The corporate investment visa for heads of venture and preliminary venture companies, from confirming bodies and documents to extension
The venture investment (D-8-2) visa is a corporate investment status of stay for the head of a company founded on strong technology such as intellectual property that has received venture company confirmation (or preliminary venture company confirmation) or an assessment of excellent technology. Preliminary venture companies preparing incorporation or business registration and companies within 6 months of founding are also included, and the maximum period of stay granted at one time is 2 years. A-One Certified Administrative Agent handles everything from linking the venture company confirmation documents to the D-8-2 application and extension.
| Who | Heads of companies founded (or being founded) on strong technology that have received venture company or preliminary venture company confirmation, or a technology excellence assessment |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Venture company or preliminary venture company confirmation (or a technology excellence assessment) + proof of technology such as intellectual property |
| Process | Secure proof of technology → venture/preliminary venture confirmation or technology assessment → incorporation and business registration → change of status → alien registration |
| Documents | Application form, passport, photo, business registration certificate, certified corporate register, venture (preliminary venture) company confirmation, proof of technology such as patent certificates, office lease agreement, proof of residence |
| Processing time | Varies with the schedule of the confirming body and the review at the competent immigration office |
Each answer starts with the conclusion, then the cases, documents and timing.
Venture company or preliminary venture company confirmation is issued by designated bodies such as the Korea Technology Finance Corporation, the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency and the Korean Venture Capital Association. A technology excellence assessment means one issued by the Korea Technology Finance Corporation or the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency. Once the confirmation is issued, the D-8-2 documents are prepared.
If you are preparing incorporation or business registration, you may become eligible for D-8-2 by obtaining preliminary venture company confirmation, and companies within 6 months of founding are also included. You then complete incorporation and business registration to complete the documents. At the preparation stage, we first decide which confirmation to obtain.
For D-8-2, technology is proven with copies of patent, utility model, design, trademark or copyright registration certificates, or a technology excellence assessment. Which rights are accepted by the confirming body and in the immigration review depends on the type of right and the business, so this is reviewed first. Whether the right is registered in Korea is also checked.
The head of a company assessed as having excellent technology is also eligible for D-8-2. The assessment must be one issued by the Korea Technology Finance Corporation or the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency. The assessment is submitted as proof of technology.
If you meet the D-8-2 requirements and have the documents, you can apply for a change of status. However, there are cases where a change to D-8 is not allowed, such as nationals of the UK, France or Ireland who entered on certain statuses, so we first check your current status. If a change is not possible, you leave Korea and enter with a visa.
Registered foreigners holding Professor (E-1), Research (E-3), Technology Transfer (E-4) or Professional (E-5) status who meet the D-8-2 requirements can carry out venture activities with permission for activities outside their status. Only venture activities related to their own research or field of work are allowed. We decide whether to proceed while keeping your current status or to change to D-8-2.
You submit the venture (preliminary venture) company confirmation, proof of technology, proof of business performance, tax payment certificate, proof of residence and similar documents. Because the maximum period granted at one time is 2 years, the extension cycle is short, so check that the confirmation is still valid and prepare performance records in advance. If the confirmation has expired, we review how to meet the requirements again.
D-8-2 is for the head of a company that has received venture confirmation or a technology excellence assessment, while D-8-4 is granted to corporate founders with a degree and technology under the points system (at least 60 of 300 points) or a special track. For both, the maximum period granted at one time is 2 years. Choose the more favorable route based on your confirmation, degree and points.
Corporate investment (D-8) is not subject to permission for changing or adding a workplace; changes are handled by reporting changes to alien registration details. If the company name or affiliation changes, you file the report with the updated business registration certificate and certified register. If your position as head of the company changes, the requirements are reviewed again first.
We review your investment structure and documents and set out the right sub-category and order of steps.
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