WAKATION · KOREA

Korea workation guide for international remote workers and teams

Everything you need to work and stay in Korea, on one page. Entry requirements link to the official sources with the date we checked them; support programs, city guides, experiences, trip sets, stays and eSIM lead to the relevant pages, operators and partners.

Official sources checked on 2026-09-19

Entering Korea — four things checked against official sources

Entry rules change. Re-check the official pages below before you travel. This is editorial guidance, not legal advice.

K-ETA (electronic travel authorization) — 22 countries and regions are exempt until 31 December 2026

Visa-free nationals normally need a K-ETA before departure (KRW 10,000, usually processed within 72 hours, valid for 3 years or until the passport expires, with multiple entries). However, nationals of the 22 countries and regions below are temporarily exempt from 1 January to 31 December 2026 and can enter without a K-ETA during that period. You may still apply voluntarily, in which case the fee applies.

Exempt: Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, United States (incl. Guam), Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Australia, New Zealand (Korea Tourism Organization guidance as of 21 April 2026)

Official source: Official K-ETA notice — exemption extended (23 Dec 2025) · Korea Tourism Organization — visa and K-ETA guide

Visa-free short stays — the allowed length depends on your passport

For tourism and visits, the visa-free period depends on your nationality under a visa waiver agreement or designated visa-free entry (up to 90 days). Japanese passport holders can stay visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism, business or language study (Japan MOFA guidance). Check the exact period and conditions for your passport on the official Korea Visa Portal. Paid work is not allowed on a visa-free stay; stays over 90 days or for employment require a visa before departure.

Official source: Korea Visa Portal (official) · HiKorea — immigration and stay guide

Workation (digital nomad) visa F-1-D — regular operation since 30 June 2026

Open to foreign nationals aged 18 or over who work remotely for an overseas company and have worked in the same industry for at least one year, plus their spouse and minor children. The income requirement is twice the previous year’s per-capita GNI (about KRW 52.41 million for 2025) as the base rule, 1.5 times if you stay outside the Seoul capital region or in a designated population-decline area, and 1 time for ages 18–34 on a workation outside the capital region. Private medical insurance covering at least KRW 100 million for treatment and repatriation is required, and the stay is up to three years. Apply at a Korean embassy or consulate abroad; short-term visitors (B-1, B-2, C-3) who meet the requirements can apply to change their status in Korea.

Official source: Ministry of Justice press release — regular operation (7 Jul 2026) · Embassy of Korea in Canada — F-1-D guide (2 Apr 2026)

Local support programs open to foreign applicants · 3

Only programs whose official notice states that foreign nationals may apply. Each operating body handles applications and selection; conditions, documents and cautions follow the notice on the detail page.

Local support programs open to foreign applicants
RegionProgramSupportStatus
GyeongnamNamhae Month-Stay₩70,000/day lodgingClosed
GyeongnamGimhae Seumim-ae₩70,000/night lodgingCheck notice
Boeun, ChungbukBoeun Live-Here Stay₩70,000/day stay (team)Check notice
Open the support hub with the foreigner filter

City guides — Seoul, Busan and Jeju

SeoulPop-ups in Seongsu, cafés in Yeonnam — a whole city that works as an officeBusanA seaside workation base — Korea's flagship workation cityJejuA desk by the sea, no passport needed — the fastest workation

Experiences — partner listings

EXPERIENCEOne day across Busan’s coast, villages and sea viewsA full-day vehicle itinerary connecting far-apart Busan highlights such as Blue Line Park and Gamcheon Culture Village.EXPERIENCEHalf a day in Seoul, walking and dancing to Hongdae’s rhythmFinish your work in the morning, then use four afternoon hours for a K-pop dance class and a guided walk through Hongdae merchandise shops.

Trip sets — stays, experiences, eSIM and transport in itinerary order

TRIP SETSeoul, 3 nights 4 daysCafés and street walks — a trip that gets close to everyday SeoulTRIP SETBusan weekend, 2N3DSea views, good food, long walks — an easy weekendTRIP SETJeju solo reset, 2N3DWork by the sea, close the day on the coastal road — a reset of your own

Stays and connectivity

Find a stay — Seoul, Busan, Jeju (Booking.com · Agoda search)Korea eSIM and mobile dataWork device and connection security checklistHosted stays and program updates

Some external links may earn Wakation a commission. Booking, payment, cancellation and refunds follow each service’s terms. Support programs are run and decided by each operating body.

Coming as a company or team?

The table of programs open to companies and teams, plus the inquiry form, is on the business page.

Company and team workationsContact us

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a K-ETA?

Visa-free nationals normally need one, but nationals of 22 countries and regions (including Japan, the US, the UK, Germany, France and Australia) are temporarily exempt until 31 December 2026 and can enter without a K-ETA during that period. An approved K-ETA stays valid for 3 years or until the passport expires.

Which visa do I need to work remotely from Korea?

A visa-free stay for tourism or visits does not allow paid work. If you work for an overseas company, have at least one year in the same industry and meet the income and insurance requirements, you can apply for the F-1-D workation (digital nomad) visa at a Korean embassy or consulate; the stay is up to three years.

Can foreign nationals apply for local support programs?

3 programs state in their official notice that foreign nationals may apply. Conditions and documents differ by program, so check the notice on each detail page and apply with the operating body.

How do I arrange a stay and an eSIM?

For Seoul, Busan and Jeju, the stay page leads to Booking.com and Agoda searches, and the eSIM page leads to our partner for a Korea eSIM. Booking, payment and refunds follow each service’s terms.

Sources and how we check information