June 2026

3 changes logged for long stay in Asia. 1 loosened, 2 tightened. Every item is in The Wire with a source you can open and the date it was checked.

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2026-06-30 South Korea Loosened

Digital nomad visa made permanent with region and age tiered income thresholds

The F-1-D workation visa moved from pilot to permanent status. Income thresholds are now one to two times per capita GNI depending on age and region. In Seoul, applicants aged 18 to 34 need 1.5 times GNI, about KRW 78.6 million. Applicants 35 and over need two times, about KRW 104.8 million. Non metro areas are discounted.

Linked to the authority notice, not the legal instrument.

2026-06-25 UAE Tightened

UAE ties visa on arrival for six Asian countries to a residence permit abroad

Nationals of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa now get a UAE visa on arrival only if they hold a residence permit from the United States, the United Kingdom, an EU state, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada. Two tiers: AED 100 for 14 days, extendable once, or AED 250 for 60 days, not extendable.

Linked to the authority notice, not the legal instrument.

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