The route for a Corporate Investment (D-8) investor to bring parents to Korea is Visiting and Joining Family (F-1-15). An investor who has invested at least three hundred million won in Korea, completed alien registration and has stayed in Korea continuously for 6 months or more meets the inviter requirement. Even with a smaller investment, a D-8 holder whose annual income is at least twice the previous year's GNI can invite under the talented-professional requirement.
The invitees are the parents of the inviter or of the inviter's spouse, and up to 2 people may stay at the same time. This guide is for D-8 investors who have learned that parents cannot come on Dependent (F-3) status and are looking for another way.
Key Summary
- Status: Visiting and Joining Family (F-1-15), parents of talented professionals, investors and international students
- Investor requirement: at least three hundred million won invested in Korea, alien registration completed, and continuous stay in Korea for 6 months or more
- Talented-professional requirement: a D-8 or similar status holder with annual income of at least twice the previous year's GNI
- Who: parents of the inviter or the inviter's spouse, up to 2 people staying at the same time
- Application: the inviter applies to the competent immigration office (office or branch) for a single-entry Visa Issuance Certificate of 90 days or less
- Documents: Visa Issuance Certificate application, passport, photo, a statement of invitation reasons (stating that the parents will not work), personal surety form, proof of family relationship, proof of income/investment/living expenses
- Separate documents are set for extending the stay after entry
1. Under which requirement does a D-8 investor invite parents?
F-1-15 has three inviter categories (talented professionals, investors and international students); the first two are relevant to D-8 investors.
| Category | Requirement | What it means for a D-8 investor |
|---|---|---|
| Investor | At least three hundred million won invested in Korea under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act, the investment immigration system, etc., alien registration completed, and continuous stay in Korea for 6 months or more | The investment must be three hundred million won or more, and 6 months must have passed after registration |
| Talented professional | A holder of Journalism (D-5), Intra-Company Transfer (D-7), Corporate Investment (D-8), Trade Management (D-9), Professor (E-1) to Specific Activities (E-7) with annual income of at least twice the previous year's GNI | Even with an investment below three hundred million won, income can satisfy the requirement |
For example, an investor who received D-8-1 with one hundred million won does not reach the investor requirement (three hundred million won or more). In that case, the talented-professional requirement is reviewed based on whether the investor's annual income is at least twice the previous year's GNI. The GNI reference amount and how income is calculated need to be checked case by case.
The talented-professional requirement also covers people who changed to another status such as Residence (F-2) or Permanent Residence (F-5) while keeping the scope of activities of that status.
2. Whom, and how many, can you invite?
The invitees are the parents of the inviter or of the inviter's spouse. So not only the investor's own parents but also the spouse's parents qualify. However, only up to 2 people may stay at the same time, so bringing all four parents from both sides at once is not possible and visits need to be planned at different times.
3. How do you apply, and what documents are needed?
The inviter (investor) applies to the competent immigration office (office or branch) for a Visiting and Joining Family (F-1-15) single-entry Visa Issuance Certificate of 90 days or less. The documents are:
- Visa Issuance Certificate application form (Form No. 21), passport, 1 standard photo
- Statement of invitation reasons (stating that the invitee will not engage in employment)
- Personal surety form
- Proof of family relationship
- Proof of income/investment/living expenses
If you apply under the investor requirement, records showing an investment of three hundred million won or more and continuous stay for 6 months or more after alien registration are central; under the talented-professional requirement, annual income records are. The head of the immigration office may add or remove some documents when needed for the review.
4. What can parents do in Korea?
Visiting and Joining Family (F-1) is a status for visiting relatives, living with family, being supported, settling household affairs and similar purposes. Because the statement of invitation reasons must state that the invitee will not work, parents should not be invited on the assumption that they will work in Korea.
5. What if they want to stay longer after entry?
The Visa Issuance Certificate is requested as single-entry for 90 days or less, but the stay extension section for Visiting and Joining Family has a separate item for "parents of talented professionals, investors and international students". The documents for an extension are:
- Application form (Form No. 34), passport, alien registration card, fee
- Personal surety form
- Proof of family relationship
- Proof of place of stay (lease, confirmation of accommodation, notice of stay expiry by mail, utility bill receipts, dormitory receipts, etc.)
Because an alien registration card is required at extension, it is wise to check with the competent office in advance whether and when to register after entry. The length and number of extensions can vary with the review.
6. Common problems
- Applying under the investor requirement with an investment below three hundred million won
- Applying before 6 months have passed after alien registration
- Trying to invite more than 2 people at the same time, including the spouse's parents
- Leaving out the statement that the invitee will not work in the statement of invitation reasons
- Being turned down after trying to apply for parents as Dependent (F-3) (Dependent status covers the spouse and minor children)
7. How A-One Certified Administrative Agent can help
We look at the investment amount, registration date and income records to check together whether the investor requirement or the talented-professional requirement fits, and we put together the statement of invitation reasons and the family and financial documents. The immigration office decides the outcome, so we cannot promise results, and we do not represent clients in lawsuits or trials (outside the scope of an administrative agent).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can every D-8 investor invite parents?
No. You must have invested at least three hundred million won in Korea and stayed continuously for 6 months or more after alien registration, or have annual income of at least twice the previous year's GNI.
Can I invite my spouse's parents too?
Yes. The invitees are the parents of the inviter or the inviter's spouse, and up to 2 people may stay at the same time.
Where is the Visa Issuance Certificate filed?
The inviter files for a single-entry Visa Issuance Certificate of 90 days or less with the competent immigration office (office or branch).
May my parents work in Korea?
Visiting and Joining Family is a status for living with and being supported by family, and the statement of invitation reasons states that the invitee will not work.
Can they stay longer than 90 days?
The stay extension section for Visiting and Joining Family includes parents of talented professionals, investors and international students, and an extension is requested with the application, passport, alien registration card, personal surety form, proof of family relationship and proof of place of stay. Whether it is granted, and for how long, can vary with the review.
Related Guides
- D-8 Corporate Investment Visa Guide
- D-8 investment fund name rules and proxy remittance
- Alien registration documents after entering on a D-8 visa
Consultation
에이원 행정사사무소 (A-One Certified Administrative Agent) is an administrative office that supports document preparation and filing with the authorities. Fees vary by case and are explained during a consultation. Phone 02-309-3107 · Contact: https://investkorea.co.kr/en/contact