D-8 Visa Minimum Investment of 100 Million Won: A Complete Guide to Transferring Funds and Key Precautions
The D-8 visa minimum investment is, as a rule, at least 100 million won, and this money must be transferred and reported in a way that qualifies as foreign investment. It is intended for foreign nationals who invest in a Korean company in order to run and manage that business. Here, we walk through what the 100-million-won threshold actually means, how the investment funds should be transferred, and the points that most often trip people up during review — in order.
What the 100 Million Won D-8 Visa Minimum Investment Really Means
Looking at the figure alone, 100 million won seems straightforward — but in practice, reviewers scrutinize how that money arrived far more closely.
What the 100-Million-Won Figure Signifies
The D-8 presupposes foreign investment under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act. As a rule, an investment of at least 100 million won per foreign national is required for it to be recognized as foreign investment. This is where the difficulties begin. Having 100 million won show up in your bank account isn't the end of it — that money must be formally transferred from abroad under your own name. Money borrowed within Korea, or routed through an acquaintance's account, tends to shake the recognition during actual review.
Investment Amount and Ownership Ratio Are Assessed Together
A commonly overlooked point is treating the amount and the ownership ratio as separate matters. As the company grows in scale, there are cases where 100 million won alone cannot meet the required ownership threshold. This is exactly where plans get tangled.
| Category | Standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | At least 100 million won per foreign national | Threshold for recognition as foreign investment |
| Nature of funds | Transfer of your own overseas funds | Domestically borrowed funds are excluded in principle |
| Ownership | Reviewed separately based on business scale | Confirmation with the competent authority is required |
Caution: 100 million won is only the floor — it does not mean approval is automatic at that amount. The requirements are more likely to pass review only when the substance of the business and the flow of funds are explained together.
The investment-scale standards have a history of revisions, so confirm through a consultation whether they apply accurately to your specific business this year.
How to Transfer the Investment Funds — The Order Matters for Recognition
For the D-8, the path the money takes matters even more than the paperwork. If the transfer sequence is out of order, it can be hard to have the funds recognized as foreign investment even when the amount is correct.
The Proper Transfer Flow
The safest approach is to transfer the money directly from your own overseas account into Korea. When doing so, you must also comply with the Bank of Korea foreign exchange transaction regulations and the bank's foreign exchange reporting procedures. In practice, the following sequence is recommended.
- File the foreign investment report (at a bank or KOTRA Invest Korea)
- Transfer the investment funds from abroad (under your own name)
- Register as a foreign-invested company at the bank
- Establish the company and confirm the capital contribution
State the Purpose of the Transfer Clearly
In practice, there are many cases where things get tangled because the purpose wasn't clearly stated as "investment funds" at the time of transfer. If it is processed as simple living expenses or a personal remittance, having it retroactively recognized as investment funds later becomes difficult. When this explanation is lacking, this is precisely the step where things get held up.
| Step | Key Point to Confirm | Common Sticking Point |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign investment report | Follow the report-then-transfer order | Transferring first and omitting the report |
| Overseas transfer | State your own name and the purpose | Routing through a third party's account |
| Capital contribution | Reported amount matches the actual amount | Mismatch in amounts |
Practical tip: Keep the transfer receipt, the foreign exchange report documents, and the proof of capital contribution together as one set from the very start. If you try to reproduce them later, issuance standards differ from bank to bank, and the timeline slips.
Foreign exchange reporting practices were recently adjusted in part. Whether they apply accurately to your situation requires confirmation from a professional.
Confirm the exact costs and procedures through a professional consultation. Request a free consultation now → 02-363-2251 / KakaoTalk: alexkorea
Proving the Source of Funds — Where Real Reviews Diverge
For the D-8, the explanation of the funds is examined before the number of documents. If the explanation of where the 100 million won came from is weak, the review wavers even when the amount is sufficient.
How to Explain the Source of the Money
In practice, the step where people get stuck most often is explaining the source of the money. Employment income, business income, real estate disposal, inheritance — each source requires different supporting evidence. The key is this. "This money was formed legally and came in through my own account" must connect as a single line. If the flow breaks somewhere in the middle, this is where the difference shows.
What Happens When the Evidence Is Weak
Even with money in the account, if the explanation of the flow is weak, things can quickly get tangled. If there is only a record of a large sum suddenly deposited, with no documents on its source, you will be asked for additional proof. In a recent similar case, processing was significantly delayed simply due to supplementing the source-of-funds documents. The specific way to supplement them differs case by case, so individual confirmation is needed.
- Employment/business income: income documentation, tax records
- Asset disposal: sale/disposal contracts and records of payment received
- Inheritance/gift: related filings and tax records
Caution: When sources are mixed across several strands, the explanation grows long and, if anything, credibility drops. It is better to allocate funds with a clean flow to the investment first.
Linking the Business Plan and the Investment Funds — This Is the Dividing Line
Even with the investment funds ready, if they operate separately from the business plan, the review weakens. In the end, what matters is "what you will do with the 100 million won."
A Business Plan Is Judged on Persuasiveness Before Length
A business plan is assessed on persuasiveness before length. How the investment funds will be used, the revenue plan, and the staffing plan must all align with the scale of the investment. It may look simple on the surface, but when the numbers don't match up, it becomes immediately apparent during actual review.
The Perspective Differs by Industry
Depending on the industry, the items a reviewer looks at first will differ. Manufacturing, trade, and IT services each read differently in terms of how investment funds are used. In a consultation, we can pinpoint which items are reviewed first in your particular industry.
Common Mistakes and a Checklist
The first thing to look at is not the amount, but the order and the evidence.
Common Mistakes
- Transferring the funds before filing the report
- Routing the investment funds through a third party's account
- Not specifying the transfer purpose as "investment funds"
- Cramming the source-of-funds documents together after the fact
- The numbers in the business plan diverging from the actual investment
Final Verification Checklist
- Did you follow the foreign investment report → transfer order?
- Was the transfer made under your own name?
- Can the source of funds be explained in a single line?
- Does the capital contribution match the reported amount?
- Does the business plan fit the scale of the investment?
Processing times vary by the competent immigration office. We will find and guide you to the fastest possible route.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions About the D-8 Visa Minimum Investment
Q1. Exactly how much is the D-8 visa minimum investment? As a rule, it is at least 100 million won per foreign national. However, the required ownership and funding structure change depending on business scale, so individual review is necessary.
Q2. Can I make up the investment funds with money borrowed within Korea? Domestically borrowed funds are, as a rule, not recognized as foreign investment. It is more secure when your own overseas funds come in through a proper transfer route.
Q3. Can I transfer the investment funds first and file the report later? If the order is out of sequence, recognition can become difficult. It is safer to follow the order of filing the foreign investment report first, then transferring.
Q4. How far do I need to go in preparing the source-of-funds documents? The documents required differ by type of source. You should prepare them so that the formation path — employment, business, asset disposal, inheritance, and so on — connects as a single line.
Q5. How much does it cost? Costs vary case by case, so we will give you exact guidance during your free consultation. Government fees are quoted as the government-published fee plus administrative processing costs.
Q6. Where can I check the relevant regulations? You can check with HiKorea, the Korea Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice, and the Korean Law Information Center. The detailed application requires confirmation with the competent authority.
Do You Need a Professional Consultation?
For the D-8, the outcome hinges on the flow and order of the funds more than on the amount. If you've been preparing on your own and gotten stuck on the transfer order or the source explanation, we'll draw on hands-on experience to spot the issues first.
- Phone: 02-363-2251
- Email: [email protected]
- KakaoTalk: alexkorea
About VISION Administrative Office Services
VISION Administrative Office handles foreign investment, company establishment, and visa matters in practice. From designing the D-8 investment transfer sequence to proving the source of funds and linking it all to the business plan, we provide guidance tailored to your case.
- Office: VISION Administrative Office
- Phone: 02-363-2251
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 3rd Floor, Sungwoo Building, 324 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (04614)
Approval is not guaranteed, and the direction of the process may change depending on the outcome of the requirements review. Confirm the exact standards for your situation through a consultation.
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