Need Help with Getting a D8 Visa in Korea?

A foreign worker posted by a parent firm out of Korea to a local business with foreign investors as a vital professional can request a D8 visa in Korea. Also known as the Corporate Investor Visa, it is a foreign direct investment pass that allows the launching of firms in Korea.

D8 Visa in Korea

This visa is for vital experts in the admin, management, tech, or production of foreign-invested firms or business founders.
Note that foreign workers engaged in work that is replaceable by the Korean workforce are nonessential experts. In cases of dispatched staff of allied firms, the dispatch command must come from the head office with the dispatch timespan duly stated.
A foreign person who invests at least KRW 100 million from abroad, besides launching and running a company duly approved by the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, can also apply for the D8 visa. Still, investing money in the D8 visa application is not a guarantee of approval since the applicant must also explain the necessity of coming to Korea. And generally, it takes around two months from the initial company establishment to apply for this visa.

D8 Visa Groups, Length of Stay, and Required Application Papers

Incorporated Enterprise Investment or D8-1 visa

Length of stay: five years
Required papers:

• Valid passport
• Visa application
• One standard-size photo
• Fee payment
• Dispatch order with dispatch period
• Proof of work with foreign transfer
• Copy of registration certificate of the investment firm or report form of foreign investment
• Copy of registration certificate of the business
• Papers showing the investment capital transfers

Added requirements for private venture capitalists whose investment is below 300 million KRW:

• Papers showing the start-up capital, such as a receipt for goods purchased, and local bank account statements
• Documents proving the presence of the business site, such as the lease contract, pictures of the office’s front and inside view, and business office signage
• Official papers showing the business or work experience from the native country of the applicant, as may be required

Business Venture Investment or D8-2 visa

Length of stay: two years
Required papers:

• Passport copy
• Visa application
• One standard-size photo
• Fee payment
• Copy of registration certificate of the business
• Future or actual venture confirmation of the business
• Papers proving the applicant’s intellectual property right or matching skills, such as a Patent Right certificate or registration card for Utility Model Right from the Korean Intellectual Property Office or the Korea Small and Medium Business Corporation or Technology Finance Corporation Assessment Test Result

Unincorporated Private Enterprise Investment or D8-3 visa

Length of stay: five years
Required papers:

• Passport
• Visa application
• One standard-size photo
• Fee payment
• Copy of registration certificate of the investment firm or report form of foreign investment
• Papers showing the use of start-up capital by the co-founder, who is a Korean citizen
• Business Partnership contract
• Copy of the registration certificate of the business with the co-founder’s name
• Papers proving the investment capital transfers, such as the declaration of transfer of foreign currency, remittance confirmation of a bank or Customs of the country, or copy of Investment in Kind Completion Confirmation Letter from the Korea Customs Service head

Added requirements for private investors investing below 300 million KRW:

• Papers showing info on the use of investment funds
• Documents proving the presence of the business situs
• Official reports showing the business or work experience from the native country of the applicant, as may be required

Technology and Business Startup or D8-4 visa

Length of stay: two years
Required papers:

• Valid passport
• Visa application
• Alien registration card
• One standard-size photo
• Business registration certificate with a copy of the business registration card
• Reports showing intellectual property rights or matching skills
• Any paper that proves points received through the Points-Based System.

Eligibility per Group

D8-1 visa

Eligible individuals have run or managed a foreign-invested corporation in Korea as approved under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act. Qualified also are those considered indispensable professionals but not employed in Korea and planning to take part in the production and technology of a company with foreign investment.
The investment must be for a Korean business, including those amidst the establishment process. Also, the investment amount must be 100 million KRW or more, with the applicant having at least 10% of the entire company capital stocks with voting right; if not, have signed an agreement of posting and appointing senior managers by having several stock shares.

D8-2 visa

Eligible individuals succeeded in establishing a business project with first-rate technical capability. An example is someone who possesses an industrial or intellectual property right compliant with Subparagraph 2(c), Paragraph 1, Article 2-2 of the Special Measures for the Promotion of Business Venture Act.
Also eligible are those who hold a business venture confirmation as the Chief Executive Officer of a company and possess excellent skills according to the same Act.

D8-3 visa

Consistent with the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, those eligible are indispensable professionals who want to manage and work with a foreign-invested company belonging to a Korean citizen or corporation. Also qualified are those planning to work in a company’s production and technology sectors.

D8-4 visa

Eligible individuals are those with a Korean-associated degree or foreign bachelor’s degree who holds equivalent skills or intellectual property entitlement. In addition, the applicant must have the endorsement of the chief of the related central administrative organization and a corporation founder.

How Can Premia TNC Help?

Establishing an international presence is time-consuming and confusing, besides having the potential to drain resources. On top of that, applying for a D8 visa in Korea can be tricky. So, it is wise for companies planning to incorporate a company to Korea to reach out to us for assistance.
Premia TNC offers guidance, information on requirement documents, and full support in the entire Korea company incorporation process.

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