Set up or manage a foreign-invested company in South Korea.
Reviewed against
James Chae, 행정사 (Korean Licensed Administrative Attorney). License No. 220-06-06463 · 대한행정사회 (Korean Administrative Agents Association). Reviewed against the HiKorea 사증·체류업무 자격별 안내 매뉴얼 and cross-checked with Ministry of Justice issuances.
Last reviewed
April 22, 2026
Source references
Issuance-manual sections covering D-8 investor and startup founder pathways, including OASIS-linked intake rules.
Stay-manual sections covering D-8 extension, business continuity review, and in-country reporting obligations.
Filing caution
Requirements can change by nationality, local immigration office, and filing channel. Confirm exact requirements with HiKorea, the responsible Korean consulate, or a licensed immigration specialist before filing.
These points are drawn from Korea immigration manuals and recurring review patterns for higher-risk visa categories.
HiKorea — Korean visa & residency manual: Issuance-manual sections on D-8 investor and startup founder pathways.
Ministry of Justice Immigration Policy Bureau: Stay-manual sections on D-8 extension, business continuity review, and reporting obligations.
Stay Duration
Up to 2 years per issuance (renewable)
Processing
2–4 weeks
Visa Fee
$74.63 (status change) / $44.78 (extension)
Fees and processing times sourced from HiKorea & Ministry of Justice. Figures are updated periodically but may change — verify before submitting.
Readiness check
Use this quick self-check before you spend time on forms or book a consultation for Corporate Investment Visa.
Next focus
Eligibility fit
I meet the core D-8 requirements and understand any sponsor, degree, income, family, or experience conditions that apply.
The D-8 visa is issued to foreign investors who have made a qualifying investment in a Korean company and intend to manage or oversee their Korean business operations. It is one of the most common visas for entrepreneurs and business executives from overseas who are establishing or operating a foreign-invested enterprise (FIE) in Korea.
Foreign nationals who have invested at least ₩100 million (approximately USD 75,000) in a Korean company — typically as the founder, CEO, or major shareholder of a foreign-invested enterprise registered with KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency). Also applicable to employees dispatched by overseas investors to manage their Korean business.
Foreign investment of at least ₩100 million in a Korean company (registered as a foreign-invested enterprise with KOTRA)
Investment must be in the form of equity (cash investment into a Korean corporation or limited company)
The applicant must be the investor, a shareholder-director, or a designated representative of the foreign investor
Bachelor's degree or higher, OR at least 3 years of relevant business experience
No criminal record
Delay and refusal risks
Business-investor cases are document-heavy because immigration reviews both the legal investment route and the real business activity.
D-8 review can stall when the investment amount, sender, receiving company, bank trail, foreign-exchange documents, or investor identity do not line up cleanly.
Manual basis: The D-8 manual references investment funds, remittance/payment evidence, foreign-investment registration, and related supporting documents.
Company registration alone is not enough. Thin operating records, no real business activity, or weak continuity evidence can invite additional review.
Manual basis: The stay manual includes D-8 extension and business-continuity review points for investor status management.
Some industries or business structures are restricted or do not fit the claimed D-8 route. A filing built around the wrong route can be refused or redirected.
The D-8 sections refer to restricted industries and cases where the applicant is not considered essential management or production-technology personnel.
Real-world scenarios
D-8 scenarios depend on whether the case is an investment, essential personnel, or technology-startup route.
You are investing into a Korean company and want the visa to support management or business operation.
Main risk
A company registration alone is not enough if the investment trail, foreign-investment registration, and business purpose are unclear.
Documents to prioritize
Valid passport + completed visa application form + passport photo
Foreign investment certificate (외국인투자신고서) issued by KOTRA or a Korean bank
Korean company's business registration certificate
Proof of investment (bank transfer records, equity certificates)
Degree certificate or evidence of business experience
Criminal background check (apostilled, issued within 3 months)
Company's articles of incorporation
Register as a foreign investor (KOTRA / bank)
Report your investment to KOTRA or a designated Korean bank and receive a Foreign Investment Certificate. This registers your company as a foreign-invested enterprise (FIE).
Incorporate your Korean company
Establish a Korean corporation (주식회사 or 유한회사) through a Korean attorney or incorporation agent. You'll need the investment funds transferred to a Korean bank account before registration.
Apply for the D-8 visa
Submit your D-8 application at the Korean consulate with your investment certificate, company registration, and other required documents.
Arrive and register
Register at the immigration office within 90 days of arrival to obtain your ARC. Your business address will be verified.
Need help with your D-8 visa?
Connect with a verified specialist who handles D-8 applications.
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Unfamiliar with a term?
Specific tracks under the D-8 category. Pick the one that matches your situation for track-level documents, criteria, and filing notes.
Start a Business in Korea — Complete Guide
D-8-1 investor, D-8-4 startup points, D-9 trade rep, D-10-2 prep — compare all paths, scoring tables, OASIS program, and company structures.
Still have questions about the D-8 visa?
Ask K-VISA AI — free, instant answers on Korean visa requirements and procedures.
Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed April 2026
If relying on a technology startup pathway, OASIS, IP, corporate setup, and founder activity evidence must support the specific route claimed.
Manual basis: The manual separates investor and technology-startup founder pathways and lists different documentary expectations.
Source note
These are practical risk factors for Corporate Investment Visa, not a complete list of legal refusal grounds. Final review can vary by nationality, filing channel, consulate, immigration office, and case facts.
You are building a technology startup and relying on startup-founder evidence instead of a conventional investment case.
Main risk
The founder route needs a coherent startup narrative backed by qualifying startup activity, IP, OASIS, or program evidence.
Documents to prioritize
Certified & reviewed
All agents on Mr. Visa Korea are certified immigration administrative agents (행정사) registered in Korea.
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