assists foreign nationals with F-1-D status changes and immigration procedures in Korea.
We can help organize the required documents based on your work arrangement, income, place of residence and accompanying family members, and assist with the application and additional document requests during the immigration review.
Tel. +82-10-8898-2411
KakaoTalk ID. hyunsol-office
Email. hyun_solutions@naver.com
Office. #507, Hyoryeong Building, 32 Mugyo-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea
