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D-8-1: wire KRW 100M+ as foreign direct investment and register the corporation. D-8-4: accumulate points via the OASIS program (K-Startup Grand Challenge, patents, incubator completion).
D-8
Investor / Startup Visa
Corporate Investment
For founders and investors. D-8-1 requires a KRW 100M+ investment into a Korean corporation; D-8-4 (technology startup) uses the OASIS points program instead of capital.
How are you getting this visa?
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Korean terms in ( ) are the exact words to show or say at the immigration counter.
Before you arrive
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After you arrive in Korea
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Documents for your nationality
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Count your deadlines
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Exceptions worth knowing
- OASIS points (D-8-4) can substitute for capital entirely — and K-Startup Grand Challenge participants are exempted from the points test altogether. Many founders miss this route because they assume they need the full KRW 100M.
- Renewal is where most D-8 holders fail: dormant companies get denied.
- Your spouse and unmarried children under 19 can join you on an F-3 dependent visa (동반) — the sponsor must show income above a minimum living-cost threshold. Since April 2025, dependents apply at the Korean embassy abroad; in-country F-3 filing is suspended.
Unsure about your case?
Call 1345, the Immigration Contact Center (19 languages; +82-1345 from abroad), describe your situation, and ask for the document checklist for your case by email. Can't make calls? HiKorea's online inquiry answers in writing, and before you fly, your local Korean embassy's email works just as well.
This is a guide — confirm before you act
Get into Korea is an independent guide, not a government body and not legal or administrative advice. Requirements change often and depend on your nationality and situation, so details here may be outdated or not apply to you. We take no responsibility for any decision made from this page — always verify your exact case with the official sources below before you apply or pay any fee.
Official sources — verify here