South Korea D-8-4 Technology Startup Visa (OASIS) vs South Korea Digital Nomad Visa (Workcation Visa)
A factual side-by-side comparison of two residency programmes. All figures are drawn from the canonical program pages — follow either link in the table header for sources and the full profile.
Key Differences at a Glance
- ›South Korea Digital Nomad Visa (Workcation Visa) is faster: 1 months vs 3 months for South Korea D-8-4 Technology Startup Visa (OASIS).
- ›South Korea D-8-4 Technology Startup Visa (OASIS) leads to citizenship (~5 yrs); South Korea Digital Nomad Visa (Workcation Visa) does not.
South Korea D-8-4 Technology Startup Visa (OASIS) South Korea · entrepreneur | South Korea Digital Nomad Visa (Workcation Visa) South Korea · digital nomad | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | South Korea | South Korea |
| Category | Entrepreneur | Digital Nomad |
| Application Fee | $50 | $60 |
| Minimum Income | — | $7,080 /mo |
| Minimum Investment | — | — |
| Processing Time | 3 months | 1 months |
| Family Included | Spouse and minor children may apply for F-3 dependent visas; F-3 dependents generally cannot work in Korea without separately qualifying for their own status. | Spouse and dependent children may accompany the primary holder on dependent visas for the same period. |
| Path to PR | Yes — 5 years | No |
| Path to Citizenship | Yes — 5 years | No |
| Physical Presence | No statutory day-count is published for D-8-4 specifically; holders are expected to remain actively, operationally involved in running the registered Korean startup, and prolonged absence can jeopardise renewal. | Valid for 1 year, extendable to 2 years total. Holder must be physically present in South Korea for the duration of the visa. |
| Dual Citizenship | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Tax Impact | Holders residing in South Korea for 183+ days per year are subject to Korean income tax on worldwide income at progressive rates up to 45%. Corporate tax applies separately to the startup's business profits. | Stays exceeding 183 days may trigger South Korean tax residency. Holders should review the tax treaty between South Korea and their home country to avoid double taxation. |
| Tax Residency Trigger | 183 days/yr | 183 days/yr |
| Worldwide Taxation | Yes | Yes |
| Renewal Cost | $50 | $60 |
About South Korea D-8-4 Technology Startup Visa (OASIS)
South Korea's D-8-4 visa is a dedicated route for foreign founders launching technology-based startups in Korea, administered through the OASIS framework run jointly by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups via the Global Startup Immigration Center. Unlike the standard D-8 corporate-investor visa, which typically requires paid-in capital of roughly KRW 100 million (about $75,000), the D-8-4 has no minimum capital requirement — eligibility instead rests on a points-based evaluation crediting academic background, intellectual-property ownership, completed OASIS coursework, and business-plan strength. Applicants generally need at least 60 points to qualify. The visa suits IP-driven founders — engineers, researchers, and technical specialists — who want to incorporate and personally operate a Korean startup rather than invest passively. It is issued initially for up to 12 months, extendable while the business operates, with a nominal track toward permanent residency and Korean citizenship for founders who remain resident and build a genuine operating company.
Full South Korea D-8-4 Technology Startup Visa (OASIS) profile →About South Korea Digital Nomad Visa (Workcation Visa)
South Korea's Digital Nomad Visa (F-1-D, the Workcation visa launched January 2024) lets remote workers live in Korea while working for foreign employers or clients. Applicants must show at least USD 85,000 in annual income from non-Korean sources, evidenced by the prior year's tax return, plus valid health insurance and a clean criminal record; the fee is about USD 60 and processing runs roughly a month. A spouse and children may accompany the holder, though dependents do not automatically receive work authorization. The visa is valid one year and extendable to a strict two-year maximum: it is not a long-term solution, and time on F-1-D does not count toward permanent residency (F-5) or citizenship. Holders must be physically present in Korea and may not perform paid work for any Korean company. Staying 183-plus days can trigger Korean tax residency on worldwide income; Korea offers a flat 19% rate election on Korean-source income, though nomads paid entirely by foreign employers may have little Korean-source income. Plan an exit strategy before applying.
Full South Korea Digital Nomad Visa (Workcation Visa) profile →Gotchas to Watch For
South Korea D-8-4 Technology Startup Visa (OASIS)
- ⚠No minimum capital doesn't mean no cost — company registration, legal support, and OASIS coursework fees add up before the visa is even filed.
- ⚠OASIS points evaluation criteria and exact scoring weights are not fully published in English; work with a Korean-language advisor or the Global Startup Immigration Center directly to model your score before committing.
- ⚠The visa is tied to actively operating the specific registered company — substantially pivoting the business can jeopardise renewal.
- ⚠Korea does not generally allow dual citizenship for naturalised citizens; expect to renounce your prior citizenship if you pursue Korean citizenship long-term (narrow exceptions exist for limited categories).
- ⚠F-3 dependent status for spouse/children generally does not include independent work rights.
South Korea Digital Nomad Visa (Workcation Visa)
- ⚠The F-1-D has a strict 2-year maximum — it is not a long-term residency solution; plan your exit strategy before applying
- ⚠Your employer must be a foreign (non-Korean) entity; working for a Korean startup or company requires a separate work visa (E-series)
- ⚠F-1-D time does NOT count toward permanent residency or citizenship pathways — factor this into long-term planning
- ⚠Korea's NHI enrollment is mandatory and adds approx. USD 100-150/month to living costs
- ⚠Income must genuinely reach KRW 85M (~USD 65,000) annually — exchange-rate fluctuations could push you below the threshold
- ⚠Family members admitted on F-3 dependent visas cannot work legally without a separate work permit
Neutral reference — we don't recommend one programme over another. Programmes change: always verify each detail against the official source linked on the individual program pages.