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 ↗ · 14 entries shown

Country All countriesAQAntarcticaAUAustraliaBRBrazilCACanadaCNChina (Mainland)EGEgyptFRFranceDEGermanyHKHong KongIEIrelandITItalyJPJapanMXMexicoMAMoroccoNLNetherlandsNZNew ZealandPTPortugalSGSingaporeZASouth AfricaKRSouth KoreaESSpainAEUnited Arab EmiratesGBUnited KingdomUSUnited States
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 Jan 2025
In force Labour

Minimum hourly wage raised to ₩10,030 for 2025

The Minimum Wage Council raised the minimum hourly wage to ₩10,030 for 2025 (from ₩9,860 in 2024) — the first time the threshold crossed ₩10,000. Continues a multi-year trajectory under both Moon and Yoon administrations.

Who it affects: All low-wage Korean and non-Korean workers.

Korea Ministry of Justice ↗ · Office of the President of Korea ↗ · 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 Jul 2024
In force Housing

Chonse (key-money) deposit-protection reforms continued

Following the 2022–2023 chonse-fraud crisis, additional tenant-protection rules were implemented from July 2024 — strengthened landlord disclosure, mandatory deposit-insurance for high-value chonse contracts, and improved Hi Korea-linked verification for non-Korean tenants. Practical effect: more documentation friction at lease signing, but better deposit security.

Who it affects: Tenant-protection updates affecting non-Korean residents using the chonse rental system.

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 Jun 2024
In force Residency

Alien Registration Card renewal window extended

The renewal window for ARC and re-entry permits was extended from June 2024, allowing applications up to 4 months before expiry (previously 2 months). Reduces overstay risk caused by Korea Immigration Service processing delays — a recurrent applicant complaint through 2023.

Who it affects: All long-term non-Korean residents holding Alien Registration Cards.

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

In force 1 Apr 2024
In force Citizenship

Dual-citizenship rules softened for foreign-Korean ancestry

Dual-citizenship eligibility was modestly broadened in April 2024 for applicants with verifiable Korean ancestry — particularly Korean-Americans and second-generation diaspora seeking dual nationality without renouncing their existing citizenship. Implementation administered through Hi Korea's Citizenship office.

Who it affects: Korean-American and other Korean-ancestry foreign nationals seeking naturalisation.

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

In force 1 Apr 2024
In force Labour

E-9 Employment Permit System expanded to restaurant industry

The E-9 EPS programme — historically restricted to manufacturing, agriculture, and certain other low-skill sectors — was expanded to include the restaurant industry from April 2024. Specifically targets cooks and kitchen-assistant roles in Korean restaurants, addressing chronic understaffing.

Who it affects: Restaurant employers and prospective E-9 workers from origin countries.

Korea Ministry of Justice ↗ · 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 Taxation

Tax residence 183-day rule and worldwide-income basis clarified for non-citizen long-term residents

The Korean National Tax Service issued clarifying guidance on the 183-day-per-year tax-residence test and the worldwide-income basis for long-term non-Korean residents. Specifically clarifies the application to F-1-D Workation visa-holders (who are typically non-residents for tax purposes) and to E-7 / D-8 holders crossing the residence threshold.

Who it affects: F-1-D, E-7, and other long-term non-Korean residents.

Korea Ministry of Justice ↗ · 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

In force 1 Jan 2024
In force Labour

Annual foreign-worker quota raised to 165,000 for 2024

The annual quota for non-professional E-9 (Employment Permit System) foreign workers was raised to 165,000 for 2024 — a record high — to address persistent labour shortages in manufacturing, agriculture, and construction. Maintained at similar levels for 2025.

Who it affects: Manufacturing, construction, and agriculture employers.

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