South Korea digital nomad visa launched

By Hoang Phong January 2, 2024 | 09:15 pm PT

People walk at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, March 25, 2022. Photo by Reuters/Heo Ran

South Korea began issuing digital nomad visas from Jan. 1, allowing foreigners to stay for up to two years, as it seeks to compete with Southeast Asian countries.

To be eligible for the visa, applicants must prove that they can earn an annual income of 84.96 million won (US$65,860), double the Korean per capita income in 2022, Korea Herald reported.

They must have been working in their field for at least a year and be at least 18 years of age.

Applicants are required to submit all documents to the Korean embassy in their country.

The new visa is valid for a year and renewable for one more.

But applicants should remember it does not allow them to apply for a job in Korea, Yonhap News Agency said.

Until now foreigners wishing to stay in the country and work remotely were required to apply for tourist visas or stay for up to 90 days without a visa.

In Southeast Asia, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia offer visas for digital nomads for stays of up to 10 years.