South Korea F-1-D digital nomad visa guide

The basics

The F-1-D Workcation (Digital Nomad) status was introduced from 1 January 2024, according to the Korean consulate in Yokohama. It is aimed at remote workers employed by overseas companies. Work or profit-making activity inside Korea is not permitted.

Validity

Multiple-entry visa with a one-year validity, according to the Yokohama consulate page

Stay per entry

One year, granted from the date of entry upon foreigner registration, according to the same page

Where you apply

Sources point to Korean overseas missions. The Yokohama consulate page describes the document list. Sources do not name a single application portal.

Fee

Not stated in the sources reviewed

Who it's for

According to the Yokohama consulate page, the visa is for foreign nationals employed by an overseas company who can work remotely and who have worked in the same field for at least one year, along with their family members.

• Income requirement: twice the previous year's per capita gross national income (GNI) as announced by the Bank of Korea. The page gives a 2022 reference figure of 84.96 million KRW (about 7.08 million KRW per month).
• Medical insurance: private insurance covering at least 100 million KRW for hospital treatment and repatriation for the length of stay in Korea.
• Holders of certain short-term statuses (B-1, B-2, C-3) may be able to change to the Workcation visa if they meet the requirements, according to the same page.

How to apply

The Yokohama consulate page lists the documents needed for a visa application at a Korean overseas mission. The Ministry of Justice immigration site carries a notice on the visa with a downloadable PDF and a visa application form (Form #17). Sources reviewed do not set out step-by-step application procedures, processing times or booking arrangements.

Documents

Documents listed on the Yokohama consulate page:

• Common documents (the page links to a separate list that this guide has not reviewed).
• Certificate of employment showing at least one year in the same field.
• Income proof such as pay slips, bank balance certificate and account transaction records.
• Criminal record certificate.
• Proof of medical insurance of at least 100 million KRW covering hospital treatment and repatriation for the stay in Korea.
• Family relationship documents, if accompanied by family.
• Other documents the head of the overseas mission considers necessary.

Stay and extensions

The Yokohama consulate page states that one year is granted from the entry date upon foreigner registration, and that a further one-year extension is possible, for a maximum of two years. Sources reviewed do not state extension fees, documents or where to file.

Things to confirm

• Whether requirements have changed since the sources were published. The consulate page was last modified 2024-08-14 and the Ministry of Justice notice 2024-04-26.
• Visa fee and any processing time.
• The current income threshold figure, since the page gives a 2022-based reference.
• The common documents list linked from the consulate page.
• Whether requirements differ by embassy or consulate.
• Extension procedure, fees and documents.
• Whether the family members' requirements differ from the main applicant's.
• Whether nationality restrictions apply. Sources reviewed do not state them.

Sources

Every claim above comes from these pages. Higher tiers carry more authority. How we tier sources.