South Korea Makes Its Digital Nomad Visa Permanent and Eases Requirements

South Korea has officially moved its F-1-D digital nomad visa from pilot status to a permanent program. The updated rules took effect on June 30, 2026, following a trial period that ran from January 2024 to May 2026.

The visa lets employees of foreign companies and owners of overseas businesses live in South Korea while continuing to work remotely for employers based abroad. Holders are barred from taking a job with a Korean company or earning income from activities inside the country under F-1-D status.

The key change is a lower financial bar for a specific group of applicants. Those aged 18 to 34 who are willing to live outside Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province can qualify by showing income equal to one year's per-capita gross national income. In 2025, that figure stood at $36,963 — roughly $3,080 a month.

Other applicants still face higher thresholds that vary by age and chosen region of residence. At the same time, the maximum length of stay was extended from two to three years.

Applicants must show at least a year of employment with a foreign employer or ownership of an overseas company, stable income, a clean criminal record, and health insurance covering at least $75,000. Spouses and dependent children may accompany the main applicant.

Applications are filed through the South Korean embassy or consulate covering the applicant's place of residence. Processing typically takes anywhere from 10 business days to three or four weeks, and there is no expedited option.

As a result, the revamped F-1-D is now considerably more accessible — particularly for young remote workers willing to live outside the greater Seoul area.