SEOUL – South Korea has officially launched its digital nomad visa with more relaxed eligibility requirements, lowering income thresholds and extending the maximum period of stay to attract more overseas remote workers.

The Ministry of Justice said the F-1-D visa, also known as the "workation" visa, became available on June 30 following a pilot programme that ran from January 2024 to May 2026.

According to The Korea Herald, the visa allows foreigners employed by overseas companies to live in South Korea while working remotely, unlike a standard work visa, which requires employment with a South Korean employer.

The ministry said the revised requirements are intended to make the programme more attractive to global talent.

Under the pilot programme, applicants were generally required to earn at least twice South Korea's previous year's gross national income (GNI) per capita.

Under the new rules, however, lower income thresholds apply depending on factors such as applicants' age and whether they intend to live outside the Greater Seoul area or in designated population-declining regions.

For instance, applicants aged 18 to 34 planning to reside outside Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province are eligible if they earn at least the previous year's GNI per capita instead of twice that amount. South Korea's GNI per capita stood at US$36,963 in 2025.

The maximum duration of stay has also been extended from two years to three years.

"The digital nomad visa is intended to expand opportunities for creative talent from around the world to experience South Korea.

"We will establish a settlement model that encourages highly skilled individuals to experience the country's appeal, voluntarily put down roots here and become valuable assets to Korea," Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho said.