Meridian · Freshness tracker

What's changed.

Dated updates to visa, tax, residency, citizenship, housing, and labour policy across every country tracked. Every entry cites its primary source and the date we last verified it.

Subscribe via RSS ↗ · 7 entries shown

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Category All categoriesVisa & immigrationResidencyCitizenshipTaxationLabourHousingHealthcareOther
In force 1 Jan 2025
In force Visa & immigration

Global Talent Attraction Initiative — multiple-stream package announced

The Yoon administration announced a Global Talent Attraction Initiative for 2025 covering multiple visa streams — expansion of the Top-Tier Visa, broader F-2-7 points-based eligibility, and proposed 18-month "Global Talent Visa" for individuals with peer-recognised exceptional achievement. Implementation began January 2025; full rollout extends through 2026.

Who it affects: Future foreign-talent applicants across multiple visa categories.

Office of the President of Korea ↗ · Korea Ministry of Justice ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Sept 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Startup Korea programme — fast-track for foreign founders

The Startup Korea programme launched September 2024 to consolidate the various foreign-founder pathways (D-8-4 Technology Startup, OASIS programme, K-Startup Grand Challenge) under a single more-streamlined process. KOTRA-coordinated; integrates Korean Visa Center fast-track lanes for selected applicants.

Who it affects: Non-Korean founders considering Korea as a startup base.

Invest Korea (KOTRA) ↗ · Korea Ministry of Justice ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Sept 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Hi Korea digital-application platform expanded

The Hi Korea online portal expanded in September 2024 to handle most visa-extension and ARC-renewal applications digitally end-to-end, including biometric pre-collection scheduling. In-person immigration-office visits required only for biometrics and specific document verification. Reduces typical extension processing time by 1–3 weeks.

Who it affects: All non-Korean applicants and Korean employers sponsoring foreign workers.

Hi Korea — Korea Immigration Service ↗ · Korea Ministry of Justice ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Sept 2024
In force Visa & immigration

K-Culture Training Visa launched

A specialised training visa for non-Korean trainees in K-pop, beauty, fashion, and cultural-industry training programmes was launched September 2024. Up to 2-year stay with mandatory affiliation with a registered Korean entertainment / training agency. Restricted purpose; cannot transition directly to general employment visas.

Who it affects: Non-Korean cultural-industry trainees (K-pop, drama, beauty industries).

Korea Ministry of Justice ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jun 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Top-Tier Visa for tech founders substantially expanded

The Top-Tier track within the D-10-2 visa was substantially expanded in 2024 — broader institutional eligibility (top-100 universities globally per QS / THE), expanded fields beyond pure software to include biotech and advanced manufacturing, and faster processing through the dedicated KOTRA / Invest Korea pipeline. Part of the Yoon administration's talent-attraction initiative.

Who it affects: Senior tech founders and high-skilled professionals.

Invest Korea (KOTRA) ↗ · Hi Korea — Korea Immigration Service ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Apr 2024
In force Visa & immigration

E-7 visa quota system reformed for designated industries

The E-7-4 (skilled-trade workers in designated industries) quota system was reformed from April 2024, with significantly expanded annual limits for shipbuilding, manufacturing, and certain construction-adjacent roles experiencing structural domestic-labour shortages. Designed to address the demographic-decline-driven labour gap.

Who it affects: Manufacturing, shipbuilding, and skilled-trade employers; their non-Korean hires.

Korea Ministry of Justice ↗ · Hi Korea — Korea Immigration Service ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jan 2024
In force Visa & immigration

F-1-D Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa launched

Launched 1 January 2024 as a permanent (not pilot) programme. 2-year stay (1 year initial + 1 year extension). Income threshold ₩88.1 million annually (~US$66,000) — twice the prior-year Korean GNI per capita. Spouse and minor children may accompany. Visa holders cannot work for Korean employers.

Who it affects: Non-Korean remote workers earning ₩88M+/year considering Korea.

Hi Korea — Korea Immigration Service ↗ · Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs ↗ · verified 2026-04-19