# D-8 Corporate Investor Visa in Korea: Guide for Entrepreneurs
> Requirements, documents, fees, and timelines for Korea's D-8 corporate investor visa in 2026, plus pitfalls and the path to F-2 and F-5 residency.
**URL:** https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/d-8-corporate-investor-visa-in-korea-guide-for-entrepreneurs
**Last Updated:** 2026-05-27
**Tags:** resources, culture, deepdive
---
The D-8 is Korea's corporate investor visa, granted to foreign nationals who invest at least KRW 100 million (around USD 75,000) into a Korean corporation they control or co-own. It is the standard route for entrepreneurs who want to incorporate a company in Korea, run it on the ground, and eventually move toward permanent residency.
*Last updated: May 27, 2026*
## Who the D-8 Is For
The D-8 is administered by the Ministry of Justice under Article 23 of Korea's Immigration Control Act. The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and designated foreign exchange banks handle the Foreign Investment Notification that underpins the application. It is intended for foreign nationals who have actually moved capital into Korea and intend to manage the resulting business.
There are four subcategories, and choosing the correct one matters because the document set and approval logic differ:
- D-8-1 (Corporate Investment): the mainstream route for foreign founders incorporating or investing in a Korean company. Requires at least 10% of total voting shares.
- D-8-2 (Venture / Technology Transfer): for executives of certified venture firms or technology-transfer arrangements.
- D-8-3 (Private Company with Korean Co-Owner): for foreigners investing in a private (non-corporate) business jointly with a Korean partner.
- D-8-4 (Technology Startup / OASIS): points-based startup track for founders with university qualifications and IP, with no minimum capital but stricter qualitative tests.
If you are joining an existing Korean employer rather than starting a company, the [E-7 Specialty Visa in Korea](https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/e-7-specialty-visa-in-korea-a-practical-guide-for-foreign-professionals) is usually the correct track instead.
## Core Eligibility Requirements
The baseline rules for the D-8-1 in 2026 are straightforward, but immigration officers apply them strictly.
- Minimum investment: KRW 100 million per individual foreign investor. If two foreigners co-invest, each must separately contribute at least KRW 100 million. A combined KRW 100 million split between two passports does not qualify.
- Share ownership: the applicant must hold at least 10% of the total voting shares of the Korean corporation.
- Source of funds: the money must originate from outside South Korea and be wired from the investor's personal overseas account to a Korean foreign exchange bank. Third-party remittances, hand-carried cash, and locally borrowed funds do not qualify. For investments of KRW 300 million or more, parents and a spouse's parents may also remit on the investor's behalf.
- Real business operations: for investments under KRW 300 million, immigration frequently conducts a physical site visit to verify the office and a dedicated workspace for the foreign executive.
- Clean background: no serious criminal record, no immigration violations in Korea.
For the D-8-4 startup track, the bar is qualitative rather than capital-based. You need a minimum of 80 points on the OASIS scoring matrix, at least one mandatory item (such as a registered patent or completion of OASIS training through the Global Startup Immigration Center), a Bachelor's degree from any country or an Associate's degree from a Korean university, and you must establish a brand-new corporation. Acquiring an existing company does not count for D-8-4.
## Document Checklist
The paperwork comes in two layers: documents about you, and documents about the company.
Personal documents:
- Valid passport and a passport-style photo
- Completed visa application form (D-8)
- Resume or CV showing relevant business background
- Criminal background check from your country of nationality, apostilled or consularized
- Proof of academic qualifications (especially for D-8-4)
- Health-related declarations as required by the consulate
Company and investment documents:
- Foreign Investment Notification filed with a designated foreign exchange bank or KOTRA
- Remittance certificate proving overseas-origin funds were wired into Korea
- Foreign-Invested Company Registration Certificate
- Business Registration Certificate from the National Tax Service
- Corporate Register (등기부등본) showing the foreign investor as a shareholder and, typically, a representative director
- Articles of incorporation
- Office lease contract in the company's name (with photos of the actual space for under-KRW-300-million cases)
- Most recent corporate bank statement showing the invested capital
- Business plan describing operations, revenue model, and hiring roadmap
For D-8-4 applicants, add the OASIS scoring sheet with supporting evidence (patent certificates, KIPO Intellectual Property training records, awards, incubation acceptance letters).
## How the Application Works, Step by Step
The sequence matters. Skipping or reordering steps is one of the most common reasons for refusal.
1. Plan the structure. Decide on company type (typically a 주식회사, joint-stock company), shareholding, and the role you will hold as a foreign director.
2. Open a temporary foreign-currency account at a Korean foreign exchange bank for the incoming investment funds.
3. File the Foreign Investment Notification with the bank or KOTRA before wiring funds. This step legally classifies the incoming money as foreign direct investment.
4. Wire the investment capital from your personal overseas account. Keep the SWIFT confirmation, since immigration will ask for it.
5. Incorporate the company at the local court registry and obtain the Corporate Register and Business Registration Certificate.
6. Convert the capital from the temporary account into the company's operating account and obtain the Foreign-Invested Company Registration Certificate.
7. Sign an office lease in the company name and set up a workspace adequate for inspection.
8. Submit the visa application. If you are abroad, apply at the Korean embassy or consulate in your country of residence. If you are already in Korea on another long-term status, you can apply for a change of status at your local Immigration Office, typically through the HiKorea portal at https://www.hikorea.go.kr.
9. Attend the interview and site inspection if requested.
10. Receive the visa, enter Korea (if applying from abroad), and complete Foreigner Registration within 90 days.
Once you receive your visa and arrive, your next administrative task is getting your [Alien Registration Card in Korea](https://migaku.com/blog/korean/alien-registration-card-in-korea-how-to-get-one-as-a-foreigner), which becomes your primary ID for banking, contracts, and tax filings.
## Fees and Processing Times
Korean visa-issuance fees vary by nationality and are subject to reciprocal agreements, so the authoritative number is the one published by your local Korean embassy or consulate. For example, German nationals are exempted from D-8 visa fees under Korea-Germany reciprocity, with the current fee schedule valid through June 30, 2026. Check the official HiKorea portal or your consulate before paying.
Beyond the visa fee itself, budget for the practical setup costs:
| Cost item | Typical range (2026) |
|---|---|
| Capital investment (D-8-1 minimum) | KRW 100,000,000 |
| Company registration tax and legal incorporation fees | included in setup band below |
| Office lease deposit (Seoul, small office) | varies widely by district |
| Accounting and bookkeeping setup | included in setup band below |
| Total non-capital setup (registration, legal, office, accounting) | KRW 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 |
Processing times in 2026:
- Fastest cases: about two months end to end.
- Typical cases: three to four months when documents need supplementing.
- Embassy applications from abroad: generally four to eight weeks once submitted.
- Change-of-status inside Korea: two to four weeks.
The initial period of stay granted is usually one to two years, and the visa is renewable indefinitely as long as the business genuinely operates.
## Common Pitfalls
These are the issues that derail D-8 applications most often in 2026, based on patterns seen by Korean immigration practitioners.
- Wrong source of funds. Wiring from a corporate account, a friend's account, or via a money-transfer service breaks the foreign-direct-investment classification. Use your personal overseas account, and for KRW 300 million and above, only your or your spouse's parents may remit on your behalf.
- Shell-office setups. A virtual office address with no actual workspace fails the site inspection for sub-KRW-300-million investments. Lease real space, even if small, and have your name plate, computer, and basic furnishings in place.
- No business activity at renewal. Consular scrutiny tightened in 2026, with officers focused on authenticity of investment and source of funds. At extension time, you must show actual revenue, tax filings, and operational records, not just the original capital deposit sitting untouched.
- Mixing D-8-1 and D-8-4 logic. D-8-4 has no capital threshold but requires OASIS points and IP credentials. D-8-1 requires capital but is lighter on academic credentials. Pick one track and assemble documents accordingly.
- Late notifications. You must notify immigration within 30 days if the business closes or becomes inactive, and report any address change within 15 days at your Local Immigration Office, the district office, or via HiKorea. The Immigration Contact Center is 1345.
- Assuming co-founders can pool capital. Two foreigners cannot share one KRW 100 million contribution to both qualify. Each foreign shareholder seeking D-8 status must independently meet the threshold.
## Family, Long-Term Residency, and Life After D-8
D-8 holders can sponsor a spouse and unmarried children under 20 for F-3 dependent visas. Spouses on F-3 cannot work freely, so plan household finances around the principal applicant's income.
For long-term planning, the D-8 is one of the cleaner pathways to Korean residency:
- F-2-5 (intermediate residence): USD 500,000 invested with three years' continuous D-8 residence, or USD 300,000 invested with at least two Korean employees.
- F-5-5 (permanent residency, high investment): personal investment of at least USD 500,000 under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act and employment of at least five Korean nationals. This pathway is for the investor personally, not for dispatched employees.
- F-5-24 (technology startup PR): three or more years on D-8-4, having attracted at least KRW 300 million in investment, and employing at least two Koreans full-time for six months or more.
Korea's 2026 income benchmark used in several residency calculations (the GNI reference) is KRW 52,416,000 (approximately USD 36,855), effective April 1, 2026.
Day-to-day life on D-8 is fairly close to that of a permanent resident: you can sign your own lease, open business and personal bank accounts, register a vehicle, and, if you plan to drive, [exchange a foreign driver's license in Korea](https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/how-to-exchange-a-foreign-drivers-license-in-korea) at the local driver's license agency.
## Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for the D-8 before incorporating the company?
No. The corporation must exist, the foreign investment must be registered, and the capital must be in the company account before you file the visa application.
Does the KRW 100 million have to stay in the account?
The capital can be used for legitimate business expenses (lease, payroll, equipment) once operations begin. What immigration checks at renewal is whether the business is genuinely running, not whether the original cash is untouched.
Can I work for another Korean company while on D-8?
The D-8 is tied to your own corporation. Outside employment generally requires a separate authorization or visa.
What happens if my business fails?
You must notify immigration within 30 days of closure or inactivity. Depending on timing, you may need to switch to another status or depart Korea.
Is Korean language required?
Not for the D-8 itself. In practice, running a Korean corporation, dealing with tax filings, signing leases, and managing local employees is far easier with working Korean, and is effectively required for the F-2-5 and F-5 pathways down the line.
Where do I check the latest official fee schedule?
The HiKorea portal at https://www.hikorea.go.kr and your local Korean embassy or consulate. Fees vary by nationality due to reciprocal agreements.
Running a company in Korea on the D-8 goes much more smoothly when you can read contracts, talk to your accountant, and handle immigration officers in Korean. If you're heading that way, Migaku is built for learning Korean from native shows, news, and the kind of business content you'll actually deal with on the ground.