Korea to welcome 'digital nomads' with new visa starting Jan. 1

A shared office space for digital nomads in Busan [SONG BONG-GEUN]

Foreigners will be able to work remotely in Korea for up to two years with the new workcation visa that will be created next year, also being able to bring their families along.

The Ministry of Justice announced Friday that the government will start issuing the workcation visa starting Jan. 1.

The workcation visa, also known as the digital nomad visa, will allow foreigners to work remotely in Korea for a company abroad for one year. Visa holders can extend their stay for another year, staying in Korea for up to two years.

Applicants must be 18 or older and have worked in their current field for at least a year.

The visa requires applicants to have an annual income double the amount of Korea's gross national income (GNI) per capita for the previous year.

Korea's GNI per capita was 42.48 million won ($33,000) as of 2022, requiring those applying for the visa to have an annual income of 84.96 million won.

Foreigners currently in Korea with a short-term tourist visa such as the B-1, B-2 and C-3 can transition into the workcation visa if they meet all the requirements.

Visa holders will also be able to bring their spouse or children with the visa.

Those who wish to obtain the visa can apply via Korean embassies in their respective country.

The workcation visa doesn't allow holders to apply for a job within Korea. Foreigners will need other working visas to do so.

"We hope the workcation visa will allow high-earning foreigners to stay in Korea's various regions and vitalize the local economy," the Justice Ministry said in a statement. "We hope the visa will be an opportunity for us to showcase our country and our culture."

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]