South Korea Introduces: South Korea unveils a groundbreaking working holiday visa, aiming to entice foreigners for extended stays. Contrary to the current 90-day tourist visa limitation, the proposed workcation visa allows a year-long stay, extendable for another year.
Eligibility criteria encompass individuals affiliated with foreign companies, employed in the same industry for over a year. The visa extension may include their families, excluding children aged 18 or older and children of accompanying family members.
South Korea Introduces New Visa
Applicants need an income twice Korea’s previous year’s gross national income, along with mandatory personal medical insurance and home evacuation coverage exceeding 7,750 USD.
In a bid to prevent social exclusion, a new system allows all foreign children to apply for birth registration, regardless of residence status. Workcation visa holders are prohibited from working with local companies or engaging in profit-oriented activities; separate work visas are required for such pursuits.
Applications can be submitted at Korean embassies abroad, and those currently on short-term stays in Korea can change their visas if they meet specified requirements. The initiative signifies South Korea’s openness to diverse and extended foreign stays.
The ministry has revealed its 2027 foreign nationals’ policy plan’s fourth edition, aiming to establish an immigration office. This initiative involves creating a comprehensive government-wide system dedicated to advancing immigration policies. The primary goal is to enhance the efficiency of developing strategies for managing immigrant inflow and integration.
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