Corporate investment visa at a glance
| Official name | Corporate investment (D-8) |
|---|---|
| Subtypes | Incorporated enterprise D-8-1 · Venture business D-8-2 · Unincorporated enterprise D-8-3 · Technology start-up D-8-4 · FTA intra-company transfer D-8-91 |
| Who it covers (examples) | Essential professional staff sent from an overseas parent company to a foreign-invested company in Korea. A foreign national who brings in investment funds of KRW 100 million or more to set up and run a company. |
| Where to apply | The immigration office with jurisdiction over the applicant's place of residence or the location of the foreign-invested company |
| Entry and change routes | A visa issued by a Korean embassy or consulate · Confirmation of Visa Issuance · Change of visa status in Korea. The routes open to you depend on your current immigration status. |
| Related procedures | Foreign investment notification · Bringing in the investment funds · Corporate registration · Business registration · Registration as a foreign-invested company |
| What K-Biz Visa handles | Consultation, document preparation and filing with the immigration office |
Subtypes
| Code | Name | How they differ |
|---|---|---|
| D-8-1 | Incorporated enterprise | Both the investor and the business invested in are companies |
| D-8-2 | Venture business | A company with venture company certification |
| D-8-3 | Unincorporated enterprise | An unincorporated business owned by an individual |
| D-8-4 | Technology start-up | Start-up route |
| D-8-91 | FTA intra-company transfer | Transfer under a free trade agreement |
Once the subtype is chosen, the detailed requirements, documents to submit and minimum amounts for it follow the official guidance at the time of application.
Process
KOTRA, foreign exchange banks, the registry office and the tax office handle setting up the company. The immigration office handles the visa status.
Foreign investment · Company set-up
KOTRA · Foreign exchange bank · Registry office · Tax office- Foreign investment notificationKOTRA or a foreign exchange bank
- Bringing in the investment fundsOverseas remittance, or carrying the funds in after a customs declaration
- Registration of company incorporation
- Business licence or permitOnly for sectors that require one
- Company incorporation report · Business registration
- Opening a corporate bank account
- Registration as a foreign-invested companyWith the KOTRA office or foreign exchange bank that received the first notification
Visa status · Corporate investment (D-8)
Immigration office · Korean embassy or consulate- Choose the routeOne of: a visa from a Korean embassy or consulate · Confirmation of Visa Issuance · change of status in Korea
- D-8 application and review
- EntryIf you applied from abroad
- Foreign resident registrationWithin 90 days of entry, if you stay 91 days or more
If you carry the funds in, the purpose you write on the customs declaration can affect whether the money is recognised as foreign direct investment. The actual order varies with the business purpose and sector.
Common points of confusion
- KRW 100 million and 10%
- These are the criteria the Foreign Investment Promotion Act uses to recognise a foreign-invested company. They are not D-8 approval criteria. The immigration review looks separately at the investment structure, your part in management and how the business actually runs. You can set up a company with less than KRW 100 million. Such a company is not recognised as foreign direct investment, and the share acquisition must be reported under the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act.
- How it differs from intra-company transfer (D-7)
- A posting or transfer between an overseas organisation and a Korean organisation points to D-7. Investment with a part in management points to D-8. Setting up a branch does not by itself decide the D-7 route.
- Duties of posted staff
- Invest KOREA states that work which can generally be done by someone else in Korea is not treated as essential professional staff work. The posting relationship and the duties in Korea are considered together.
- Company, branch or liaison office
- A Korean company set up by foreign investment can carry on profit-making business and, if it meets the requirements, is recognised as foreign direct investment. A branch of a foreign company can carry on profit-making business but is not recognised as foreign direct investment. A liaison office only does market research and marketing and cannot carry on profit-making business.
Before the consultation
For a first enquiry, you only need to tell us your business structure and current situation. Once we set the scope of the review, we give you a list of the documents needed and how to send them.
What to tell us first
- The business you plan to run in Korea and its sector
- Whether this is an investment or a posting, and in what form
- The structure of the Korean entity you plan to set up
- Your current country, immigration status and entry plans
Documents we ask for later
- Original documents and transaction records for the funds
- Copies of your passport and ID
- Contracts in their original language
- Family relationship documents
We ask only for the sensitive documents the review needs, and keep and delete them under our privacy policy.
Frequently asked questions
No. KOTRA, foreign exchange banks and the registry office review company set-up and registration as a foreign-invested company. The immigration office reviews the D-8 separately. Whether the documents from the two procedures match is also checked.
KRW 100 million and a 10% shareholding are the criteria for recognition as a foreign-invested company. The D-8 review looks at the investment structure, your part in management and how the business actually runs.
Incorporated enterprise (D-8-1), venture business (D-8-2), unincorporated enterprise (D-8-3), technology start-up (D-8-4) and FTA intra-company transfer (D-8-91). Each subtype looks at different facts, so we settle the subtype first in the consultation.
It depends on your current visa status. We look at your current status and how you entered, then tell you which routes you can use: change of status in Korea, a visa from a Korean embassy or consulate, or a Confirmation of Visa Issuance.
The relevant authorities decide the review period and whether to approve, case by case. If you go ahead, we tell you our fee, government fees, translation and notarisation, and other professionals' costs separately, in advance.
Related agencies and laws
The procedures and criteria on this page follow the guidance of the agencies and the laws below. How they apply is checked case by case.
Agencies
- Ministry of Justice immigration offices
- Korea Visa Portal
- KOTRA · Invest KOREA
- Foreign exchange banks
- Registry office
- Tax office
Laws
- Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act
- Foreign Investment Promotion Act
- Enforcement Decree of the Foreign Investment Promotion Act
- Foreign Exchange Transactions Act
Send an enquiryTell us your business plan and current immigration status, and we will reply with the subtype to look at first and the documents to prepare.