The short version
- Serbia has the lower entry bar: €500 per month versus €4,030 for South Korea.
- Only Serbia offers a direct path to permanent residence on this permit.
| Criteria | Serbia Temp. residence (no DNV) | South Korea F-1-D Workation |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | €500 (better) | €4,030 |
| Income basis | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) |
| Initial duration | 1 year | 1 year |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum total stay | 3 years | 2 years |
| Path to permanent residence | Yes (better) | No |
| Path to citizenship | Via permanent residence | No |
| Family inclusion | Yes | Yes |
| Working for local clients | Limited | Not allowed |
| Tax treatment | Standard resident taxation (Flat-rate entrepreneur (preduzetnik pausalac) regime commonly used by remote workers; otherwise standard personal income tax) | Standard resident taxation |
| Health insurance | Required (explicit) | Required (explicit), min. €70,000 |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Full visa period |
| Application fee | ≈ €190 | ≈ €40 (better) |
| Where to apply | Online, In country | Embassy / consulate, In country |
| Processing time | 2–9 weeks | 3–4 weeks |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Serbia Temp. residence (no DNV) →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
South Korea F-1-D Workation →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Don't forget insurance
Both programs have their own health-insurance rules — we match plans against each one's published requirement, with the evidence shown.
Sources
- Government Temporary residence — Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia (MUP) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Temporary Residence — Welcome to Serbia (official government portal) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Permanent Residence — Welcome to Serbia (official government portal) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Digital nomads in Serbia — Welcome to Serbia (promotional government page; no formal DNV rules) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- International organisation Serbia — Individual Residence, PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries (183-day rule, centre of vital/business interests) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Serbia: Work/Residence Permit Changes (single permit, 3-year max, 3-year PR qualifying period) — Fragomen (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Serbia Minimum Wage 2025: RSD 308/h net, ~RSD 53,592/month — NNRoad (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- International organisation Serbia: minimum wage increase for 2025 (net RSD 308/h benchmark) — EPSU (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Residence Permit in Serbia (2026): requirements, costs (~RSD 22,000 fee), process — Immigrate to Serbia (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Serbia for Digital Nomads: 2026 Guide (self-employment route, 90-day visa-free, processing time) — Relocation Serbia (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Digital Nomad (Workcation) Visa - Korea Immigration Service (Ministry of Justice) guidance document (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government F-1-D Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa - Visa Requirements, Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Seattle (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government (F-1-D) Workation (Digital Nomad) Pilot Program - Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Los Angeles (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Embassy Notice on the Extension of Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa Test Operation Period - Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm South Korea Digital Nomad Visa for Americans Explained: Requirements, Costs, and Tax Rules - Greenback Tax Services (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Korean Won (KRW) to Euro (EUR) Exchange Rate History for 2026 - Exchange-Rates.org (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media US Dollar (USD) to Euro (EUR) Exchange Rate History for 2026 - Exchange-Rates.org (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15