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South Korea
Eastern Asia • Asia
Overview
South Korea offers high-tech infrastructure, excellent healthcare, and safety. D-10 Job Seeker visa allows 6 months to find work. F-2 points-based visa available for qualified individuals. Seoul is expensive but efficient; Busan and other cities offer lower costs.
Visa Options
D-8 Corporate/Foreign Investor Visa
For investors contributing significant capital to Korean businesses.
~8 weeks processing
Path to citizenship
F-1-D Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa
For remote workers from countries with reciprocal agreements. Cannot work for Korean employers.
Min. $5,500/mo
~4 weeks processing
No citizenship path
Working Holiday Visa (H-1)
For young US citizens to stay and work in Korea for up to one year.
~4 weeks processing
No citizenship path
Highlights
- ✓World-class technology and infrastructure
- ✓Excellent and affordable healthcare
- ✓Very safe society
- ✓D-10 Job Seeker visa allows 6-month search
- ✓F-2 points-based residency pathway
Considerations
- !Language barrier significant - Korean essential for daily life
- !Cultural adjustment can be challenging
- !Competitive work environment
- !Cold winters, humid summers
Quick Stats
Affordability35/100
Healthcare Quality85/100
Safety82/100
English Spoken45/100
Data updated 1/26/2026