Where I Can Live
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Asia · Korean · updated 2026-10

Moving to South Korea: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $1,700 a month to live in Seoul, and a family of four about $3,700, including rent. South Korea usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 5 yrs, with citizenship after 5 yrs, and dual citizenship is limited. You can move here without a job offer through the D-10 job-seeker visa, the F-2-7 points residence and the Digital nomad visa (F-1-D).

Monthly budget
$1,700
Very low cost
Safety
85
Very safe
Stability
79
Very stable
Family
87
Excellent
Main city
Seoul
Language
Korean
Permanent residence
5 yrs
Citizenship
5 yrs
Dual citizenship
Limited
Digital nomad visa
Yes
What can your passport do in South Korea?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
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Cost of living in South Korea, per month in US$

One person
$1,700
Family of four
$3,700
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Seoul centre
$750
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$1,400
Estimate
Price level
62
US = 100
Income per person
$3,157
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
85
Very safe
Homicides per 100k
0.48
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+0.92
Rule of law+1.20
Control of corruption+0.92
Government effectiveness+1.50
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Very stable overall (79/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
87
Excellent
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.799
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
2.8
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
83.6 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$3,137
per person / year
Education spending
5.4%
of GDP

Visa & residence routes

Job seeker
D-10 job-seeker visaUp to 2 years to find work, points-based.
Points
F-2-7 points residenceLong-term residence that leads to permanent residence.
Remote work
Digital nomad visa (F-1-D)Made permanent on 30 June 2026. Income of 1–2× Korea's GNI per person (about $37,000–74,000), lower for under-35s and outside Seoul.
Job offer
E-7 skilled workerEmployer-sponsored professional roles.

Some passports also get: Working Holiday visa for young people.

Who gets easier access to South Korea

South Korea is not part of a free-movement area in the index.

Working Holiday visa for young people (24 nationalities)

Working Holiday visa for young people.

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Visiting: 62 passports can visit visa-free, 48 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 88 can apply for an eVisa and 0 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
5 yrs
Citizenship
5 yrs
Dual citizenship
Limited

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: www.hikorea.go.kr

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in South Korea?

About $1,700 a month for one person and $3,700 for a family of four in Seoul, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $750 a month and a 3-bedroom around $1,400. Prices are 62% of US levels. South Korea is the 41st cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is South Korea safe to live in?

South Korea scores 85/100 for safety (very safe), ranking 7th of 76. The homicide rate is 0.48 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is South Korea politically stable?

South Korea scores 79/100 for stability (very stable), ranking 20th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is South Korea good for families?

South Korea scores 87/100 for family-friendliness (excellent), ranking 5th of 76. Life expectancy is 83.6 years and under-5 mortality is 2.8 per 1,000 births.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in South Korea?

Usually 5 yrs of legal residence.

How long until I can become a citizen of South Korea?

Usually 5 yrs of residence. Dual citizenship: limited.

Can I move to South Korea without a job offer?

Yes. D-10 job-seeker visa: Up to 2 years to find work, points-based. F-2-7 points residence: Long-term residence that leads to permanent residence. Digital nomad visa (F-1-D): Made permanent on 30 June 2026. Income of 1–2× Korea's GNI per person (about $37,000–74,000), lower for under-35s and outside Seoul.

Does South Korea have a digital nomad visa?

Yes: the Digital nomad visa (F-1-D). Made permanent on 30 June 2026. Income of 1–2× Korea's GNI per person (about $37,000–74,000), lower for under-35s and outside Seoul.

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of South Korea can move