D-8 Corporate Investment Visa Korea: Complete Guide 2026
The D-8 (Corporate Investment) visa allows foreign nationals who invest in a Korean company to reside in Korea and manage that business as its executive or director.
Unlike the D-7 intra-company transfer visa, D-8 does not require a pre-existing relationship with an overseas corporation. Any foreign national who invests their own capital in a Korean legal entity and manages it directly qualifies for D-8 consideration.
Table of Contents
- 1. What Is D-8? — The Legal Basis of Corporate Investment Visa
- 2. Investment Requirements — Minimum ₩100 Million
- 3. Permitted Industries and Roles
- 4. Employment Requirements
- 5. Company Setup Process Overview
- 6. Required Documents
- 7. Application Procedure
- 8. D-8 vs D-7 — Side-by-Side Comparison
- 9. D-8 to F-5 Permanent Residency
- 10. Frequently Asked Questions
- 11. Consultation
1. What Is D-8? — The Legal Basis of Corporate Investment Visa {#section-1}
The D-8 visa is issued under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act to foreign nationals making direct investment in Korea.
It covers two main scenarios:
① New company establishment A foreign national sets up a new Korean legal entity and serves as its CEO or director.
② Investment in existing entity A foreign national acquires shares in an existing Korean company and takes on a management role.
The defining characteristic: the investor contributes their own capital to a Korean entity and personally manages it — this distinguishes D-8 from D-7, which is based on an employment transfer from a related overseas company.
2. Investment Requirements — Minimum ₩100 Million {#section-2}
D-8 requires registration as a foreign direct investment under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act.
Minimum Investment
| Standard | Amount |
|---|---|
| General minimum | ₩100 million (approx. USD 75,000) or more |
| Venture/startup special provision | Separate lower threshold (see below) |
Startup and Venture Company Exemptions
The Korean government allows reduced investment thresholds for technology-based ventures:
- Companies with Venture Business Certification: ₩30 million or more
- IT/advanced technology startups: Reduced threshold possible via Ministry of Justice/KOTRA review
- Early-stage startups: Investment below ₩100M may be considered through KOTRA investment support programs
The investment must be actually remitted into the company's dedicated account. Loans, valuation-based figures, or uncommitted funds do not count.
3. Permitted Industries and Roles {#section-3}
D-8 has very few industry restrictions. Some sectors face limits on foreign ownership:
Restricted Sectors
- Defense and national security-related industries
- Certain broadcasting and telecommunications businesses
- Agriculture and fisheries (subject to acreage and production limits)
Role Requirements
D-8 holders serve as the CEO, representative director, or registered executive of their invested company. Unlike E-7, there is no designated occupation list — D-8 is centered on the management role itself.
Working for unrelated companies while on D-8 is prohibited.
4. Employment Requirements {#section-4}
Sustaining D-8 status at renewal requires meeting either an employment or a revenue benchmark:
| Requirement Type | Standard |
|---|---|
| Employment requirement | At least 2 full-time Korean employees |
| OR revenue requirement | Annual revenue of ₩100M or above (varies by industry) |
Newly established companies may receive a grace period of up to 2 years on these requirements during early operations, but a written hiring plan must be submitted.
5. Company Setup Process Overview {#section-5}
A Korean legal entity must be established (or already exist) before or concurrent with the D-8 visa application.
Corporation (Jusik Hoesa) Setup Steps
- Company name search — verify no duplicate name at the Supreme Court Corporate Registry
- Articles of incorporation — draft and notarize (or use electronic notarization)
- Open a corporate capital account and deposit investment — ₩100M+ must be deposited before registration
- Obtain deposit certificate — bank issues investment deposit confirmation
- File company registration — apply at the district court registry office
- Business registration — register with the National Tax Service
- Foreign investment registration — report to KOTRA or authorized foreign exchange bank
6. Required Documents {#section-6}
From the Applicant
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Visa application form | From overseas consulate or Hi Korea |
| Passport | Valid 6+ months |
| Passport-size photo | 3.5×4.5 cm, taken within 6 months |
Investment and Corporate Documents
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Foreign investment report (accepted) | Issued by KOTRA or authorized foreign exchange bank |
| Corporate registration extract (full) | Issued after company establishment |
| Business registration certificate | |
| Investment deposit certificate | Proof of capital payment |
| Shareholder register | Showing applicant as principal shareholder |
| Business plan | Must include employment projections and revenue targets |
7. Application Procedure {#section-7}
From Overseas
- Complete company establishment and foreign investment registration in Korea
- Submit documents to Korean embassy or consulate
- Processing: typically 5–15 business days
- Enter Korea after visa issuance
- Register as foreign resident within 90 days
In-Korea Status Change
If already in Korea on another visa:
- Establish the company and complete investment registration
- Apply for D-8 status change via Hi Korea (hikorea.go.kr) or immigration office
- Processing: typically 2–4 weeks
8. D-8 vs D-7 — Side-by-Side Comparison {#section-8}
| D-8 Corporate Investment | D-7 Intra-Company Transfer | |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Personal direct investment | Employment transfer within corporate group |
| Requires overseas affiliate? | No | Yes (>50% shareholding required) |
| Minimum investment | ₩100 million | Not required |
| Position restrictions | None (company executive) | Manager/specialist only |
| Can start a new business? | Yes (investment purpose) | No (must maintain transfer purpose) |
| PR pathway | D-8 for 5 yrs → F-5-5 | D-7 → F-2-7 → F-5-16 |
Most common confusion case: An overseas HQ sending its COO to serve as CEO of a Korean subsidiary
- HQ holds >50% of Korean subsidiary + the person is being transferred → D-7
- The COO also personally invested in the Korean entity → D-8 is also an option
- Choose the path with stronger documentation
9. D-8 to F-5 Permanent Residency {#section-9}
Long-term D-8 holders have a dedicated path to permanent residency:
| Pathway | Key Requirements |
|---|---|
| F-5-5 Investor PR | 5+ years on D-8 + continuous employment/revenue requirements |
| F-5-1 Long-Term Resident PR | 5+ years lawful total stay + self-sufficiency + clean record |
| F-2-7 → F-5-16 Points Route | D-8 → accumulate points for F-2-7 → 3 years F-2-7 → F-5-16 |
F-5-5 is the investor-specific permanent residency category. After operating a D-8-registered business for 5 years while maintaining employment and revenue requirements, you can apply directly for this status.
10. Frequently Asked Questions {#section-10}
Q. Can I apply for D-8 before establishing the company? A. In principle, the company must be established and the investment registered before the visa application. A common approach: enter on B-2 (tourist) status, set up the company domestically, then change to D-8.
Q. My business is struggling after investing ₩100M. Will I lose the visa? A. As long as the investment is maintained, the company remains active, and you meet the employment or revenue requirements at renewal time, the visa can be extended. A company that is effectively dormant faces difficulty at renewal.
Q. Can my spouse work in Korea on F-3? A. F-3 (accompanying family) holders are not permitted to work without a separate work authorization. Your spouse would need to obtain a work-eligible visa independently.
Q. Can I work for another company while on D-8? A. No. D-8 is issued for managing your invested entity. Taking employment at another company for compensation violates your visa status.
Q. Can I get the startup exemption (₩30M) without a Venture Business Certificate? A. Without a Venture Business Certificate, the general ₩100M minimum applies. The practical sequence is: obtain the Venture Business Certificate first, then apply for D-8 under the reduced threshold.
11. Consultation {#section-11}
D-8 involves interconnected steps — company setup, foreign investment registration, and visa application — that must be coordinated carefully. Errors in investment structure, industry selection, or employment planning can cause problems at renewal.
Vision Administrative Office provides end-to-end D-8 support: visa strategy, company establishment, investment registration, and application filing.
Free consultation: 02-363-2251