South Korea
Seoul is one of the great city stays: safe at 3 a.m., wired to the gills, with mountains inside the city limits and food that costs a fraction of Tokyo's. Korea's Working Holiday agreements and the new workcation visa make it a realistic long-stay option.
Entry and visas
Many nationalities can enter for up to 90 days without a visa; several must obtain a K-ETA electronic authorisation first (temporary exemptions for some countries have been extended more than once, so check the K-ETA site). Working Holiday visas (H-1) cover around 25 countries, ages 18 to 30. The Digital Nomad (Workcation, F-1-D) visa launched in 2024 requires a high income threshold.
| Passport | Category | Max days | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | Visa-free (K-ETA may apply) Visa-free entry; the K-ETA electronic travel authorisation has been temporarily waived for many nationalities and reinstated more than once. Verify the current K-ETA requirement on the official site before booking. | 90 | Oct 19, 2026 · verify official source ↗ |
| GB | Visa-free (K-ETA may apply) Visa-free entry; the K-ETA electronic travel authorisation has been temporarily waived for many nationalities and reinstated more than once. Verify the current K-ETA requirement on the official site before booking. | 90 | Oct 19, 2026 · verify official source ↗ |
| DE | Visa-free (K-ETA may apply) Visa-free entry; the K-ETA electronic travel authorisation has been temporarily waived for many nationalities and reinstated more than once. Verify the current K-ETA requirement on the official site before booking. | 90 | Oct 19, 2026 · verify official source ↗ |
| CA | Visa-free (K-ETA may apply) Visa-free entry; the K-ETA electronic travel authorisation has been temporarily waived for many nationalities and reinstated more than once. Verify the current K-ETA requirement on the official site before booking. | 180 | Oct 19, 2026 · verify official source ↗ |
| AU | Visa-free (K-ETA may apply) Visa-free entry; the K-ETA electronic travel authorisation has been temporarily waived for many nationalities and reinstated more than once. Verify the current K-ETA requirement on the official site before booking. | 90 | Oct 19, 2026 · verify official source ↗ |
Remote work and long stays
Workcation (Digital Nomad) visa F-1-D (up to 365 days): One year, extendable by one, for remote workers employed abroad for at least a year with income around twice Korea's GNI per capita (roughly KRW 85 million) and health insurance. official source ↗ Official eligibility verification required
Last verified Oct 19, 2026
Working holiday and residence programmes
- South Korea Workcation visa (F-1-D) · ages 18+ · 12 months · verify
- South Korea Working Holiday visa (H-1) · ages 18–30 · 12 months
Entry rules are research summaries with their official source and the date we last checked them; they are not eligibility decisions. Check the official page before you travel. Open the Visa & Work Finder →
Safety
Very low crime. Seasonal issues: yellow dust and fine-particulate pollution in spring, monsoon rains in July, typhoons in late summer.
Official advisory: South Korea - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, ). UK FCDO advice ↗
Health
World-class healthcare at moderate prices; many doctors speak English. Insurance is still advisable because non-residents pay full private rates.
Money
Cards are accepted virtually everywhere, including markets and taxis. A T-money card handles transit nationwide. ATMs marked Global accept foreign cards.
Tipping: Not practised · Tap water: Safe to drink; most locals still filter
Getting around
KTX high-speed trains, intercity buses and the Seoul Metro are cheap and punctual. Kakao T is the taxi app; Uber works in Seoul via the same network. Naver Map or Kakao Map, not Google Maps, for directions.
SIMs and connectivity
SK Telecom, KT and LG U+ sell tourist SIMs and eSIMs; speeds are world-leading. Many apps require a Korean phone number, which a tourist SIM provides.
