South Korea Digital Nomad Visa for Indians: Income and Steps

The F-1-D is a long-stay status. The stay is granted for one year from entry and can be extended by one more year, to a maximum of 2 years. Local employment or profit-making activity in Korea is not allowed. Everything below is as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. For tourist, student and work visas, see our South Korea visa guide for Indians.

Who qualifies for Korea's F-1-D digital nomad visa?

According to the Consulate General of Korea in Chennai's notice on the digital nomad (workation) visa, the main applicant must:

• Be employed by a foreign company and work remotely, or own a business overseas.
• Have worked in the same industry for at least one year.
• Be 18 or older (dependent children are the exception).
• Meet the income requirement below.
• Hold private medical insurance covering at least KRW 100 million for treatment and repatriation.

Your spouse and minor children can come with you on the same scheme. Whatever your work arrangement, local employment or profit-making activity in Korea is not permitted on this visa.

How much income do Indians need for the F-1-D?

The rule is income of more than twice the previous year's gross national income (GNI) per capita, as announced by the Bank of Korea. The Chennai consulate's notice of 10 May 2024 put that at KRW 84.96 million a year, or KRW 7.08 million a month, based on 2022 GNI.

Because the bar is tied to the previous year's GNI, it changes over time, and no 2026 figure appears in the official notices. Confirm the current amount with the KVAC or the consulate before you apply, and keep a margin above it.

The notice lists acceptable income proof: an employment certificate, a salary certificate or a bank transaction certificate. The Chennai/Bengaluru KVAC checklist adds Indian evidence: ITR for 2 years and PAN, a 6-month bank statement and 6 months of salary slips.

Which documents does the F-1-D checklist ask for?

The full list is in the KVAC F-1-D checklist (2026). Police clearance and apostille or legalisation take time, so start them early.

How do Indians apply for the F-1-D, step by step?

1. Find your jurisdiction. Embassy in New Delhi (VFS New Delhi and Kolkata), Consulate General in Mumbai (Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa and Hyderabad centres) or Consulate General in Chennai (Chennai and Bengaluru KVACs).
2. Get the right checklist. The long-term digital nomad checklist is published by the Chennai/Bengaluru KVAC. The Mumbai-jurisdiction VFS site does not list the F-1-D among its visa types, so applicants in other jurisdictions should confirm the checklist with their centre first.
3. Collect apostilled documents: the Indian PCC and the family relation certificate.
4. Fill the e-Form on the Korea Visa Portal (www.visa.go.kr) and print it.
5. Submit at the KVAC run by VFS Global. No appointment is needed at the Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa and Hyderabad centres; walk in during submission hours. Incomplete applications are not accepted at the counter.
6. Track the application on the Visa Portal with the 14-digit reference number from the centre.

You can apply no earlier than 89 days before travel (Chennai-jurisdiction VFS site). In the Mumbai jurisdiction, since 21 September 2026, applications are accepted only if your travel date is within one month of submission.

What does it cost, and how long does it take?

The F-1-D fee is not settled in the published material. The KVAC page lists INR 5400.00 for a long-term entry, while the 1-year multiple F-1-D checklist shows Rs. 5100, so confirm the amount at the centre before you go. The service charge is Rs. 1600 per person on the Chennai/Bengaluru KVAC pages (the 2026 checklist PDFs say Rs. 1380), and the optional courier costs Rs. 550.

The Chennai/Bengaluru KVAC publishes these minimum processing times, excluding the day of submission:

Express service needs a copy of a confirmed air ticket and accommodation, and you cannot switch from normal to express after applying.

Mistakes that sink F-1-D applications

• Relying on the 2024 income figure without checking the current GNI-based threshold.
• Medical insurance below KRW 100 million, or a policy without repatriation cover.
• A PCC or family certificate without an apostille or legalisation.
• Planning local employment or profit-making activity in Korea, which the visa does not allow.
• An incomplete file. It is not accepted at the counter, and after a refusal you may reapply only after three months. The Chennai consulate does not disclose reasons for non-issuance.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files. Packages run from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation + hotel + itinerary + cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact our team.

Frequently asked questions

Can Indians apply for Korea's Working Holiday visa instead?

No. Korea's Working Holiday Program covers 30 countries and regions (list dated May 2026), and India is not one of them.

Can my family join me on the F-1-D?

Yes. The scheme covers the main applicant's spouse and minor children. The checklist asks for a family relation certificate that is apostilled or legalised.

Is the D-10-1 job seeker visa an option for Indians?

It is a different route, for people seeking professional work in E-1 to E-7 fields. Eligibility includes one year at a Fortune Global 500 company within the last 3 years, or graduating within the last 3 years from a top-200 university in the Times Higher Education rankings. It is a single-entry visa valid for 3 months with a stay of up to 6 months.

Do I need travel insurance for an ordinary Korean tourist visa?

Travel insurance is not on the 2026 tourist checklists published by the Chennai/Bengaluru KVAC or the Mumbai-jurisdiction VFS centres. The F-1-D is the exception, requiring private medical insurance of at least KRW 100 million.