Digital Nomad (Workation) Status/Visa in Korea

Digital Nomad (Workation) Status/Visa in Korea has been piloted from January 1, 2024 (Monday), where overseas remote workers can stay for a long time while enjoying tourism in Korea.

Here, WORKATION is a compound word of work and vacation, and refers to a form of working remotely at a vacation destination or tourist destination while resting. Currently, work visas like the Digital Nomad (Workation) ,Visa/Status to stay in Korea are introduced and operated mainly in tourist countries such as Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.

The status of digital nomad (workation) residence will be subject to foreigners staying in Korea as short-term residence status.

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Until now, foreigners had to obtain a tourist visa or enter the country without a visa and stay for less than 90 days in order to work in Korea, and after the period of stay, there was a problem that they had to leave the country even if they wanted to stay more in Korea.

To alleviate the inconvenience of overseas remote workers, the Ministry of Justice has established a digital nomad visa system that allows workers employed by foreign companies to stay in Korea for a long time while touring if they prove and satisfy some requirements like their employment experience and income above a certain level.

Digital Nomad (workation) visas can be applied at accompanying families can also apply for visas.

In addition, foreigners who are currently working in Korea as short-term residents can also change to a work visa in Korea if essential requirements including their work experience and income are satisfied. However, digital nomad (work) visa holders are strictly restricted from working in Korea to protect the domestic job market, and they must obtain a separate visa(status) to work in Korea.

However, it will be difficult to change the status of stay if you are sentenced abroad for certain crimes, such as specific violent crimes and threats, blackmail, fraud, voice fishing, drugs, and sexual violence, etc.

For this, documents such as application, passport, photo, fee, etc. are required. For more information and to save your energy(money and time, etc.), it would be good for you to consult with an expert who can speak foreign languages such as English and Japanese and who is familiar with immigration administration in Korea.

If you have any questions/concerns, don't hesitate to contact me(Esq.Cho) at any time you want by a phone 82-10-6434-9107 or 82-2-586-2850.