South Korea
Workation Visa (F-1-D): health insurance requirements
Yes: health insurance is required
Yes, with a specific, confirmed figure. South Korea's Workation visa (F-1-D, launched 2024) requires private medical insurance covering more than ₩100 million (about US$75,000), including medical treatment, hospitalisation and emergency repatriation, for the whole stay. It is for remote workers aged 18+ with at least a year of experience in their field, earning more than twice Korea's prior-year GNI per capita (around ₩85 million/year). One year, extendable to two.
The requirements at a glance
| Minimum coverage | ₩100,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Repatriation required | Yes |
| Minimum policy duration | Full duration of stay |
| Local-licensed insurer required | No: compliant international IPMI is accepted |
| Accepted proof | Private/personal medical insurance covering more than ₩100 million (about US$75,000) for the period of stay, covering medical treatment and hospitalisation AND emergency repatriation/evacuation to the home country. An international policy meeting these terms is accepted. |
Age 18+, at least one year of experience in the same field, working remotely for an overseas employer or running an overseas business (no Korean-source income). Income must exceed twice Korea's prior-year GNI per capita as announced by the Bank of Korea, after tax (around ₩85 million/year, ~US$64,000; the figure adjusts annually, so confirm with the consulate). One year, extendable by one (two years max). Apply at a Korean embassy or consulate; spouse and children under 18 may accompany.
Our take
Korea is unusually precise: the ₩100 million floor and the explicit repatriation requirement mean a thin or repatriation-less policy is rejected.
Buy a plan that clearly states cover above ₩100 million including emergency repatriation, and keep the certificate, since the consulate checks the wording.
What happens if you get it wrong
Cover below ₩100 million, or a policy that omits emergency repatriation, does not meet the rule.
Quoting an old income figure can trip you up, since the threshold (2× prior-year GNI per capita) is recalculated annually.
Interactive
Verified pricesWhat would it cost in South Korea without insurance?
You pay, out of pocket
$5,000–$10,000
A surgery with multi-day stay; ICU or complex cases higher.
Bars to scale. A flight home is in another league.
That is the bill you carry alone. Insurance exists for exactly this.
See what cover costsTypical private-care estimates for illustration, not a quote. Actual bills vary by hospital, city and severity.
FAQ
Private medical insurance covering more than ₩100 million (about US$75,000) for the stay, including treatment, hospitalisation and emergency repatriation. It is a specific, confirmed requirement.
More than twice Korea's prior-year GNI per capita (around ₩85 million a year, roughly US$64,000). It adjusts annually, so confirm the current figure with the consulate.
Remote workers aged 18+ with at least a year of experience in their field, working for an overseas employer or their own overseas business. No Korean-source income.
One year, extendable by one more (two years maximum).
Yes. The rule explicitly requires cover for emergency repatriation/evacuation to your home country, not just treatment in Korea.
Reviewed by Lukas Schönberg, Founder & researcher, Nomad Insurance Broker OÜ
Nomad Insurance Broker OÜ (Estonia) is an information and matching platform, not currently registered as a regulated insurance intermediary in any jurisdiction. See /how-it-works for the full disclosure.
Source: mofa.go.krLast verified
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