Republic of Korea · entrepreneur · Leads to settlement
D-8 Corporate Investment Visa
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 8 official citations reconfirmed 11 July 2026
Visa for foreign nationals investing in or managing a Korean corporation — requires minimum investment and creates a pathway to long-term residence.
- 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
In short
As of 8 July 2026, the D-8 Corporate Investment Visa for Republic of Korea is an unsponsored South Korea immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Korea government pages, reviewed 8 July 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/south-korea/d-8-corporate-investment#answer
What is the D-8 Corporate Investment Visa in Republic of Korea?
D-8 Corporate Investment Visa is an unsponsored South Korea route. Indicative government fees are KRW 130,000 visa fee; company registration fees vary; indicative processing time is 2–4 weeks for the visa; company registration takes an additional 1–2 weeks; typical duration is 1–2 years; renewable as long as the business operates. This route can lead to permanent residence.
Verified against KOTRA / Invest Korea on 18 April 2026.
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.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Chinese applicants
Chinese investors are the largest D-8 cohort. China–Korea trade ties are extensive, and many Chinese businesses establis…
American applicants
American investors in Korea concentrate in tech, food and beverage, education services, and e-commerce. The KORUS FTA fa…
Japanese applicants
Japanese investors have long-established business ties with Korea. Manufacturing, retail, and food services are common s…
Vietnamese applicants
Vietnamese D-8 investors are a growing cohort, driven by the deep Vietnam–Korea economic relationship. Many Vietnamese-K…
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.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicantUse Invest Korea foreign-investment guidance ↗
Confirm the official investment support venue and D-8 document path before filing with KOTRA or immigration.
KOTRA / Invest Korea · verified
- Official portalApplicantApply through Korea Visa Portal ↗
Use the official visa portal for consular visa filing or visa issuance confirmation steps after the investment basis is ready.
Korea Visa Portal / Ministry of Justice · verified
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E-7 Designated Activities Visa
Work visa for foreign professionals in specialised occupations — Korea's primary employer-sponsored route for skilled workers.
F-2-7 Points-Based Long-Term Residence
Points-based long-term residence for skilled professionals scoring 80+ points — the bridge between work visas and permanent residence in Korea.
Frequently asked questions
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.
Can I get a Korean D-8 visa by buying property?+
No. In most cases real-estate investment alone does not qualify for the D-8 — the investment must be in a business entity registered as a foreign-invested company, with the capital entering Korea as registered foreign direct investment. Shell or dormant entities do not qualify. Verify the current rules on invest.go.kr.
How long is a D-8 visa valid and can I keep renewing it?+
The D-8 is typically issued for 1–2 years and is renewable as long as the business operates. At each renewal, immigration assesses whether the business is genuinely operating, so you should maintain proper tax filings and employee records. Confirm current renewal conditions on invest.go.kr.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
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