Korea D-8 Sub-codes — D-8-1 to D-8-4 and Their Periods of Stay

Overview

D-8 looks like a single status but is in fact divided into four sub-codes with different eligibility and periods of stay.

Corporate investment (D-8-1) and sole-proprietor investment (D-8-3) carry a maximum of 5 years per grant; venture investment (D-8-2) and technology startup (D-8-4) carry 2 years.

At a Glance

Scope of Activity

• Management and administration at a foreign-invested company
• Production and technology work at a foreign-invested company
• Activity as the representative of a venture business
• Activity as the founder of a technology startup corporation

Who Qualifies

• Essential professional personnel engaging in management or production/technology at a foreign-invested Korean corporation under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act (established corporations only; locally hired persons excluded) — D-8-1
• Founders of venture businesses under the Special Act on Venture Business Promotion with strong technology such as IP holdings, being representatives of a venture-certified company or one assessed as technologically excellent — D-8-2
• Essential professional personnel engaging in management or production/technology at a business run by a Korean individual that qualifies as a foreign-invested enterprise (locally hired persons excluded) — D-8-3
• Corporate founders holding an associate degree or higher from Korea or a bachelor's degree or higher from abroad, or recommended by the head of a competent central agency, who hold IP or equivalent technological capability — D-8-4

Required Documents

• Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34), passport and ARC, fee
• Certificate of foreign-invested company registration, corporate registry extract, copy of business registration certificate
• Evidence of the investment funds (foreign exchange purchase or deposit certificates, etc.)
• Dispatch order or certificate of employment (for essential professional personnel)
• Venture business confirmation or technology assessment result (D-8-2)
• Evidence of IP holdings and degree certificate (D-8-4)

Application Process

1. Check eligibility — confirm your current status, career, degree and contract type match the requirements.
2. Prepare documents — foreign public documents need a translator's certification plus an apostille (or consular confirmation for non-member states).
3. Book a visit — reserve a slot at your Immigration Office via HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr), or file online where e-Application is available.
4. File and pay — submit the Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34) and pay the screening fee.
5. Review — respond to any request for supplementary documents within the deadline.
6. Result — on approval, the period of stay and status are granted; reissue your ARC if required.

Key Points

• D-8-1 applies only to corporations that have completed establishment, and locally hired persons are excluded from "essential professional personnel".
• D-8 holders may undertake D-7-type activity within the same corporate group under an out-of-status permit, and a route exists for changing from D-8 at a foreign-invested company to D-7.
• Persons preparing a technology startup under item (c) of D-8 are eligible for D-10-2 (startup preparation).
• As with D-7 to D-9, a change in the name of the affiliated body is handled as an alien registration change report.
• Documents issued in Korea must normally be dated within 3 months unless another validity period applies.
• Documents already on file in your alien registration record need not be resubmitted.
• Health certificates, drug test results and pre-employment medical reports must be submitted sealed by the issuing hospital (do not open).
• You must be in Korea when applying; leaving the country after filing may result in refusal.
• Screening fees are non-refundable once the application is accepted.
• The head of the Immigration Office may add or waive documents where necessary for review.

Frequently Asked Questions

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