Digital Nomad visa becomes a formal three-year programme

In force Visa & immigration In force 30 Jun 2026 · announced 7 Jul 2026

The Ministry of Justice converted the F-1-D workation pilot into a formal programme from 30 June 2026. Maximum stay increased from two to three years, and income requirements now vary from one to two times prior-year per-capita GNI according to age and residence location. Remote work remains for an overseas business; Korean employment is not authorised by this status.

Who it affects

Overseas remote workers and accompanying eligible family members.

Sources

Primary: Korea Immigration Service — Digital Nomad programme ↗

Verified 2026-08-02 · methodology

Related changes in South Korea

More recent updates

In force 1 Jun 2026

In force Residency

Top-Tier F-2 expands to leading science and technology researchers

From 1 June 2026 the programme expanded beyond its initial high-tech company track to qualifying professors and researchers in science and technology. A ministerial recommendation and published achievement or potential criteria apply; successful researchers, spouses and minor children receive F-2 status with unrestricted employment.

Who it affects: World-class science and technology researchers and their immediate families.

Ministry of Justice — Top-Tier science expansion ↗ · verified 2026-08-02

In force 1 Jan 2026

In force Visa & immigration

D-8 corporate investment retains its KRW 100 million core test

A foreign investor establishing and operating a Korean corporation can use D-8-1 with at least KRW 100 million brought from abroad and the required ownership and foreign-investment registration. Dispatched essential professionals and technology-startup founders use different D-8 bases; the category should not be presented as one universal founder visa.

Who it affects: Foreign investors, founders and essential professionals in foreign-invested companies.

Invest KOREA — Applications by status of sojourn ↗ · verified 2026-08-02

In force 1 Jan 2026

In force Visa & immigration

2026 E-7 wage requirements published by subcategory

The Ministry of Justice publishes annual wage requirements for Specific Activities E-7 statuses. Applicants and employers must use the 2026 notice and the rule for the exact E-7 subcategory and occupation; a generic OECD-style benchmark is not a valid substitute.

Who it affects: Employers and foreign workers using E-7 specialist or skilled-worker categories.

Ministry of Justice — 2026 E-7 wage requirements ↗ · verified 2026-08-02

In force 2 Dec 2025

In force Visa & immigration

Promising overseas graduates receive targeted D-10 and E-7 concessions

A two-year initiative provides specified young overseas graduates with D-10-1 points or financial-test concessions and E-7 education, major or experience concessions depending on the talent type. It is a targeted benefit, not a replacement of the general D-10 job-seeker rules.

Who it affects: Qualifying recent overseas graduates seeking skilled work in Korea.

Ministry of Justice — Promising overseas talent benefits ↗ · verified 2026-08-02

In force 2 Apr 2025

In force Residency

Top-Tier programme grants immediate F-2 status in advanced industries

The Top-Tier programme grants Resident F-2 status to qualifying senior specialists in designated advanced industries. The published core track combines academic or experience criteria, Korean employment and an income test; a higher income can exempt the education or experience tests. Spouses and minor children receive residence support and permanent residence may be available after three years.

Who it affects: Senior specialists recruited into designated high-technology industries.

Ministry of Justice — Top-Tier Visa programme ↗ · verified 2026-08-02