The corporate investment visa for investors in a Korean corporation and dispatched essential professionals, from requirements and documents to extension
The investment in a corporation (D-8-1) visa is a corporate investment status of stay for investors who invest at least KRW 100 million in a Korean corporation registered as a foreign-invested company and either hold at least 10% of its voting shares or hold shares and sign a contract to dispatch or appoint an executive, and for the essential professionals in that corporation's management, administration, production or technical operations. Only corporations that have already been established qualify, people hired in Korea are excluded, and the maximum period of stay granted at one time is 5 years. A-One Certified Administrative Agent is an administrative agent office specializing in D-8 visas that handles everything from the foreign investment report and incorporation to the D-8-1 application and extension.
| Who | Foreign investors in an (already established) Korean corporation, and essential professionals in management, administration, production or technical roles dispatched by an overseas head office (excluding staff hired in Korea) |
|---|---|
| Requirements | At least KRW 100 million per investor + at least 10% of voting shares, or share ownership with an executive dispatch/appointment contract; foreign-invested company registration |
| Process | Foreign investment report → remittance and foreign exchange purchase → corporate registration and business registration → foreign-invested company registration → visa issuance confirmation or change of status → alien registration |
| Documents | Application form, passport, photo, business registration certificate, certified corporate register, statement of changes in shareholders, foreign-invested company registration certificate, proof of investment fund inflow, proof that the business premises exist, proof of residence |
| Processing time | Varies by the competent immigration office and review status; for investments under KRW 300 million, in-depth review can take longer |
Each answer starts with the conclusion, then the cases, documents and timing.
It may be possible. Owning at least 10% of the voting shares is the basic rule, but holding shares while signing a contract to dispatch or appoint an executive to the corporation also counts as foreign investment. In either case, each investor must invest at least KRW 100 million, proven with the shareholder register and executive appointment documents.
No. When two or more foreigners invest together, the amount is assessed per investor, so each person must invest at least KRW 100 million. The remittance and share acquisition records are matched separately for each person applying for D-8-1.
After incorporation and foreign-invested company registration are complete, a certificate of visa issuance confirmation is applied for in Korea, and you use it to obtain the visa at a Korean mission abroad before entering. Signatures and notarization for the incorporation documents can be prepared abroad. After entry, you complete alien registration.
If you meet the requirements, you can apply for a change of status within Korea. However, nationals of the UK, France or Ireland who entered on technical training, non-professional employment, seafarer employment, working visit, miscellaneous (G-1) or working holiday status cannot change status and must leave Korea and obtain a visa. Applying by making a non-investor an executive falls under Special Occupation (E-7), not D-8.
As a rule, the investor must remit in their own name; funds brought in under a spouse's or minor child's name, or remitted by a proxy, are accepted as exceptions. For investments of KRW 300 million or more, remittances in the name of a parent or parent-in-law may also be accepted. The inflow is proven with a remittance confirmation, foreign exchange purchase certificate, customs declaration and similar documents.
Yes. Individual investors under KRW 300 million must additionally submit records of how the capital was used (purchase receipts, interior costs, Korean bank account transaction history), and may be asked for documents showing experience in the relevant business. Because the review checks whether the funds were actually spent on the business, keep spending records from the start.
If you are dispatched as an essential professional in management, administration, production or technical roles to a Korean foreign-invested company in which the head office invested, you may be eligible for D-8-1. You submit a head office dispatch order stating the dispatch period and a certificate of employment. People hired directly in Korea are not eligible for D-8.
The extension review looks at whether the business is actually operating, using proof of investment fund inflow, tax payment certificates, business performance such as import/export records, and proof that the premises exist. It is not decided by a single sales figure, but if there is not enough material showing real business activity, a shorter period may be granted or the extension refused. Organize performance records and apply before expiry.
After entry you complete alien registration, and if your affiliation changes, such as a company name change or a move within the same group of affiliates, you file a report of changes to alien registration details rather than applying for workplace change permission. For a move to an affiliate, you submit the head office dispatch order and proof that the companies are affiliates, among other documents. If you make a new investment in a different company, the requirements are checked again.
The maximum period of stay granted at one time for investment in a corporation (D-8-1) is 5 years. The actual period is decided in the review based on the size of the investment and how the business is operating. You can keep extending as long as you continue to meet the requirements.
We review your investment structure and documents and set out the right sub-category and order of steps.
Request a consultation