Corporate Investment (D-8) Visa — Eligibility, Period of Stay, and Documents for Application, Change of Status, and Extension
Based on Ministry of Justice manual (2026-09-18) · Translated from the Korean original.
Corporate Investment (D-8) is a status of stay for foreign nationals who intend to work at a company in which they have invested in Korea or operate a venture or technology-based startup. The subcategories, from D-8-1 to D-8-4S, and required documents vary according to the investment method and the applicant’s qualifications.
At a glance
Who it is for
- D-8-1 corporate investment: Essential professional personnel intending to work in management, administration, production, or technology at a Korean corporation that is a foreign-invested company. Persons hired in Korea are excluded.
- D-8-2 venture investment: A representative or other person of a venture business that meets the requirements, or of a business preparing to establish one, and that has received venture business confirmation or prospective venture business confirmation.
- D-8-3 investment in a sole proprietorship: Essential professional personnel intending to work in management, administration, production, or technology at a business operated by a Korean national. Persons hired in Korea are excluded.
- D-8-4 technology-based startup: A founder of a corporation with intellectual property rights or equivalent technological capability who has already obtained at least an associate degree from a Korean institution or a bachelor’s degree or higher from an overseas institution, or who has been recommended by the head of a relevant central administrative agency.
- D-8-4S Startup Korea Special Visa: A technology-based startup founder who has received approval following review by a private evaluation committee and a recommendation from the Minister of SMEs and Startups.
What you can do
- D-8 is a status of stay that permits employment. When applying for foreigner registration or various permissions related to stay, you must report your occupation and annual income.
- The eligible activities for D-8-1 and D-8-3 are, respectively, work in management, administration, production, or technology at a foreign-invested corporation or a business operated by a Korean national.
- D-8-2 and D-8-4(S) activities may be undertaken outside the status of stay by registered foreign nationals holding certain statuses of stay for professors, researchers, technical instruction, or professional occupations. Only activities related to their own field of research or work are permitted.
- If you receive education at a regular educational institution without interfering with the original purpose of your stay, no separate permission is required during your period of stay.
Period of stay
The maximum period of stay is five years for D-8-1 and D-8-3, and two years for D-8-2 and D-8-4. The maximum is six months for prospective venture companies under D-8-2 and for D-8-4S applicants whose corporations have not been established. The actual period granted is subject to the criteria in the manual, including the validity period of the passport.
Applications & documents
Visa issuance
- Visa Application Form (사증발급신청서)
- Passport and standard-format photograph
- Company documents, including the Certificate of Business Registration (사업자등록증) and Certificate of All Registered Matters of the Corporation (법인등기사항전부증명서)
- For D-8-1 and D-8-3: Certificate of Registration of a Foreign-Invested Company (외국인투자기업등록증) and documents proving the introduction of investment funds
- For D-8-2: Venture Business Confirmation Certificate or Prospective Venture Business Confirmation Certificate, and documents proving technological capability
- For D-8-4: Degree certificate or recommendation from the head of a relevant central administrative agency, and documents proving the points-based criteria
- For D-8-4S: Recommendation for the Startup Korea Special Visa issued by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups
As a rule, apply at a diplomatic mission of the Republic of Korea in your country of origin. If an exception specified in the manual applies, such as operating a business overseas, you may apply at a diplomatic mission in the relevant country. Apply for a Certificate of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정서) at the competent Immigration Office/Foreigners Office (출입국·외국인청), etc. For visa applications that require a fee, follow the application document requirements in the manual.
Change of status of stay
- Application Form (신청서), passport, Residence Card (외국인등록증) (if applicable), and standard-format photograph
- Company documents, including the Certificate of Business Registration and Certificate of All Registered Matters of the Corporation, as applicable
- Confirmation documents for the relevant category, such as a Certificate of Registration of a Foreign-Invested Company or Venture Business Confirmation Certificate
- Documents proving the introduction of investment funds or documents proving technological capability or intellectual property rights
- Degree certificate or recommendation from the head of a relevant central administrative agency (for applicable technology-based startup applicants)
- Documents proving business performance and documents proving place of residence
- Additional documents specific to the relevant category, such as documents proving the business premises or a joint business agreement
The documents to be submitted differ by category from D-8-1 to D-8-4. Apply at the competent Immigration Office, Immigration Office Branch, or Immigration Office Sub-branch. The application review fee is KRW 100,000.
Extension of period of stay
- Application Form, passport, Residence Card (if applicable), and standard-format photograph
- Company documents, including the Certificate of Business Registration and Certificate of All Registered Matters of the Corporation, as applicable
- Confirmation documents for the relevant category, such as a Certificate of Registration of a Foreign-Invested Company or Venture Business Confirmation Certificate
- Documents proving the introduction of investment funds or documents proving technological capability or intellectual property rights
- Documents proving business performance or operation
- Tax-related certificates and supporting documents
- Documents proving the existence of business premises and place of residence
The specific documents vary according to the D-8 category. The manual lists separate extension documents for D-8-4(S). The application review fee is KRW 60,000.
Foreigner registration
- Application Form, original passport, and standard-format photograph
- Certificate of Business Registration
- Certificate of All Registered Matters of the Corporation (for a corporate business)
- Documents proving place of residence
The application review fee is KRW 35,000. For a person who obtained a visa using a Certificate of Visa Issuance, the document requirements for an application to change status of stay apply by analogy when applying for registration.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What are the subcategories of D-8?
The categories are corporate investment (D-8-1), venture investment (D-8-2), investment in a sole proprietorship (D-8-3), and technology-based startup (D-8-4). Technology-based startup founders eligible for the Startup Korea Special Visa are classified as D-8-4S.
Q. Can anyone obtain D-8 by investing in Korea?
No. You must meet the requirements for the relevant category based on the investment method and type of business. For example, D-8-1 has investment requirements for a Korean corporation that has completed its establishment.
Q. How much do I need to invest for D-8-1?
The basic requirement in the manual is an investment of at least KRW 100 million. The stated requirements include owning at least 10% of the total voting shares of the invested corporation, or owning shares or other equity interests in the corporation and entering into an agreement to dispatch or appoint an executive officer.
Q. What are the requirements for D-8-3 investment in a sole proprietorship?
You must invest at least KRW 100 million in a business operated by a Korean national, own at least 10% of the total capital contributions to the business, and be listed as a joint representative with a Korean national on the business registration certificate. The Korean national who is a joint business operator must also have at least KRW 100 million in business funds.
Q. Can I apply for D-8-4 if I am expected to obtain my degree?
If you are applying based on an academic degree, only a degree you have already obtained will be recognized. You need at least an associate degree from a Korean institution or a bachelor's degree or higher from an overseas institution. A person recommended by the head of a relevant central administrative agency may also be eligible.
Q. Can I apply for D-8-4S before establishing a corporation?
If the corporation has not yet been established, you may omit the Certificate of All Registered Matters of the Corporation and a copy of the business registration certificate. You must submit these documents within six months of entering Korea and obtain an extension of stay.
Q. How long can I stay on D-8?
Under the manual, the maximum period of stay is five years for D-8-1 and D-8-3, and two years for D-8-2 and D-8-4. A maximum of six months is specified for prospective venture companies and D-8-4S applicants whose corporations have not yet been established.
Q. Can I work for another company or engage in other activities on D-8?
You must comply with the scope of activities and category-specific requirements for D-8. For D-8-2 and D-8-4(S), activities outside the status of stay are permitted only to certain registered foreign nationals and only for activities related to their own field of research or work.
Watch out for
- Individual investors investing less than KRW 300 million may be required to submit additional documents and may undergo a detailed review. The manual states that small-scale investors investing less than KRW 300 million who have no business experience are subject to a detailed review.
- In principle, the investment funds must be in the investor’s own name. Funds brought into Korea or remitted on the investor’s behalf in the name of a spouse or minor child are accepted as an exception. For investments of at least KRW 300 million, funds in the names of parents and parents-in-law may also be accepted.
- The granting of D-8 status may be restricted for industries in which foreign investment is restricted, businesses involving gambling, and restricted industries specified in the manual, such as businesses operating danran pubs or entertainment bars.
- D-8 status is not subject to permission for a change or addition of workplace. The manual states that this is handled through a report of changes to the foreigner registration details.
Source
Compiled by AI from the Ministry of Justice "Visa Issuance Guide Manual" and "Residence Guide Manual" (HiKorea notice, in Korean). hikorea.go.kr
This is general guidance; the immigration office makes the final decision. Before applying, check the latest rules on HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345.