D-8-2 (Venture Business Founder) Korea Visa Guide | 2026

1. What D-8-2 Is

D-8-2 is the corporate-investment code for someone who has FOUNDED, or is preparing to found, a venture business under the Act on Special Measures for the Promotion of Venture Businesses — on the strength of holding intellectual property rights or comparable superior technology. Note that the manual excludes China and certain designated countries from this route. Compare D-8-4, the technology start-up code, which turns on a degree or an agency recommendation plus intellectual property.

2. Eligibility Checklist

• Investment/business structure matches current D-8-2 criteria.
• Required corporate/investment records satisfy current standards.
• Can prove lawful source/use of funds and operational feasibility.
• Applicant role aligns with declared investment/business activity.
• No unresolved immigration non-compliance materially affecting review.

3. Criteria Summary

• D-8-2 is not a points-based status.
• Adjudication is investment-credibility and operational-substance driven.
• D-8 handling details can change through manual revisions.
• Always verify current subtype requirements before filing.

4. Salary and Contract Rules

• D-8-2 is business/investment based, not salary-threshold employer sponsorship.
• Financial viability and documented fund flow are core review items.
• Where payroll/role records are submitted, consistency is required.
• Unclear funding or non-substantive operations increase refusal risk.

5. Employer and Workplace Change Rules

• D-8-2 is tied to declared business/investment activity scope.
• Material changes in entity/activity/location should be reported promptly.
• Operational inactivity can negatively affect extension outcomes.
• Prior status-transition compliance issues can affect adjudication.

6. Required Documents

• Application set (form, passport, ARC where applicable, photo, fee proof).
• D-8-2 pathway investment/corporate documentation.
• Fund source/use evidence and supporting financial records.
• Operational records demonstrating business substance and applicant role.
• Any office-specific supporting documents requested during review.

7. Fees and Processing

• D-8 issuance/extension fees follow official schedules in manuals.
• Processing times vary by complexity and office load.
• Investment/operation inconsistencies often trigger supplement requests.
• Pre-filing document reconciliation helps reduce delay/refusal risk.

8. Common Rejection Reasons

• Investment/business structure does not satisfy D-8-2 criteria.
• Fund source/use evidence is insufficient or inconsistent.
• Operational substance appears weak or mismatched with declared purpose.
• Required corporate/regulatory documents are incomplete.
• Submission relies on outdated subtype assumptions after revisions.

9. FAQ