What visa does a foreigner need to start a business in Korea?

For a technology-based startup, the Corporate Investment (D-8-4) visa is the most common. The visa depends on the work you do.

First, check which visa fits you

• Technology Startup (D-8-4) — A corporate founder who has a bachelor's degree or higher, and has intellectual property rights (such as patents) or equivalent technical ability. One permit lasts up to 2 years.
• Venture Investment (D-8-2) — A representative who set up a venture company with excellent technology such as intellectual property rights, and has received venture company confirmation.
• Corporate/Sole Proprietorship Investment (D-8-1, D-8-3) — Essential professional staff who will work at a foreign-invested company. One permit lasts up to 5 years. People hired inside Korea are excluded.
• Startup Korea Special Visa (D-8-4S) — A technology founder who passed review by a private evaluation committee and received a recommendation from the Minister of SMEs and Startups (중소벤처기업부).

Document checklist for Technology Startup (D-8-4)

• Basic documents (application form, passport, registration card, fee, photo)
• Certified copy of the corporate registry (법인등기사항전부증명서) and a copy of the business registration certificate (사업자등록증) — These prove the company has been set up.
• Copy of degree certificate or a recommendation letter from the head of a central administrative agency — This proves the education requirement.
• Proof for applicable points-system items — Such as a patent certificate, proof of patent application, or a completion certificate from the Global Startup Immigration Center (OASIS, 글로벌창업이민센터).
• Proof of residence address — Such as a lease contract.

If you apply from outside Korea, submit the visa application form and the documents above to the Korean diplomatic mission in your home country. If you are already in Korea, apply for a change of status of stay on HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr).

💡 Good to know

• Grand Challenge participants, recipients of government startup support programs (direct project funding of 30,000,000 KRW or more), and Startup Korea Special Visa applicants are exempt from the points system. In this case, you need a recommendation letter from the Minister of SMEs and Startups.
• If only the company setup remains, you can get a permit first without the corporate documents. In return, you must submit the corporate documents and extend within 6 months.
• People of some nationalities (Ireland, France, the UK, etc.) cannot change directly to D-8 from statuses such as D-3, E-9, and H-2. In this case, you must leave Korea, get a visa, and enter again.
• You cannot get D-8 by registering a non-investor as an executive. This case falls under Specific Activities (E-7).

Whether you qualify depends on the points table and your personal situation. If you tell me your current visa, education, and patents, I can narrow down the right type. For final confirmation, check HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or call 1345.