South Korea Makes 'Workation' F-1-D Visa Permanent with Lower Income Thresholds
The South Korean Ministry of Justice announced on July 7, 2026, that the digital nomad visa, officially called the F-1-D or ‘workation’ visa, has become a permanent program since June 30, 2026, following a two-and-a-half-year pilot phase. The officialization comes with two key relaxations: the income threshold is now adjusted based on age and place of residence, potentially dropping to one times the national gross income per capita (down from two times previously), and the maximum stay has been extended from two to three years.
From Pilot to Permanent Program
Tested since January 2024, the F-1-D visa already allowed employees of foreign companies to relocate to South Korea while working remotely for their overseas employers. According to the Ministry of Justice, the pilot program issued 743 visas between January 2024 and May 2026, with 398 holders registered in the country as of May 2026, 70% of whom were from OECD countries.
The program is now out of the experimental phase. Applicants can now apply without fear of the program being discontinued mid-stay, and with more favorable criteria if they are young or willing to settle outside the Seoul metropolitan area.
A Visa for Remote Work in South Korea, Not Local Employment
The F-1-D visa’s core principle remains unchanged: it is designed for individuals employed for at least one year in the same sector by a company based outside South Korea (or owners of such a company), capable of performing their work entirely remotely. You live in South Korea, but your income and employer remain abroad.
A strict condition applies: F-1-D visa holders cannot be hired by a South Korean company or engage in any profit-making activity locally. If your goal is to work for a local employer, a standard work visa is required.
Income Thresholds Adjusted by Age and Region
This is the main relaxation. During the pilot phase, all applicants were required to earn at least twice the national gross income (NGI) per capita for the previous year. The permanent scheme now distinguishes between four cases:
18–34 years old:
- Seoul Metropolitan Area: > 1.5× NGI
- Outside Seoul Metropolitan Area: > 1× NGI
35 years and older:
- Seoul Metropolitan Area: > 2× NGI
- Outside Seoul Metropolitan Area: > 1.5× NGI
Outside the Seoul Metropolitan Area includes “regions facing demographic decline, which benefit from the most favorable terms.”
Based on 2026 data, the NGI is 52,416,000 KRW per year (approximately €30,900, exchange rate as of July 16, 2026), or 4,368,000 KRW per month. The full threshold of twice the NGI thus amounts to 104,832,000 KRW (approximately €61,800).
Two important clarifications:
If your spouse or children accompany you, the threshold increases to 2× NGI in the Seoul Metropolitan Area and 1.5× NGI elsewhere, regardless of your age. Additionally, income must come from a foreign employer—South Korean-sourced income is not considered. Prepare consistent supporting documents over several months (payslips, bank statements showing regular transfers), as this is the most common reason for application rejections.
Up to 3 Years in South Korea, Including Family
The initial stay is one year, renewable on-site in one-year increments, for a total of up to three years (up from two years under the pilot).
The legal spouse and minor children may accompany the main applicant under the same visa. Adult children require a separate visa.
The unchanged requirement is health insurance: a private medical coverage of at least 100 million KRW (approximately €59,000), including hospitalization and repatriation, valid for the entire stay. The Immigration Service notice lists the required documents and also allows for on-site conversion to the F-1-D visa if you are already in South Korea under a tourist status (B-1, B-2, or C-3) and meet the conditions.
What to Check Before Applying
The ministerial announcement is very recent, and not all South Korean missions have updated their fact sheets yet—some consular pages still display the old pilot-era thresholds (single threshold of 2× NGI and maximum stay of 2 years). The adjusted scale is authoritative, but it is the mission handling your application that will assess your case.
Finally, the reference amount changes annually with the NGI published by the Bank of Korea—always use the current year’s figure.
