D-8 Corporate Investor Visa Korea: 7-Step Application Process [2026]

1. Process Overview & Timeline

The D-8 visa process has two main phases: establishing the Korean company and completing the investment, then applying for the visa itself. The full process typically takes 6–12 weeks.

2. Steps 1–3: Company Setup & Investment

Step 1: Incorporate Your Korean Company

You must establish a legally registered Korean corporation before applying for the D-8 visa. Two common structures:

• Yuhan Hoesa (유한회사): Korean LLC. Simpler, cheaper to set up. Good for most small-to-medium investor businesses.
• Jusik Hoesa (주식회사): Stock corporation. Better for larger investments, future fundraising, or companies with multiple shareholders.

Incorporation requires: choosing a company name, drafting articles of incorporation, registering at the court registry (법원 등기), and obtaining a business registration number from the tax office. You can appoint a local representative (법인 설립 대리인) to do this on your behalf while you are abroad.

Step 2: Transfer Investment Funds

Wire transfer the investment amount (minimum KRW 100 million) from your overseas bank account to the Korean company's corporate bank account. The transfer must be an international wire (해외 송금) — domestic Korean fund transfers do not count as foreign investment.

Keep all SWIFT transfer records — you will need them for the FDI registration and visa application.

Step 3: Open Corporate Bank Account & Receive Funds

The Korean company needs a corporate bank account at a major Korean bank (KB, Shinhan, Woori, Hana, etc.). The FDI registration requires proof that the foreign funds arrived in this account. Account opening typically requires the company's seal, registration documents, and the representative's passport.

3. Steps 4–5: FDI Registration & Documents

Step 4: Complete Foreign Investment Registration (FDI Registration)

After the investment funds are received in Korea, you must register the investment as a Foreign Direct Investment (외국인직접투자 신고) with KOTRA or a designated foreign exchange bank. This registration:

• Confirms your investment qualifies under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act
• Issues the Foreign Investment Registration Certificate (외국인투자기업등록증명서)
• This certificate is the most critical document for your D-8 visa application

FDI registration can be done online at KOTRA's Invest Korea portal or in person at KOTRA offices overseas. Processing takes approximately 1–2 weeks.

Step 5: Prepare All Visa Documents

While completing FDI registration, begin gathering all personal and company documents. See the complete D-8 documents checklist for the full list. Key items that take time:

• Criminal background check from your home country (allow 2–6 weeks)
• Degree certificate apostille (1–3 weeks)
• Certified Korean translations of all foreign documents

4. Steps 6–7: Visa Application & Arrival

Step 6: Apply for D-8 Visa at Korean Embassy

1. Submit complete document package at the Korean embassy or consulate in your country. Bring originals and copies.
2. Pay visa fee: KRW 130,000 (single entry) or KRW 90,000 (multiple entry), paid in equivalent local currency.
3. Wait for processing: Typically 3–10 business days. Complex cases may take 2–3 weeks.
4. Receive visa sticker in your passport.

Step 7: Enter Korea and Register

• Enter Korea within the visa validity period
• Register for your Alien Registration Card (ARC) within 90 days of arrival at the local immigration office
• Bring your passport, ARC application, and D-8 visa documents

5. Applying from Inside Korea

If you are already in Korea (e.g., on a tourist entry or short-term visa), you can apply for a Change of Status to D-8 at the local immigration office:

• Complete all company setup steps (same as above) while in Korea
• Apply for Change of Status (체류자격 변경) at your local immigration office
• Processing typically takes 2–4 weeks in-country
• You may not leave Korea while the application is pending without first getting a re-entry permit

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

7. Frequently Asked Questions