Korea Visa Income Requirement 2026 | GNI-Based Income Threshold Updates
If you’re applying for or currently holding a Korean visa with an income or financial requirement, there’s an important update you need to know about, and Pureum Law Office is here to help explain.
Following the Bank of Korea’s official release of 2025 national income data, South Korea’s immigration authorities have updated the per capita Gross National Income (GNI) figure used as the benchmark income standard for visa and residency eligibility screening.
South Korea’s 2026 GNI Standard
The new 2026 GNI standard is ₩52,416,000 (approximately $36,855 USD as of May 2026), reflecting South Korea’s 2025 per capita GNI.
This represents a 4.6% increase in won terms from the previous year’s figure of ₩49,950,000 — though in dollar terms, the gain was minimal (just 0.3%) due to won depreciation of roughly 4.3% over 2025. South Korea’s per capita GNI has hovered in the $36,000 range for three consecutive years.
The new standard took effect on April 1, 2026 and will remain in place through March 31, 2027.
This update applies to all visa and residency categories that use per capita GNI as part of their income or financial eligibility requirements.
E-7 visa Income Requirement
There is one notable exception: holders of or applicants for the E-7 (Specific Activities) visa will continue to be evaluated against the previous 2024 standard of ₩49,950,000 through March 2027. Immigration authorities have indicated that a new dedicated wage framework for employment visas is expected in the second half of 2026, at which point updated wage standards for that category will be introduced.
If your visa category includes a GNI-based income threshold, ensure your supporting financial documents reflect the updated ₩52,416,000 benchmark for any applications or renewals submitted on or after April 1, 2026. If you hold an E-7 visa, no immediate change is required — but monitor for new employment visa wage guidelines expected later this year.
If you have questions about how this change affects your specific situation, feel free to contact us directly. Our Korean immigration team provides comprehensive visa services for all categories, and we would be happy to assist you.
Source: HiKorea official announcement, March 2026; Bank of Korea 2025 GNI release.
