Japanese applicants · Republic of Korea
D-8 Corporate Investment Visa for Japanese citizens
Visa for foreign nationals investing in or managing a Korean corporation — requires minimum investment and creates a pathway to long-term residence.
This page covers the D-8 Corporate Investment Visa specifically for Japanese applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to Japan. The general eligibility criteria apply to everyone.
- Processing time
- 2–4 weeks for the visa; company registration takes an additional 1–2 weeks.
- Government fees
- KRW 130,000 visa fee; company registration fees vary.
- Typical duration
- 1–2 years; renewable as long as the business operates.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Bilateral context
No nationality-specific treaty frameworks apply to this combination.
Consular processing: a Republic of Korea consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence
Tourist entry vs. this route
Tourist-entry rules for Japanese nationals are set by KOTRA / Invest Korea and change periodically — check the official entry-requirements page. The D-8 Corporate Investment Visa is a separate application from any tourist entry.
Visa overview
The D-8 visa is for foreign investors or executives managing a foreign-invested company registered in Korea. The minimum investment threshold is set by the Foreign Investment Promotion Act (verify the current amount on invest.go.kr — approximately KRW 100,000,000, or approximately USD 75,000). The investment must be registered as foreign direct investment through a foreign-exchange bank or KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency). The D-8 allows the holder to manage the company and can lead to F-2 and eventually F-5 permanent residence through the points system. Korea actively promotes foreign investment through KOTRA's Invest Korea division, which provides free setup support for foreign investors.
Additional sources
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Foreign investment meeting the minimum threshold (verify the current amount on invest.go.kr — approximately KRW 100,000,000) in a Korean corporation registered as a foreign-invested company.KOTRA / Invest Korea ↗
- ✓The investor must be a registered executive or essential management personnel of the company.KOTRA / Invest Korea ↗
- ✓The investment must be registered as foreign direct investment through a foreign-exchange bank or KOTRA.KOTRA / Invest Korea ↗
- ✓The business must be a legitimate operating entity — shell companies or dormant entities do not qualify.
Common blockers
- !Investment below the minimum threshold.KOTRA / Invest Korea ↗
- !Company not properly registered as a foreign-invested company through the prescribed channels.KOTRA / Invest Korea ↗
- !Investor is not in an executive or essential management role.KOTRA / Invest Korea ↗
- !Real-estate-only investment (in most cases, real-estate investment alone does not qualify for D-8 — the investment must be in a business entity).
Typical evidence
- ·Foreign investment report filed with KOTRA or a foreign-exchange bank.KOTRA / Invest Korea ↗
- ·Company registration certificate (saeopja deungnog jeungmyeongseo) from the relevant district court.
- ·Investment evidence — bank transfer records showing the foreign capital entering Korea.KOTRA / Invest Korea ↗
- ·Business plan and evidence of business operations.
- ·Passport.
Application pathway
Register foreign investment
File a foreign investment report with a Korean foreign-exchange bank or KOTRA. KOTRA's Invest Korea division provides free support for the entire setup process — highly recommended.
Establish the Korean company
Register the company with the relevant district court and tax office. KOTRA can assist with the registration process. Common corporate forms: Chusik Hoesa (stock corporation, similar to a corporation) or Yuhan Hoesa (limited liability company, similar to an LLC).
Apply for D-8 visa
Apply at the Korean consulate with investment report, company registration, and investment evidence.
Enter Korea and manage the business
Begin operations. At each renewal, immigration assesses whether the business is genuinely operating. Maintain proper tax filings and employee records.
Transition to F-2/F-5 through the points system
Accumulate points on the F-2-7 system (income from the business, TOPIK, qualifications) to transition to long-term and eventually permanent residence.
Not sure Republic of Korea is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer entrepreneur routes that Japanese nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are Japanese citizens eligible for the D-8 Corporate Investment Visa?+
Eligibility for the D-8 Corporate Investment Visa is set by KOTRA / Invest Korea and is not nationality-restricted. See the criteria below for the published requirements.
Where do Japanese applicants typically file the D-8 Corporate Investment Visa?+
a Republic of Korea consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by KOTRA / Invest Korea — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.
Do Japanese applicants need a tourist visa for Republic of Korea as well?+
Tourist-entry rules for Japanese nationals are set by KOTRA / Invest Korea and change periodically — check the official entry-requirements page. The D-8 Corporate Investment Visa is a separate application from any tourist entry.
What is the minimum investment for a D-8 visa?+
The threshold is set by the Foreign Investment Promotion Act — approximately KRW 100,000,000 (approximately USD 75,000, verify on invest.go.kr). The investment must be in a Korean business entity registered as a foreign-invested company — not in real estate alone. The capital must enter Korea through a foreign-exchange bank and be properly registered as foreign direct investment.
Does KOTRA really help with the setup for free?+
Yes. KOTRA's Invest Korea division provides free consulting services for foreign investors, including assistance with company registration, investment reporting, visa applications, office space (at subsidised Invest Korea business centres in Seoul and other cities), and connection with professional service providers (lawyers, accountants). This is a Korean government programme to attract foreign investment and is genuinely free — it is one of the best foreign-investor support services in Asia.
Can I hire employees on a D-8 visa?+
Yes. As the managing executive of a registered Korean company, you can hire employees — both Korean and foreign. If you want to hire foreign employees, the company must meet the employer-eligibility criteria for the relevant visa category (e.g. E-7 for skilled professionals). The company's Nitaqat/quota-equivalent in Korea is based on company size and sector.
Does the D-8 visa lead to permanent residence?+
Not directly. Like the E-7, the pathway is D-8 → F-2-7 (80 points) → F-5. Income from a successfully operating business contributes to the income-points category. The timeline depends on TOPIK achievement and business income levels — realistic timeline is 4–7 years from D-8 to F-5.