Another country with strict immigration rules is introducing visas for digital nomads

Amid the rise of remote work, digital nomad visas were initially introduced by countries that wanted to boost their economies by attracting foreigners. But as the concept of the digital nomad became more widespread, even countries with very strong economies and strict immigration rules started issuing visas for remote workers.

Another country that has only a few strict paths to permanent residence through marriage, investment, or achievement in certain professional fields, South Korea is now also developing a "work" visa for those who want to spend a few months in the country and earn some income at the same time. This was reported by islandpacket.com.

Travel and remote work in Korea for a longer period

"The new system will allow employees and employers of foreign firms to travel and work remotely in Korea for a longer period of time," the government report says.

Although the visa has not yet been officially announced and made available to foreigners, it was granted as part of a "soft launch" in January for foreigners who specifically requested the opportunity to spend more time in the country at South Korean embassies abroad. The visa is issued for 12 months with the possibility to apply for an extension for another year when it expires. The concept is similar to the visas for digital nomads developed in other countries, which require proof of income exceeding a certain amount derived from a source in the country of origin. In the case of South Korea, this is the equivalent of $100,000, a relatively high figure that has drawn criticism from those wishing to apply.

South Korea as a whole has experienced a surge in tourism amid the growing popularity of K-Pop, as well as the viral success of shows and movies such as Parasite and Squid Game. In a recent report by Intrepid Travel, an adventure travel company, South Korea, along with far-flung European countries such as Slovenia and Albania, was named the destination with the highest growth in interest from U.S. travelers in 2024. While most Western countries have a visa-free agreement with South Korea, allowing entry for up to three months for tourism purposes, the new visa is aimed at those who want to visit the country for a longer period or cannot afford to stay out of work for months. Like other similar visas for remote workers, it is also clearly designed as a temporary visa for visitors who do not intend to make South Korea their permanent home.