South Korea is a dazzling travel destination, with a host of cities to explore and a calendar jam-packed with annual festivals. And thanks to the country’s low crime rate and relatively affordable cost of living, it could also be a great place to live.
Excitingly, living in South Korea just became a whole lot easier. On January 1, the Korean government launched a brand new digital nomad visa. Successful applicants will be able to stay in South Korea for up to two years while working in a remote job from their home country. Given that the majority of nomad visas start with a year, that’s pretty generous. You’re also entitled to bring a partner, and children under the age of 18.
Currently, visitors can only apply for tourist visas, or stay for up to 90 days. The government is treating this rollout as a trial, to see how well it works, but the Justice Ministry said they’re keen to ‘make remote work and the vacation of foreigners in Korea smoother,’ according to Forbes.
But like with any digital nomad visa, there are a few conditions. You need to be over the age of 18, have worked in your current job for at least a year, and earn a minimum of £51,000 ($65,000, €59,000) annually – that’s around double South Korea’s gross national income per person.
Do you fit all that criteria? Well, to apply, you’ll need to submit all the necessary documents, including proof of your employment, criminal record and private health insurance, to your home country’s Korean embassy.
While you’re here, take a look at our list of the very best things to do in Seoul.
Keen to see what else is out there? Peru has also just announced the launch of their digital nomad visa, but there’s a whole host of them on our comprehensive list. And if you’re still deciding whether the nomad life is for you, we spoke to people who have tried it out.
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