About Republic of Korea (South Korea)

Whether you’re looking to visit, live or work in South Korea—we can support your immigration needs at every stage of your journey.

If you’re a foreign national looking to visit, live and/or work in South Korea, several options are available.​

• ​Business Visits: To visit South Korea for business, you'll need to apply for a C-3-4 Visa (Short-Term Business Visa), at a South Korean consular post. If you're visa exempt, you can enter the country with your passport and receive a visa on arrival. Short-Term Work: If you need to work in South Korea for up to 90 days, you may be eligible for the C-4 (Short-Term Employment Visa). This visa is suitable if you intend to engage in profit-generating activities such as installing, repairing, and maintaining imported machinery or engaging in, producing, or supervising shipbuilding and industrial facilities, at a government agency or a private company, among others, for up to 90 days.​
• Long-Term Work: For longer-term assignments, the D-7 and D-8 visas are the long-term work visas typically used by expatriates, while the E-7 visa is the long-term visa that is appropriate for foreign nationals directly hired in Korea. The D-7 (Intracompany Transfer Work Visa) is issued to intracompany​ transferees seconded to the South Korean branch or liaison office of a foreign company. The D-8 (Corporate Investment Work Visa) is issued to employees seconded to an overseas company's subsidiary registered under South Korea's Foreign Investment Promotion Act. The E-7 (Particular Occupation visa) applies to foreign employees directly hired by the South Korean visa sponsor on local employment contracts and payroll.​
• Internships: There is a trainee-specific work authorization category. The D-4 Trainee Visa is suitable if the visa sponsor is a registered foreign-invested company in Korea and the applicant is expected to earn a salary that is not higher than about 1 million Won per month (approximately USD 830). If the salary is higher, a regular work visa is appropriate. A case-by-case assessment of personal and company documents is required to confirm eligibility to obtain and sponsor the D-4 visa. An extension of a D-4 visa is possible but the number of extensions may be limited (the initial period and the extension period, in aggregate, cannot exceed 2 years—a review of prevalent rules is needed at the time of applying for the extension).​
• Self-employment: There are work authorization programs dedicated to potential investors or entrepreneurs. The D-8-4 Technology Entrepreneurship Visa is granted based on a points-based system and designed to encourage entrepreneurship among foreign nationals in Korea.
• Digital Nomad Visa: South Korea has a special program dedicated to digital nomad visas called the ‘Workcation Visa.' It is currently in a trial program for an indefinite period. This visa will allow eligible foreign nationals (and family members) to reside in South Korea while teleworking for their home employer for up to two years. Eligibility requirements include a sufficient minimum income according to government regulations, a clean criminal record, and work experience in their field for at least one year, among other requirements.

Fragomen can also consult on citizenship matters and, as permitted within the confines of local law, may be able to offer citizenship assistance.