D-8-1 (Corporate Investment: Investment in a Corporation) Korea Visa Guide | 2026

1. What D-8-1 Is

D-8-1 is the 'investment in a corporation' subtype of 기업투자(D-8, Corporate Investment). It applies to a foreign national who invests in an already-established Korean corporation, either by meeting a minimum investment amount and holding a minimum share of the company's voting stock, or by holding stock while also dispatching/appointing an officer under an investment-related contract. It sits alongside three other D-8 subtypes described in the same table: D-8-2 (venture investment), D-8-3 (individual-business investment), and D-8-4 (tech startup, further split into a points-based track and a points-exempt 'Startup Korea' special-visa track D-8-4S).

2. Eligibility Checklist

• Investment structure and applicant role fit current D-8-1 corporate-investment criteria.
• Corporate registration and investment documentation satisfy policy requirements.
• Can evidence lawful source and deployment of investment funds.
• Business operations and applicant role are credible and support status purpose.
• Submission reflects latest guideline revisions affecting D-8 subtypes.

3. Criteria Summary

• D-8-1 is not a points-based K-point status.
• Core review is investment legality, corporate substance, and operational credibility.
• Manual revisions can adjust D-8 operational details and related handling.
• Always verify current issuance/stay conditions before filing or extension.

4. Salary and Contract Rules

• D-8-1 is investment/business status, not an employer salary-threshold work visa.
• Financial review focuses on investment proof, business viability, and lawful fund flow.
• Where payroll/role documents are included, consistency with business records is expected.
• Unclear capital origin/use or unrealistic operating evidence is a common refusal trigger.

5. Employer and Workplace Change Rules

• D-8-1 is anchored to qualifying corporate investment activity in declared scope.
• Major corporate or operational changes should be reported under immigration requirements.
• Inactive or non-substantive operations can affect extension/maintenance outcomes.
• If transitioning from other statuses, prior compliance history remains reviewable.

6. Required Documents

• Application set (form, passport, ARC where applicable, photo, fee proof).
• Corporate registration/investment documents required for D-8-1 structure.
• Investment fund evidence and supporting financial records.
• Business operation evidence and applicant role/responsibility documents.
• Additional office-specific documents requested during review.

7. Fees and Processing

• D-8 issuance/change/extension fees follow official schedules in manuals.
• Processing times vary with case complexity and office workload.
• Investment-structure ambiguity frequently triggers supplement requests.
• Pre-filing document reconciliation across corporate, tax, and immigration records reduces delay risk.

8. Common Rejection Reasons

• Investment/corporate structure does not satisfy current D-8-1 conditions.
• Fund source/use evidence is insufficient or inconsistent.
• Business operation appears non-substantive or mismatched with declared purpose.
• Required corporate/regulatory documents are incomplete or noncompliant.
• Application relies on outdated D-8 policy assumptions after revisions.

9. FAQ