PASSPORT CONTROLSouth Korea
RECOMMENDED ROUTE 路 F-1-D Workation VisaMultiple of prior-year Korea GNI per capita, after tax (KRW 52.57M for 2026 filings). National rule since 30 June 2026: 1x to 2x GNI by age and location. US consulates (Chicago) apply 1.5x for ages 18 to 34 and 2x for 35 and over.
What the file has to contain
These are the documents the authorities expect for the lead route. This is a reference list, not an eligibility check: whether any one item is met depends on your own situation. Items marked for apostille must be legalized before they will be accepted.
The law says
Official rules, verified against government text.
- Income requirement
- $6,500 / month (USD)
Multiple of prior-year Korea GNI per capita, after tax (KRW 52.57M for 2026 filings). National rule since 30 June 2026: 1x to 2x GNI by age and location. US consulates (Chicago) apply 1.5x for ages 18 to 34 and 2x for 35 and over. - Initial duration
- 1 year initial, extendable in 1-year increments up to a 3-year maximum stay
- Renewal
- Renewable in 1-year extensions up to a total maximum stay of 3 years, subject to continued eligibility
- Maximum stay
- 3 years
- Official cost
- Seattle consulate: $45 for US citizens; other nationalities vary by post. Excludes health insurance (must cover at least KRW 100M, about US$76,000, for treatment and repatriation).
- Official source
- Consulate General in Chicago: F-1-D Workation visa
The street says
10 SIGNALSWhat applicants report, kept separate from the official numbers.
Voices from the field
straightforward if requirements are met but bank/phone setup a major pain
Virginia Long 路 2026-01-19. A new 2026 Korea visa income rule (tied to a higher won threshold) could significantly raise the income bar applicants must clear.
Open the full source file (6)
- Consulate General in Chicago: F-1-D Workation visaGOV 路 Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Chicago 路 accessed 2026-09-08
- South Korea digital nomad visa permanent, eased incomePRACTITIONER 路 Gomate Relocate 路 accessed 2026-08-03
- South Korea digital nomad visa 2026PRACTITIONER 路 SettleRadar 路 accessed 2026-08-03
- South Korea digital nomad visa 2026 F-1-DPRACTITIONER 路 Trenity Consultants 路 accessed 2026-08-03
- F-1-D visaGOV 路 MOFA Korea (Seattle) 路 accessed 2026-09-08
- Justice Ministry release: F-1-D formal operation from 30 June 2026GOV 路 Ministry of Justice (Korea) 路 accessed 2026-09-08
The route that matters most is the F-1-D Workation Visa, and the bar is income after tax of twice Korea's prior-year GNI per capita, roughly $6,500 a month for 2026 filings, or 1.5 times (about $4,900) if you are 18 to 34 and filing at a US consulate. The national rule since 30 June 2026 goes as low as one times GNI for young applicants outside the Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi region, but no US post applies that tier yet, so plan to the consulate's figure. Stays run a year at a time, up to a national maximum of three years. The paperwork is worth it if you clear that income comfortably; if you are near the line, confirm your tier with the post that will file you before you spend on documents.