D-8-4 (Tech Startup Founder) Korea Visa Guide | 2026

1. What D-8-4 Is

D-8-4 is a business/investment subtype for founders establishing qualified startup activity in Korea. It differs from general corporate investment routes and is assessed on startup viability, founder qualifications, and policy-defined scoring/evidence standards.

2. Eligibility Checklist

• Business plan and founder profile fit current D-8-4 startup criteria.
• Meets current scoring/qualification framework used for D-8-4 review.
• Can provide required startup/incorporation and commercialization evidence.
• Financial and operational capacity is credible for proposed venture stage.
• Application reflects latest guideline revisions to D-8-4 scoring/conditions.

3. Criteria Summary

• D-8-4 commonly uses a point/scoring approach for startup qualification review.
• Manual revision logs show score-threshold and condition updates over time.
• Evidence quality (business substance, founder role, innovation/commercialization) is critical beyond raw score.
• Always confirm current-year scoring rubric and exemption/priority rules before filing.

4. Salary and Contract Rules

• D-8-4 is founder/business status and not primarily an employer salary-threshold visa.
• Financial viability and funding credibility are reviewed in place of standard work-salary logic.
• Where staffing/compensation documents are filed, internal consistency is still required.
• Unclear funding sources or unrealistic operating assumptions are common refusal triggers.

5. Employer and Workplace Change Rules

• D-8-4 centers on founder-led startup activity in approved business scope.
• Major business-model/entity/location changes should be reported per immigration requirements.
• Operational inactivity or mismatch between declared and actual business can affect extension.
• If transitioning from another status, prior compliance and lawful activity history remain relevant.

6. Required Documents

• Application set (form, passport, ARC where applicable, photo, fee proof).
• Startup business plan and founder qualification evidence per current framework.
• Corporate/registration and 사업-related documents required for stage of filing.
• Financial proof and supporting records for venture operation capacity.
• Any additional ministry/immigration office-specific documents requested.

7. Fees and Processing

• D-8 issuance/change/extension fees follow official schedules in manuals.
• Processing times vary by complexity of startup evidence and office workload.
• Scoring/evidence insufficiency frequently leads to supplement cycles.
• Pre-filing review of scoring criteria and document completeness is high impact.

8. Common Rejection Reasons

• Startup plan/evidence does not satisfy current D-8-4 qualification criteria.
• Score framework not met or not adequately substantiated by supporting documents.
• Funding/financial capacity evidence is weak or inconsistent.
• Declared business activity does not appear credible or sufficiently operational.
• Application based on outdated D-8-4 scoring assumptions after revisions.

9. FAQ