South Korea D-8 Investor Visa
South Korea KOR
The South Korea D-8 Investor Visa is designed for foreign nationals who invest in or establish a business in South Korea, with a minimum capital threshold of KRW 100 million (approximately $75,000 USD). The visa supports active business management and is renewable as long as the investment and employment conditions are maintained. After five years of continuous residence, holders may apply for permanent residency (F-5 status).
Program Details
- Category
- Investment
- Processing Time
- 2 months
- Application Fee
- $60
- Minimum Income
- —
- Minimum Investment
- $75,000
- Family Included
- Spouse and minor children may obtain F-3 (Dependent) visas to accompany or join the primary holder.
- Path to PR
- Yes — 5 years
- Path to Citizenship
- Yes — 5 years
- Physical Presence
- Must be actively involved in the operation or management of the investment; regular presence in Korea expected.
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Tax Impact
- Holders residing in South Korea for 183+ days per year are subject to Korean income tax on worldwide income. Corporate taxes apply to business profits.
- Renewal Cost
- $60
No personal income requirement. Minimum investment of KRW 100,000,000 (~$75,000 USD) in a Korean company or business establishment is required.
Application Timeline
Apply
2mo processing
Visa Granted
Initial permit
Permanent Residency
After 5 years
Citizenship
After 5 years
Key Requirements
- ✓Minimum investment of KRW 100,000,000 (~$75,000 USD) in a Korean corporation or business
- ✓Register the company or investment with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) or relevant authority
- ✓Active role in managing or operating the business
- ✓Proof of investment funds from overseas (foreign exchange wire records)
- ✓No criminal record or adverse immigration history
- ✓Maintain the investment and employ at least one Korean national (where applicable)
Am I eligible for South Korea D-8 Investor Visa?
Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.
Minimum investment / capital
Programme requires $75,000.
Fill in the fields above to see a verdict.
This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Establish or invest in a Korean corporation with minimum KRW 100M capital
home countryThe D-8 (Corporate Investment) visa requires the applicant to invest a minimum of KRW 100 million (approx. USD 75,000) in a Korean legal entity — typically a corporation (Jusik Hoesa) or limited company. The entity must be a real operating business with Korean employees. A notional "paper company" or holding structure without substantive operations will not qualify. Confirm investment amount with a Korean attorney or KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency) before proceeding.
Typical duration: 4-8 weekssource ↗
- 02
Register the Korean corporation and obtain business registration certificate
destinationIncorporate the Korean entity through the Korean court registry. Obtain a Business Registration Certificate (Saeopja Deungnok Jeungmyeongwon) from the National Tax Service. Open a Korean corporate bank account and deposit the KRW 100M+ investment capital. Obtain a Foreign Investment Certificate from MOTIE (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy) via KOTRA.
Typical duration: 3-6 weekssource ↗
- 03
Prepare visa application documents and apply at Korean consulate or in-country
home countryCompile application package: passport, D-8 visa application form, business registration certificate, foreign investment certificate, proof of investment (bank transfer records), company articles of incorporation, and a business plan. If already in Korea on another status, apply for change of status at the local Immigration Office (Hi Korea portal). Overseas applicants apply at the Korean embassy/consulate in their home country.
Typical duration: 2-4 weekssource ↗
- 04
Attend interview / submit documents at consulate or immigration office
home countrySubmit documents in person or by mail depending on consulate policy. Pay government fee (KRW 60,000 / approx. USD 45 for single entry; USD 90+ for multiple entry). Some consulates require an in-person interview especially for first-time corporate investors.
Typical duration: 1-2 weeks
- 05
Receive D-8 visa and register alien registration card (ARC) within 90 days of arrival
destinationOn entry, register at the local Immigration Office (or Hi Korea online) within 90 days to obtain an Alien Registration Card (ARC). The ARC is required for banking, phone SIM, and health insurance enrollment. D-8 is typically granted for 2 years, extendable as long as business is active.
Typical duration: 2-4 weekssource ↗
Documents Required
| Document | Issued By | Apostille | Translate to | Validity (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport (6+ months validity) | Home country | No | — | 180 |
| D-8 visa application form | Korean Immigration Service (Hi Korea) | No | — | — |
| Foreign Investment Certificate (Oeguk-in Tuja Singosu) | KOTRA / MOTIE | No | — | 90 |
| Korean Business Registration Certificate | National Tax Service (NTS) Korea | No | — | 90 |
| Articles of incorporation / company registration documents | Korean court registry | No | — | — |
| Proof of investment deposit (bank transfer records / balance certificate) | Korean bank | No | — | 60 |
| Business plan (Korean or English) | Applicant | No | ko | — |
| Passport-size photo | Self | No | — | — |
Realistic Costs
Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: lawyer_fee_low, lawyer_fee_high, health_insurance_first_year, total_first_year_low, total_first_year_high, total_5_year_low, total_5_year_high.
Does not include the KRW 100M (approx. USD 75,000) capital investment itself. Korean law firm fees for company formation and visa support typically KRW 2M-8M. NHI (National Health Insurance) enrollment mandatory: approx. KRW 130,000-200,000/mo for a foreign investor.
Realistic Timeline
- Consulate wait1–4 weeks
- Decision → arrival2 weeks
- Residence card issuance4 weeks
- Total to residence card8–20 weeks
Company formation in Korea takes 3-6 weeks. KOTRA foreign investment certificate typically issued within 1-2 weeks. Consulate processing 5-10 working days for straightforward applications. In-country change of status adds 4-8 weeks.
Renewal
- First renewal after
- 24 months
- Subsequent cycle
- 24 months
- Renewal fee
- $90
- Requirements
- Renewal every 2 years (sometimes 1 year on first issuance). Must demonstrate the Korean business remains active: financial statements, employee records, tax filings. Investment must remain above KRW 100M. Immigration officer may request updated business registration and tax return.
Path to Permanent Residency — Details
- Years required
- 5
- Language test
- TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) (B1)
- Integration test
- Not required
- Application fee
- $200
Path to Citizenship — Details
- Years required
- 5
- Language test
- Yes (B1)
- Civic test
- Required
- Oath
- Required
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
- Application fee
- $300
Tax Residency
- Trigger
- 183 days/year of presence
- Taxation scope
- Worldwide income
- Exit-tax country
- No
Special regimes
- Foreign Expat Flat Tax Rate19% flat rate on Korean-source income
Foreign nationals working in Korea (including D-8 investors taking a salary from their Korean company) may elect a flat 19% income tax rate instead of progressive rates (up to 45%) for their first 20 years in Korea. Must elect before filing first Korean return.
Duration: 20 years
source ↗
Health Insurance
- Mandatory
- Yes
- Public system access
- After 0 months
Examples: National Health Insurance Service (NHIS)
Family Specifics
- Spouse work rights
- Spouse admitted on F-3 (Dependent) visa. F-3 does not automatically grant work rights — spouse must obtain separate work permit (typically E-series visa) to work legally in Korea.
- Child school enrolment
- Children on F-3 dependent visas may enroll in Korean public schools. International schools available in Seoul (Seoul Foreign School, Korea International School) with tuition USD 15,000-35,000/yr.
- Parent inclusion
- Not eligible
- Sibling inclusion
- Not eligible
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠The KRW 100M investment is not a deposit — it becomes the capital of a real Korean operating company that must pay taxes, employees, and accounting fees
- ⚠Korea requires the business to be genuinely operating: a single founder with no Korean employees may face renewal difficulty or rejection
- ⚠Corporate income tax applies at 9-24%+ on Korean company profits; personal income tax on salary up to 45% (or 19% flat rate if elected)
- ⚠Korea does not permit dual citizenship for most naturalised adults — you must renounce prior nationality
- ⚠The 19% flat income tax election must be made before filing your first Korean return; missing this window loses the benefit permanently
- ⚠ARC must be renewed with the visa; forgetting the 90-day registration window results in fines
- ⚠KOTRA can provide free advisory services for foreign investors — use them to avoid costly mistakes with the Foreign Investment Certificate
What This Visa Does NOT Allow
- ×Working for a Korean employer other than the invested company (employment for another entity requires a separate work visa)
- ×Operating without maintaining the required investment capital level (drops below KRW 100M trigger review)
- ×Treating the company as a pure tax vehicle with no substantive operations
Common Rejection Reasons
- •Investment capital below KRW 100M or funds not demonstrably transferred to Korean entity
- •Business is a shell or paper company with no real employees or operations in Korea
- •Foreign Investment Certificate not obtained from KOTRA/MOTIE before applying
- •Business plan deemed implausible or industry not eligible for foreign investment
- •Criminal record or prior Korean immigration violations
- •Dual-purpose suspicion: applicant appears to be seeking employment rather than running a genuine business
Recent Legislative Changes
2023-06-01
Korean immigration streamlined D-8 company formation requirements in coordination with KOTRA one-stop investment support centres. KOTRA now provides expedited foreign investment certificate for amounts above KRW 100M.source ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run my D-8 company remotely from abroad?+
Technically the D-8 visa is a residency visa requiring you to be based in Korea and actively managing the business. Spending extended periods abroad may jeopardise renewal if immigration officers determine you are not genuinely operating the business in Korea. There is no minimum physical presence days specified, but substantive presence is expected.
Does the KRW 100M need to stay in the company forever?+
The registered capital must remain in the company throughout your D-8 status. Withdrawing funds below the KRW 100M threshold would make you ineligible for renewal. Profits may be distributed as dividends, but registered capital must be maintained.
Good Fit For
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.