Pakistan → South Korea: the F-1-D Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa roadmap
South Korea's F-1-D Workation (Digital Nomad) visa, introduced in January 2024 and now a permanent program, lets non-Korean remote workers and overseas business owners live in Korea for up to two years while working for foreign employers or clients. The headline requirement is a minimum annual income of about KRW 88,102,000 (~$66,000 USD), defined as more than twice Korea's prior-year GNI per capita as announced by the Bank of Korea, plus private health insurance covering roughly KRW 100 million (~EUR 70,000). Critically, this is a temporary visa with no path to permanent residence or citizenship: it is capped at two years, time on it does not count toward the F-5 PR track, and local employment in Korea is prohibited.
Moving from Pakistan
- You apply for the F-1-D Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa at the South Korea consulate, embassy, or visa application centre that serves Pakistan, confirm the office and the current appointment wait for your region.
- Qualifications and work experience earned in Pakistan usually need a credential assessment or recognition before they count toward South Korea's requirements.
- Budget for certified translation and apostille or legalisation of your Pakistan documents (degree, police certificate, civil records).
- Check whether a Pakistan passport needs a short-stay visa for any in-person biometrics or interview steps.
General guidance for any Pakistan to South Korea applicant; the eligibility and fees below are set by South Korea.
At a glance
Who qualifies
- Aged 18 or older with no relevant criminal record (e.g. FBI/police background check issued within 6 months)
- Employed by a foreign company, or owner of an overseas business, for more than 1 year and able to work remotely from Korea
- Income of more than twice Korea's prior-year GNI per capita: roughly KRW 88,102,000/year (~$66,000 USD), after tax, proven via pay stubs, bank statements and tax returns
- Private health insurance covering at least ~KRW 100 million / EUR 70,000 for medical treatment and emergency repatriation for the full stay
- All income must come from outside Korea; the holder may not take up local Korean employment
- Spouse and minor children may apply as accompanying dependents (F-1)
Your step-by-step roadmap
Prepare and qualify
- Confirm 1+ year of remote employment/overseas business and that income exceeds ~KRW 88.1M/yr after tax
- Obtain a criminal background check (issued within 6 months) and purchase qualifying private health insurance (~EUR 70,000 cover)
Apply for the F-1-D visa
- Compile passport (6+ months validity), application form, employment/business proof, income documents (pay stubs, bank statements, tax returns) and insurance proof
- Submit to a Korean embassy/consulate, or switch in-country at an immigration office if eligible, and pay the visa fee (~$45-$100)
Enter and register in Korea
- Enter on the multiple-entry F-1-D visa (1-year sojourn)
- Register for a foreigner residence card at the local immigration office after arrival as required
Renew or depart
- Apply to extend for one additional year (2-year maximum) through an immigration office before expiry
- Depart or change status at the end of two years, as the F-1-D cannot be extended further and offers no PR conversion
Government fees
Timeline & path to citizenship
Timeline: Application processing typically takes about 2-4 weeks, with a maximum permitted stay of two years (1 year plus one 1-year renewal).
Citizenship: There is no permanent residence or citizenship path through the F-1-D visa: it is capped at two years, time on it does not count toward the F-5 permanent residence track, and applicants seeking long-term settlement would need to switch to a separate qualifying visa category (e.g. a skilled-work E-7 or other F-series route) first.
This is general information to help you plan, not legal advice. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration professional.