South Korea · Temporary Residence
South Korea Residence for Founders and Investors
Founders live in Korea on the D-8-4 status their startup visa grants, while foreign investors who put at least KRW 100 million into a Korean company can hold the D-8 corporate investment visa. A public-fund route offers F-2 residence.
- Startup route
- Technology Startup Visa (D-8-4)
- Minimum capital
- None for D-8-4; KRW 100 million for a D-8 investor
- Permanent residence
- 3 years on D-8-4 with KRW 300 million and 2 hires
- Citizenship
- 5 years' residence while holding F-5 status
Corporate Investment Visa (D-8-1)
The D-8 visa covers essential professionals who manage, administer, produce or run technology at a foreign-invested company in Korea. A foreign investor who brings in at least KRW 100 million from overseas, holds 10% or more of the company's voting shares and runs the company can apply. The company must be recognized as a foreign-invested company under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act and established under the Commercial Act. Executives, senior managers and specialists qualify, but people in roles that could generally be filled in Korea do not. KOTRA notes that D-8 holders can use an exclusive immigration fast track and are exempt from several processing fees, including those for residence cards, extensions and changes of status.
- Minimum investment
- KRW 100 million brought in from overseas
- Ownership
- 10% or more of the company's voting shares
- Legal basis
- Foreign Investment Promotion Act
- Fee exemptions
- Residence card, extension, change of status, re-entry permit
- Family
- Spouse and children on F-3 dependent status
- Registration
- Foreign resident registration within 90 days of entry
Requirements
- Invest at least KRW 100 million from overseas in a Korean company with the aim of taking part in its management.
- Hold at least 10% of the company's voting shares.
- Register the company as foreign-invested under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act.
- Work as an executive, senior manager or specialist, not in a role generally available in Korea.
How to apply
- Notify the foreign investment and bring the funds into Korea.
- Incorporate the company and complete foreign-invested company registration.
- Apply for the D-8 visa at a Korean mission, or obtain a visa issuance certificate through an immigration office.
- Register as a foreign resident within 90 days of arrival.
Immigrant Investor Scheme for Public Business (IISPB)
This scheme grants Resident (F-2) status, which allows free economic activity, to foreigners who invest in public business. Investors can choose a principal-protected, interest-free deposit in a public fund operated by the Korea Development Bank, from which only the principal is returned after five years, or a risk-based investment in development projects in designated regions, such as Yeongju, Andong and Yecheon or the tourism-leisure enterprise cities of Taean, Yeongam and Haenam. The minimum is KRW 500 million, or KRW 300 million for a retiree investor over 55 who also holds KRW 300 million in assets. The spouse and unmarried children also receive F-2 status, and the investor can apply for F-5 after five years.
- Minimum investment
- KRW 500 million; KRW 300 million for retirees over 55
- Status granted
- Resident (F-2), allowing free economic activity
- Fund option
- Interest-free KDB public fund; principal returned after 5 years
- Project option
- Risk-based investment in designated development regions
- Family
- Spouse and unmarried children receive F-2 status
- Leads to
- F-5 after maintaining the investment for 5 years
Requirements
- Invest at least KRW 500 million in the public fund or a designated development project.
- Retirees over 55 may invest KRW 300 million if they and their spouse hold KRW 300 million in assets.
- Have no criminal record, no unpaid taxes and no more than four Immigration Act violations.
- Maintain the investment for at least five years to qualify for F-5.
How to apply
- Choose between the principal-protected public fund and a risk-based regional project.
- Make the investment and obtain proof from the fund or project operator.
- Apply for F-2 status for the investor, spouse and unmarried children.
- After five years of maintained investment, apply to change to F-5 status.
Day-to-day residence on a D-8 status
Any foreigner whose visa allows a stay of more than 90 days must register as a foreign resident at the local immigration office within 90 days of entry. For investors, KOTRA runs a Foreign Investor Support Center staffed by immigration officials from the Ministry of Justice, who handle changes of status, extensions, re-entry permits, foreign resident registration and status for children born in Korea, for D-8 holders regardless of jurisdiction. The Seoul Immigration Office's Investment Support Center offers a similar service, and immigration offices run a reservation system for visits.
Family members join on F-3 dependent status, which lets a spouse and children live in Korea with the D-8 holder. F-3 holders cannot work independently, although they may be eligible for a work permit if specific requirements and documents are met. Senior managers of overseas or Asian regional headquarters of foreign-invested companies can also receive an Immigration Priority Card when the company's notified foreign investment is large enough, for example at least USD 15 million in manufacturing or USD 2 million in research and development.
Questions and answers
Can a foreigner open a Korean company with less than KRW 100 million?
Yes, but KOTRA's guide notes that a company formed with less than KRW 100 million is not recognized as foreign direct investment under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act. The investor must instead report the share acquisition under the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act, and the company does not support a D-8 corporate investment visa.
Can the spouse of a D-8 visa holder work in Korea?
Not independently on F-3 dependent status. Invest KOREA states that F-3 holders cannot work on their own account but may be eligible for a work permit when certain requirements and documents are met, and recommends consulting the Foreign Investor Support Center for the details of each case.
Is the money in the public business investment scheme returned?
Under the principal-protected option, the investment sits in a public fund operated by the Korea Development Bank and only the principal is returned after five years, with no interest. Under the risk-based option, returns depend on how the designated development project performs, so the capital is exposed to project risk.
Which immigration fees are waived for D-8 holders?
KOTRA lists exemptions for the residence card (KRW 35,000), extension of the period of stay (KRW 60,000), change of status (KRW 100,000) and re-entry permits (KRW 30,000–50,000). Fees for permission to engage in activities outside the current status and for residence registration certificates still apply.
Official sources
- Foreign Investment Guide 2024www.investkorea.org
- Visawww.investkorea.org
- Immigrant Investor Scheme for Public Business (IISPB)www.immigration.go.kr
- Visa by Categorieswww.visa.go.kr
Reviewed October 2026. Immigration rules change often. Confirm the current requirements with the official authority or a licensed adviser before applying.
Your path in South Korea.
Startup visa
D-8-4 via OASIS points or awards, or D-8-4(S) via an MSS recommendation
02Temporary residence
D-8-4 or D-8 investor status, with family on F-3 dependent visas
03Permanent residence
F-5 after 3 years on D-8-4 with KRW 300 million raised and 2 Koreans hired
04Citizenship
Naturalize after 5 years with F-5; renounce or pledge within 1 year