Passport · Asia · updated 2026-10-08

Where can citizens of South Korea move?

With a passport from South Korea you can live and work freely in 0 of the 75 countries in the index, use special routes for your nationality in 13, and move without a job offer to another 53. 9 need a job offer or investment.

0Live and work freely 13Special routes for your passport 53Routes without a job offer 9Job offer or investment needed

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Top 10 countries for citizens of South Korea

Scores weight ease of getting in, path to settle, cost of living, safety, stability and family-friendliness (5/3/3/2/2/2). How scores work.

Special routes for your passport (13)

Country	Why	Visiting	1 person / mo	To citizenship	Score
Japan	Working Holiday visa for ages 18–30	Visa-free 90 days	$1,900	10 yrs	78
Taiwan	Working Holiday visa for young people	Visa-free 90 days	$1,400	5 yrs	78
Canada	International Experience Canada	Visa-free with eTA	$2,850	3 yrs	77
Germany	Any job with a German employer qualifies, without recognition of your qualifications (§26 BeschV); Working holiday visa for young people	Visa-free 90 days	$2,450	5 yrs	77
Australia	Working Holiday (417/462)	Visa-free with eTA	$3,200	4 yrs	77
New Zealand	Working Holiday visa for young people	Visa-free with eTA	$2,650	5 yrs	76
Ireland	Working Holiday Authorisation	Visa-free 90 days	$3,750	5 yrs	75
Czech Republic	Digital nomad programme for IT professionals earning 1.5× the Czech average wage	Visa-free 90 days	$1,900	10 yrs	73
France	Working holiday visa (PVT)	Visa-free 90 days	$2,450	5 yrs	71
Netherlands	Working holiday programme for young people	Visa-free 90 days	$3,100	5 yrs	71
United Kingdom	Youth Mobility Scheme	Visa-free with eTA	$3,100	6 yrs	69
Hong Kong	Working Holiday Scheme for young people	Visa-free 90 days	$3,500	Rare	66
Panama	Friendly Nations visa	Visa-free 90 days	$1,750	5 yrs	62

Routes without a job offer (53)

Country	Why	Visiting	1 person / mo	To citizenship	Score
Norway	Self-employed permit	Visa-free 90 days	$2,800	8 yrs	73
Singapore	ONE Pass	Visa-free 90 days	$4,150	4 yrs	71
Sweden	Self-employment permit	Visa-free 90 days	$2,500	8 yrs	70
Malta	Nomad Residence Permit, Global Residence Programme	Visa-free 90 days	$2,250	5 yrs	70
Luxembourg	Self-employed permit	Visa-free 90 days	$3,400	5 yrs	69
Belgium	Professional card	Visa-free 90 days	$2,400	5 yrs	68
Uruguay	Digital nomad residence, Legal residence by means	Visa-free 90 days	$1,750	5 yrs	67
Iceland	Remote work long-term visa	Visa-free 90 days	$3,750	7 yrs	67
Cyprus	Digital nomad visa	Visa-free 90 days	$2,100	7 yrs	67
Slovenia	Digital nomad visa	Visa-free 90 days	$1,850	10 yrs	67
Hungary	White Card	Visa-free 90 days	$1,500	8 yrs	67
Portugal	D8 digital nomad visa, D7 passive income visa	Visa-free 90 days	$2,100	10 yrs	66
Italy	Digital nomad visa, Elective residence	Visa-free 90 days	$2,100	10 yrs	66
Poland	Sole trader (B2B)	Visa-free 90 days	$1,700	8 yrs	66
Estonia	Digital nomad visa	Visa-free 90 days	$1,900	8 yrs	66
Mauritius	Premium Visa	Visa-free 90 days	$1,250	7 yrs	66
Chile	Rentista / pensioner residence	Visa-free 90 days	$1,300	5 yrs	65
Austria	Job seeker visa (very highly qualified), Red-White-Red Card	Visa-free 90 days	$2,250	10 yrs	65
Greece	Digital nomad visa, Financially Independent Person	Visa-free 90 days	$1,650	7 yrs	65
Croatia	Digital nomad residence	Visa-free 90 days	$1,600	8 yrs	65
Bulgaria	Digital nomad visa	Visa-free 90 days	$900	10 yrs	64
Dominican Republic	Rentista, Pensionado	Visa-free	$1,250	2 yrs	63
Spain	Digital nomad visa, Non-lucrative visa	Visa-free 90 days	$2,150	10 yrs	63
Romania	Digital nomad visa	Visa-free 90 days	$1,300	8 yrs	63
Latvia	Digital nomad visa	Visa-free 90 days	$1,550	10 yrs	63
Albania	Unique Permit for digital workers, Pensioner residence	Visa-free 90 days	$1,250	5 yrs	63
Argentina	Digital nomad visa, Rentista residence	Visa-free 90 days	$1,550	2 yrs	62
Switzerland	Lump-sum taxation residence	Visa-free 90 days	$4,200	10 yrs	62
Costa Rica	Digital nomad visa, Rentista, Pensionado	Visa-free 180 days	$1,650	7 yrs	61
Montenegro	Digital nomad residence	Visa-free 90 days	$1,400	10 yrs	61
Cape Verde	Remote Working Cabo Verde	Visa on arrival	$1,250	5 yrs	60
Paraguay	Temporary residence	Visa-free 30 days	$950	3 yrs	59
Peru	Rentista residence, Digital nomad residence	Visa-free 180 days	$1,300	2 yrs	58
Serbia	Digital nomad residence	Visa-free 90 days	$1,350	8 yrs	58
Indonesia	Remote Worker visa (E33G), Second Home visa	Visa on arrival	$950	5 yrs	58
Thailand	Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), Long-Term Resident (LTR)	Visa-free 60 days	$1,050	8 yrs	57
Morocco	Residence for retirees, Self-employed residence	Visa-free 90 days	$1,100	5 yrs	57
Brazil	Digital nomad visa (VITEM XIV)	Visa-free 90 days	$1,200	4 yrs	56
Turkey	Digital nomad visa, Short-term residence permit	Visa-free 90 days	$1,300	5 yrs	56
Malaysia	DE Rantau Nomad Pass, MM2H	Visa-free 90 days	$1,000	Rare	56
United States	EB-2 National Interest Waiver	Visa-free with eTA	$3,300	5 yrs	55
Ecuador	Digital nomad visa, Retiree (jubilado) / rentista	Visa-free 90 days	$1,150	3 yrs	55
Georgia	1-year visa-free stay	Visa-free 360 days	$1,200	10 yrs	55
United Arab Emirates	Remote work visa, Green Visa	Visa-free 90 days	$3,250	Rare	55
Bahrain	Golden Residency (retirees), Golden Residency (residents)	Visa on arrival	$1,550	25 yrs	55
Ghana	Right of Abode	Visa on arrival	$1,300	7 yrs	55
Philippines	Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV), Digital nomad visa	Visa-free 30 days	$1,000	10 yrs	54
Colombia	Digital nomad visa (V)	Visa-free 90 days	$1,050	5 yrs	53
Saudi Arabia	Premium Residency: Special Talent / Gifted	Visa on arrival	$1,850	Rare	53
Mexico	Temporary resident (financial solvency), Permanent resident for retirees	Visa-free 180 days	$1,650	5 yrs	51
South Africa	Critical Skills visa, Remote work visa, Retired person visa	Visa-free 30 days	$1,300	5 yrs	50
Kenya	Class N digital nomad permit	Visa-free with eTA	$1,000	7 yrs	49
Namibia	Digital nomad visa	Visa on arrival	$1,100	10 yrs	47

Job offer or investment needed (9)

Country	Why	Visiting	1 person / mo	To citizenship	Score
Finland	Employer sponsor or investment	Visa-free 90 days	$2,350	8 yrs	63
Denmark	Employer sponsor or investment	Visa-free 90 days	$3,050	9 yrs	58
Slovakia	Employer sponsor or investment	Visa-free 90 days	$1,700	8 yrs	56
Lithuania	Employer sponsor or investment	Visa-free 90 days	$1,650	10 yrs	56
Vietnam	Employer sponsor or investment	Visa-free 45 days	$900	5 yrs	50
Qatar	Employer sponsor or investment	Visa on arrival	$3,150	25 yrs	49
Oman	Employer sponsor or investment	Visa on arrival	$1,400	20 yrs	49
Kuwait	Employer sponsor or investment	Visa on arrival	$1,800	Rare	49
Rwanda	Employer sponsor or investment	Visa on arrival	$850	5 yrs	49

Frequently asked questions

Which countries can citizens of South Korea move to most easily?

For citizens of South Korea, the best-scoring destinations are Japan, Taiwan, Canada, Germany and Australia, based on visa access, path to citizenship, cost of living, safety, stability and family-friendliness.

Where can citizens of South Korea live and work without a visa?

None of the 76 countries in the index give citizens of South Korea automatic free movement. 13 offer special routes for this passport, such as Japan, Taiwan and Canada.

Can citizens of South Korea move abroad without a job offer?

Yes, to 66 of 75 countries in the index, through free movement, passport-specific routes, points systems, talent, job-seeker, digital nomad or passive-income visas. The cheapest of these is Bulgaria, at about $900 a month for one person.

How many countries can citizens of South Korea visit without a visa?

59 of the 75 destinations in the index can be visited visa-free or with free movement, according to the Passport Index dataset.

Thinking of moving to South Korea? Read the South Korea immigration guide.