Have you ever felt like your trip to Korea was cut short? Do you dream of getting to live (and maybe work?) abroad, at least for a couple of years? Well, the new digital nomad visa of South Korea might be your best bet.
What Is A Digital Nomad Visa?
A digital nomad visa is a specialized visa for individuals who wish to work remotely while residing in a foreign country.
Visitors to South Korea were required to apply for tourist visas or just stay for less than 90 days without a visa. Due to a rise in the "workation" trend, the new digital nomad visa (officially called a workation visa (F-1-D)) will allow foreigners to work and stay in Korea for up to two years.
Digital Nomad Visa for South Korea Requirements
Who can apply?
Starting from January 1, 2024, applicants aged 18 years old or older who have worked in their current field for at least a year (whether as a company employee or a freelancer) are encouraged to apply. The implementation period runs until December 31, 2024.
Applicants must submit additional documents including verification of employment, details of their criminal record, and proof of private health insurance.
Required documents
- Visa Application Form
- Valid passport
- Passport-sized photo (taken within the last six months, to be attached to the certificate of TB (tuberculosis) screening)
- Certificate of Employment
- Payslips (12 months of bank and income statements)
- Bank Certificate
- ITR
- Apostilled criminal records certificate (Apostilled NBI clearance for Filipinos)
- Proof of private medical insurance that covers at least 100 million won for accidents/transports/medical help (basically, for hospital treatment and evacuation to their home country during their stay in Korea)
- Certificate of TB (tuberculosis) screening issued from hospitals designated by the embassy — should the examination outcome be positive, the visa application will be immediately denied
- Address in Korea is REQUIRED for application
- Additional documents for visa application of family members : Marriage Certificate or Birth Certificate
Those seeking to apply must have earned an annual income of over 84.96 million won (P3,538,696.49) in 2023. The digital nomad visa requires you to earn double Korea's gross national income (GNI) per capita of the previous year as announced by the Bank of Korea, after tax deduction. According to the Korea Herald, Korea’s GNI per capita in 2022 was 42.48 million won.
Editor's Note: The validity period of proof documents such as employment certificates is three months from the date of issue. Visa-related information such as submission documents can be confirmed on the Immigration Service homepage and the Hi Korea homepage.
How to Apply For A Digital Nomad Visa in South Korea
- Go to the Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC). It is located at the Brittany Hotel in Bonifacio Global City and accepts walk-in applicants. The center is open from 9AM to 5PM on Mondays to Fridays, and is closed on weekends, Philippine holidays, and Korean consulate holidays.
- Apply for the F-1D (Workation) Multiple Entry Visa. It has a validity of one year, and stay period of one year.
- Pay the digital nomad visa application fee. As of writing, the visa application will cost you P4,500. To compare, a regular tourist visa costs P900.
- Wait for your visa to be approved. Once visa processing is completed, the applicant will receive a text message from KVAC about their visa application status. As of writing, the visa processing for a short term visit visa will take up to 10 working days.
- You may pick up your passport and digital nomad visa at KVAC. After receiving the SMS, bring the original application receipt to KVAC and claim your new visa.
Pros and Cons of Applying for A Digital Nomad Visa In South Korea
Pros
- Digital nomad visa holders will be allowed to bring along a spouse and children. Children must be younger than 18 years old.
- The digital nomad visa will allow holders to stay in Korea for at least one year. There is an opportunity to extend for another year, extending the maximum time frame to up to two years.
- Digital nomad visa holders can apply for the Alien Registration Card (ARC). The ARC will allow you to go through Korean immigration via a faster lane at the airport, open a Korean bank account, use a longer term phone subscription, get access to free Korean classes, rent an apartment at a cheaper price for longer periods of time, and more!
- Foreigners who are already living in Korea on a short-term tourist visa can reapply for the digital nomad visa. As long as they meet the requirements, those on short-term tourist visas such as the visa exemption (B-1), tourist visa (B-2) or short-stay visa (C-3) are eligible to reapply for the new visa.
Cons
- Foreigners who are not affiliated with an overseas business cannot apply for the digital nomad visa. You must either be a company employee or a self-employed freelancer.
- A digital nomad visa will not allow you to apply for a job within Korea. Travelers visiting under this visa cannot be hired in Korea or be involved in "any local profit-making activity" during their stay.
Ready to apply for your digital nomad visa?
Make sure to prepare your documents well, and triple (!) check that all your paperwork is up to date and within the required validity period. Then keep your fingers crossed and ~*manifest*~ that lengthy stay in SoKor!
If you have any questions that need answering, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of the Philippines is located at 122 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City 1634. It's open from 8AM to 5PM on Mondays to Fridays, and you can call them via landline at (02) 8856-9210.
You may also reach out to them via their social media, which includes Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
