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Pathway

South Korea Investor or Startup Visa

South Korea Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

Investors and founders may be able to live in South Korea to run a business under a D-8 category. Each option has its own investment, ownership, technology, or startup-support requirements.

Business activity
Operating an approved investment, venture, or startup business
Investment options
D-8-1 or D-8-3 generally require at least KRW 100 million
Corporate ownership
D-8-1 generally requires at least 10% of voting shares

Summary

South Korea’s D-8 residence categories serve different kinds of business investors and founders rather than providing one general startup visa. D-8-1 and D-8-3 usually rely on qualifying foreign investment; D-8-2 relies on a certified venture-company basis; and D-8-4 or D-8-4(S) relies on technology, startup-program, or government-recommendation criteria.

You must meet one complete route’s requirements. Registering a company or putting money in a bank account does not, on its own, qualify you.

Could this pathway work for you?

Eligibility

Choose the business route

Prove the business and your role

Investment applicants need a traceable transfer from abroad, the required ownership and management structure, a real operating site, credible business activity, and an eligible management, administration, production, or technical role.

Immigration can check registration, leases, use of capital, tax and bank records, staff, contracts, and what you actually do. Keep the company, investment, tax, banking, and immigration records consistent.

Choosing a Korean business route
  1. Choose one D-8 category Match the business to the investment, venture, or startup rules.
  2. Prove the funding and business Document the ownership, money transfers, operating site, and your role.
  3. Complete the relevant reviews A startup recommendation or company registration does not replace immigration approval.

The D-8 categories are alternatives. Do not combine parts of different categories or assume an investment guarantees a visa.

What This Route Allows

Approval lets you live in South Korea and carry out the business activity covered by your particular D-8 category. The length of stay and extensions depend on that category, the business records, and continued compliance.

An eligible spouse and dependent children may apply separately for F-3 family status. They do not automatically receive permission to work.

A later F-2 residence or F-5 permanent-residence application has separate requirements. Keeping a company registered does not automatically lead to either status or citizenship.

What This Route Is Not

D-8 is not residence bought by depositing KRW 100 million. It requires a qualifying business and genuine role. A role that can be filled through ordinary local recruitment does not necessarily qualify as an indispensable professional role under the corporate-investment rules.

It is separate from the public-business investor scheme, which uses approved public funds or projects and different amounts. It is not a general visa for any shop, freelance work, or undeveloped startup idea.

Next Steps

  1. Choose the exact D-8 category before incorporating, signing a long lease, or transferring money.
  2. For investment routes, confirm ownership, reporting, bank-transfer, and business rules with KOTRA’s Foreign Investor Support Center.
  3. For a technology startup, check which OASIS, competition, government-project, or special-recommendation route fits your evidence.
  4. Document how the funds were earned, transferred, received, and used.
  5. Gather company, tax, banking, office, contract, staffing, and operating records.
  6. Confirm the filing process. You may need a Korean embassy or consulate application, prior visa-issuance confirmation, or an allowed change of status inside Korea. Not every current status allows that change.

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Discussed in these reports

Similar investment pathways in other destinations.

Sources