Moving to South Korea
4 routes for people from the US, Canada and the UK, each checked against official sources. Find the one that fits, then check it with the source before you apply.
Keep your job, work remotely
South Korea digital nomad (workation) visa
Workation visa (F-1-D)
Remote employees or foreign-company owners with over a year in their field; the income bar is 2x Korea's GNI per capita (about KRW 104.8 million), reported as low as 1x (about KRW 52.4 million) for under-35s outside Seoul since 30 June 2026.
- What you need
- Income above twice Korea's previous-year GNI per capita (2025 GNI per capita: KRW 52,416,000, so about KRW 104.8 million), per the Embassy in Canada (posted 1 Jan 2026). Since the visa became permanent on 30 June 2026, the Ministry of Justice is reported to apply 1x to 2x depending on age and region: ages 18-34 need 1.5x in the Seoul capital area and 1x elsewhere; 35+ need 2x in the capital area and 1.5x elsewhere; bringing family to the capital area needs 2x. (KRW 104,832,000 a year)
- Aged 18 or over (dependants can be younger).
- Employed by, or owner of, a foreign company for more than 1 year (same industry) and able to work remotely from Korea.
- Private medical insurance for treatment and emergency repatriation for the whole stay. The Embassy in Canada states USD 75,000; the Houston consulate (2024) and secondary sources state KRW 100 million.
- Not for
- Working for Korean employers or Korean clients
- People with under a year in their current field
- Where you apply
- From home, at a consulate. Start online on the Korea Visa Portal (visa.go.kr), then apply at the Korean embassy or consulate covering where you live (the Embassy in Canada requires you to be in its jurisdiction).
- How long it takes
- About 10 business days (Embassy in Canada).
- First permit
- 1 year from entry; multiple-entry visa.
- Renewal
- Extendable at a Korean immigration office. Maximum total reported as 3 years since 30 June 2026 (2 years during the 2024-2026 pilot).
- Family
- Dependent family members are eligible with proof of relationship.
A job offer
Korea English teaching visa
Foreign language instructor visa (E-2)
Native English speakers from the US, UK or Canada (or four other listed countries) with a bachelor's degree and a teaching contract with a Korean school or academy.
- What you need
- Citizen of one of seven native-English countries: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa.
- Bachelor's degree or higher, in any field, generally from a university in one of those countries.
- National criminal record check, apostilled (or notarised) with a Korean translation.
- Employment contract and a visa issuance number from Korea's Ministry of Justice before applying; medical exam including a drug test.
- Not for
- Non-native speakers or citizens of other English-speaking countries
- People without a degree
- Where you apply
- From home, at a consulate. The employer obtains a visa issuance number; you apply at the Korean embassy or consulate for your area.
- How long it takes
- Not stated.
- First permit
- Length of contract plus 1 month, up to 2 years.
- Renewal
- Extensions of up to 2 years each; apply from 4 months before expiry.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 5 years. Citizenship after about 5 years.
- Family
- Not covered in sources read.
A job offer Rules need confirming
Korea skilled work visa (E-7)
Specially designated activities visa (E-7)
Professionals with a Korean job offer in an occupation on the Ministry of Justice's E-7 list, usually with a relevant degree and experience.
- What you need
- Job offer from a Korean employer in an E-7 listed occupation; the employer applies for a visa issuance number.
- One of: a relevant master's degree; a bachelor's plus at least 1 year of related experience; or about 5 years of related experience (some sources say 10). Secondary sources only.
- Salary must meet a minimum set by the Ministry of Justice each year, tied to Korea's GNI per capita; 2026 figures in secondary sources conflict (about KRW 28-31 million a year).
- Not for
- People without a Korean employer
- Where you apply
- From home, at a consulate. Employer obtains a visa issuance number from immigration; you apply at a Korean embassy or consulate.
- How long it takes
- Not verified.
- First permit
- Not verified.
- Renewal
- Renewable while employed (secondary sources).
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 5 years. Citizenship after about 5 years.
- Family
- Spouse and children can usually join on F-3 dependant status (not verified in this pass).
No official Korean page was read. Qualification paths and the salary minimum conflict across secondary sources.
Treaties and special cases
South Korea working holiday visa
Working Holiday visa (H-1)
UK and Canadian citizens aged 18 to 35, and US students or recent graduates aged 18 to 30, who want about a year in Korea with casual work.
- What you need
- UK and Canada: 18 to 35. United States: 18 to 30.
- United States only: must be a bona fide post-secondary student or a recent graduate (within 1 year of graduation).
- Annual quotas: UK 5,000; Canada 12,000; US 2,000.
- Not for
- People over the age limit for their nationality
- US citizens who are not students or recent graduates
- Where you apply
- From home, at a consulate. Apply at the Korean embassy or consulate covering your place of residence.
- How long it takes
- Not stated.
- First permit
- Up to 1 year; Canadians up to 24 months.
- Renewal
- UK nationals can extend by up to 1 year and US nationals by up to 6 months under the agreements; Canadians can stay up to 24 months.
- Family
- Not covered in sources read; working holiday visas are normally individual.
- Your passport
- Age limit 18-35 for UK and Canadian citizens; 18-30 for US citizens, who must also be students or recent graduates.