Moving to Seoul as an American: visa routes

Getting into South Korea is easy on a US passport. Staying is a different story: you need a visa that matches what you'll actually do there, and Korea doesn't do a lot of "just moving over."

The short version

Visiting first? US citizens can visit for up to 90 days without a visa for tourism or business, but can't work [1].
K-ETA: Korea's online travel authorization is waived for US travelers through December 31, 2026, under an extension announced on December 29, 2025 [2]. Check before any trip in 2027.
Staying longer means a long-term visa: E-2 to teach English, E-7 for skilled jobs, D-2 or D-4 to study, F-6 if you marry a Korean citizen, F-4 for many Korean Americans, or the F-1-D "workation" visa for remote workers [3][4][5].
No dedicated retirement visa turned up in our research, so retirees usually need a family tie or F-4 eligibility.
Register within 90 days. Anyone staying more than 90 days must get a residence card at the immigration office [4][6].

USD conversions use the Federal Reserve H.10 rate of October 30, 2026 (USD 1 = KRW 1,333.99), rounded.

Before you fly: entry, K-ETA and the 90-day rule

The State Department says US citizens don't need a visa for tourism or business stays of up to 90 days, and that working, teaching English or staying longer requires a visa [1]. Overstaying can lead to fines, detention or an exit ban [1].

Here's a heads-up on the K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization). When we checked the State Department's South Korea page on November 6, 2026 (advisory updated May 28, 2025), it said a K-ETA would be required from January 1, 2026 [1]. Korea later extended the waiver: the Korean Embassy in Washington announced on December 29, 2025 that the temporary exemption for the US and other listed countries runs from January 1 through December 31, 2026 [2]. You can still apply if you want to skip the paper arrival card, but you'll pay the fee and it's non-refundable [2]. For travel from January 2027, check k-eta.go.kr before you book.

That same State Department page rated South Korea Level 1: Exercise normal precautions (updated May 28, 2025) when we checked on November 6, 2026 [1].

The realistic visa routes

Most long-term visas are issued by a Korean embassy or consulate in the US, often after your employer or school gets a visa issuance confirmation from immigration in Korea [3]. Here's the lay of the land:

Route	Visa	Who it fits	What you'll need (highlights)
Teaching English	E-2	Native English speakers hired by a public school program (EPIK, TaLK) or a private academy (hagwon)	Contract or notice of appointment; academy hires need an issuance number from immigration [3]
Skilled job	E-7	Professionals hired by a Korean employer in a listed occupation	Employer sponsorship; details vary by job category
Study	D-2 / D-4	Degree students (D-2) and Korean-language students (D-4-1)	University admission certificate, or a language institute enrollment [3]
Marriage	F-6	Spouse of a Korean citizen	Spouse's invitation letter, personal statement, income or employment papers [3]
Korean heritage	F-4	Former Korean nationals and their children or grandchildren	Renunciation of Korean nationality where it applies; descendants need a Korean-language certificate (TOPIK level 1 or higher) [5]
Remote work	F-1-D	People employed by (or owning) a foreign company for over a year	Income above twice Korea's per-capita GNI, an FBI check, private health insurance [3][4]
Family of a visa holder	F-3	Spouse and minor kids of eligible students and skilled workers	Proof of the family relationship [3]

Teaching English (E-2)

This is the classic route, and thousands of Americans have taken it. The public school programs issue a single-entry visa for the contract period plus one month, up to two years, while private academy teachers need the issuance number from immigration first [3]. Expect a long paperwork list, and start early: your school or program will spell out what it needs, and apostilled FBI background checks are a familiar request for Korean visas (the F-1-D requires one, for example [4]). Our E-2 visa guide walks through it.

Skilled jobs (E-7)

The E-7 covers a long list of professional occupations. Your employer drives the process, and requirements depend on the job category, so ask HR exactly what they'll file and what you'll bring. If you're transferring with a US company, ask whether you'll stay on US Social Security under the US–Korea totalization agreement (more in our tax guide).

Remote workers (F-1-D "workation" visa)

Korea launched its digital nomad visa on January 1, 2024. You must have worked for a foreign company (or own one) for more than a year, be at least 18, have no criminal record, and carry health insurance for medical treatment and repatriation [4]. The income test is more than twice Korea's per-capita GNI for the prior year. The Korean Consulate in Seattle put that at about USD 65,800 a year [4], while the consulate in Atlanta listed KRW 84,960,000 (about USD 63,700) and insurance of at least KRW 100 million (about USD 75,000) [3]. The figure changes every year, so use your own consulate's current number. The fee for US citizens is USD 45 [4].

The visa is valid for one year, extendable by one more, and you can't work for Korean employers or earn Korean-source income on it [4]. Uncle Sam still taxes everything you earn, of course.

Korean Americans (F-4)

If you or a parent or grandparent once held Korean nationality, the F-4 Overseas Korean visa is often the easiest door. The Seattle consulate lists it as multiple-entry, valid for five years, with a two-year stay period, and a one-year stay for descendants who skip the Korean-language certificate. The fee for US citizens is USD 45 [5]. Some men who gave up Korean nationality without completing military service can't apply until they turn 41 [5].

Retirees

We didn't find a dedicated retirement visa on the official pages we checked. In practice, American retirees in Seoul tend to qualify through a Korean spouse (F-6), Korean heritage (F-4) or another family tie. If none of those fit, talk to a Korean immigration lawyer before you sell the house.

Your first month in Seoul: a to-do list

Hit the ground running with this order of operations:

Book your immigration appointment. Anyone staying more than 90 days must register and get a residence card (often still called an ARC). Bring the application form, your passport, a photo and proof of where you live, such as a lease. The fee is KRW 35,000 (about USD 26) since January 1, 2025 [9], and online reservations are mandatory [6]; some local pages still show the old KRW 30,000, cash only. Seoul has several immigration offices; book through HiKorea. See our alien registration card guide.
Report address changes within 14 days. The consulate pages on the F-1-D visa spell out this 14-day rule [4].
Get a Korean phone number. So many Korean services verify your identity through a phone in your name. Read phone and identity verification in Korea.
Open a bank account. Most banks want your residence card first. Expect FATCA forms; see banking in South Korea.
Sort out health insurance. Employees are usually enrolled through work. Others are generally required to join National Health Insurance once they've been in Korea for six months, under rules announced in 2018 (an older source, so confirm the current rules with NHIS) [7].
Find a permanent place. Short-term housing buys you time to learn about renting in Seoul and Korea's big deposits.
Sign up for STEP with the State Department so the US Embassy can reach you in an emergency. The embassy is at 188 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, phone +82-2-397-4114 [1].

What stays the same back home

Moving to Seoul doesn't cut your ties to the IRS. You'll still file a US return every year and an FBAR if your foreign accounts top USD 10,000 at any point in the year [8]. If you'll vote from Korea, send a new Federal Post Card Application every calendar year. Keep your US passport renewed well ahead of time, since your Korean visa and residence card are tied to it.

For tips from people who've done the move recently, ask in our community group for Americans in South Korea.

Moving to Seoul as an American: the visa routes that actually work