South Korea's digital nomad visa, launched on January 1, 2024, allows foreign remote workers to live and work in the country for up to two years. As the programme enters its second year, the Korea Herald asks what officials might revise next in an article headlined "What's next for Korea's digital nomad visa?"

The Korea Herald report signals that immigration authorities are weighing adjustments to a programme that has drawn interest from technology, design, and consulting professionals across multiple continents.

What does the current digital nomad visa require?

The Ministry of Justice oversees the digital nomad visa, which grants an initial one-year stay, renewable once for a maximum of two years. Applicants must document the following:

• Employment or self-employment with a company registered outside South Korea
• At least one year of relevant work experience
• Annual income above 84 million won (about $65,000)
• Health insurance valid in South Korea
• A clean criminal record

Holders cannot work for Korean employers or serve Korean clients while on the permit. Spouses and minor children qualify under a separate dependent category.

How does the application process work?

Applicants file through Korean diplomatic missions abroad or the Hi Korea immigration portal. The process typically requires passport submission, proof of foreign employment, recent pay slips or tax returns, and a criminal background check from the country of residence.

Processing times vary by mission. Applicants often wait several weeks for a decision.

Who has used the visa so far?

Interest has come from technology workers, designers, consultants, and content creators based in Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. The Ministry of Justice has not published monthly issuance totals, leaving the exact scale of uptake unclear.

What changes might be under review?

Remote-work visas worldwide typically face revisions across several policy levers. Officials may revisit the income threshold, the length of stay, family reunification rules, or the 183-day tax residency threshold that affects digital nomads staying long term.

The Korea Herald headline indicates such a review is underway, though the Ministry of Justice has not publicly posted amendments. Any change would require notice before taking effect, typically through an official announcement on the Hi Korea portal.

What should prospective applicants do now?

Monitor the Hi Korea portal and Korea Immigration Service notices for official updates. Confirm the latest rules with the Korean embassy or consulate handling the application before submitting documents.

Always anchor planning to the official source of any change.