Questions by situation
Each answer starts with the conclusion, then who it applies to, the documents and the timing. Jump here from “Choose your situation” above.
Can a foreign employee of a Korean venture company get a D-8-2 venture investment visa?
No—D-8-2 is the sub-code for a company's representative, not its staff. It covers people who founded (or are preparing to found) a venture company on the strength of intellectual property or similar technology and who represent a company with venture confirmation (including pre-venture) or an excellent technology rating. The representative shows that position with a business registration certificate copy and a corporate register certificate, while foreign employees need their own status of stay reviewed against their job, education and experience.
I don't have venture confirmation yet, only an excellent technology rating—can I still apply for a Korea D-8-2 visa?
Yes, you can be eligible. Besides representatives of companies with venture (or pre-venture) confirmation, D-8-2 covers representatives of companies rated excellent in technology, and technology-appraisal-backed companies are included. Only ratings from the Korea Technology Finance Corporation (기술신용보증기금) or the Small and Medium Business Corporation (중소기업진흥공단) count. Because the document list names both the venture confirmation certificate and the technology proof, agree with the competent immigration office before filing on what replaces the confirmation certificate when you hold only the rating.
Which intellectual property documents prove technology for a D-8-2 visa in Korea?
Typical proof is a copy of a patent, utility model, design or trademark registration issued by the Korean Intellectual Property Office, or a copyright registration from the Korea Copyright Commission; an excellent technology rating from the Korea Technology Finance Corporation or the Small and Medium Business Corporation is also accepted. For a Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance you submit documents proving that you hold industrial property rights or equivalent technology and the rights to use it. The same proof is submitted again at extension, so check that the rights remain in force.
My patent is filed but not yet registered—can I apply for the D-8-2 venture visa?
The D-8-2 document list names registration certificate copies or an excellent technology rating as proof of technology; a certificate of filing from the Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office is not on it. If you have only filed, first check whether you can meet the requirement through a technology rating from the Korea Technology Finance Corporation or the Small and Medium Business Corporation, or through venture (including pre-venture) confirmation. If you hold a degree and are founding a corporation, also compare Technology Startup (D-8-4), where a certificate of filing can serve as points-system evidence.
I got a 6-month D-8-2 visa as a pre-venture company—how do I extend it afterward?
On a visa issued by a Korean mission, the maximum stay for venture founders is 2 years but only 6 months for pre-venture companies, so you must apply for an extension of period of stay within that time. For the extension you submit business registration and corporate register copies, the venture (or pre-venture) confirmation certificate, IP registration copies or an excellent technology rating, proof of business performance, a tax payment certificate and proof of residence. Pre-venture status includes the stage of preparing incorporation or business registration, so line up those steps before you file the extension.
I'm outside Korea—do I apply for the D-8-2 visa directly at an embassy or do I need a visa issuance certificate?
There are two routes. A mission-issued visa is in principle filed at the Korean mission in your home country (long-term residents running a business abroad may use the mission in their country of residence), but nationals of China and certain designated countries are excluded from issuance at the head of mission's discretion. A Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance is filed with the competent immigration office in Korea with an invitation letter, business registration and corporate register copies and proof of industrial property or equivalent technology; an agent filing for you adds a letter of delegation, the agent's employment certificate and ID. If you enter on a D-8 visa issued directly by a mission, at alien registration you submit the documents used for a change of status of stay.
I'm in Korea on another visa and have set up a venture company—can I change to D-8-2 without leaving?
You can apply for a change of status of stay in Korea, but if your current status may not change to D-8, the rule is to leave and enter on a new visa, with exceptions only after close review where special reasons such as recognized genuine investment exist. Nationals of Ireland, France and the UK who entered on Technical Training (D-3), Non-professional Employment (E-9), Crew Employment (E-10), Working Visit (H-2), Miscellaneous (G-1) or Working Holiday (H-1) cannot change. The change documents are the application, passport, alien registration card and photo, business registration and corporate register copies, venture (or pre-venture) confirmation, proof of technology, proof of residence, an office lease and a certificate of business performance (such as import/export records).
How long is a D-8-2 visa granted for, and what do I need to show when extending?
The maximum stay per grant for D-8-2 is 2 years, shorter than the 5 years for D-8-1 and D-8-3. At extension you add proof of business performance and a tax payment certificate to the venture confirmation and technology proof, so you need material showing both your venture status and that the business is actually operating. Proof of residence (lease, accommodation confirmation, utility receipts and similar) is also required, and processing time varies by immigration office and season.
Can I keep my research (E-3) visa and still act as CEO of a venture company built on my research?
Yes. Registered foreigners holding Professor (E-1), Research (E-3), Technology Instruction (E-4) or Professional (E-5) status who meet the D-8-2 requirements can obtain permission for activities outside their status and run the venture without changing status. Only venture activities related to their own research or professional field are allowed, so prepare the file to show the link between your field and the business item. Documents follow the D-8-2 visa issuance and change-of-status standards.
Should I apply for venture investment D-8-2 or technology startup D-8-4?
They are judged differently. D-8-2 asks whether you represent a company with venture confirmation (including pre-venture) or an excellent technology rating, while D-8-4 looks at corporate founders who hold a Korean associate degree or higher, a foreign bachelor's degree or higher, or a recommendation from the head of a central administrative agency, plus IP or similar technology, and who meet the points system (60 or more of 300 points). Both carry a maximum stay of 2 years per grant. If you already hold venture confirmation or a technology rating, review D-8-2 first; if you meet the requirement through a degree and points items, start with D-8-4.
Are some business types barred from a Korea D-8-2 visa?
Yes. Granting D-8 status is restrained for people working in sectors where foreign investment is restricted or that are restricted for visa and stay-management policy reasons; these include speculative businesses (lottery issuance, prize contests, roulette, drawings and premium businesses) and karaoke-bar and entertainment-bar operations. Check that your business item is outside these sectors before seeking venture confirmation or a technology rating.
If I move to Korea as a D-8-2 venture CEO, can my spouse and children come too?
Your spouse and minor children who have no spouse qualify for Accompanying (F-3) status. A single-entry visa of up to 1 year can be issued at the head of mission's discretion to family entering together with a D-8 holder, and you should check whether a tuberculosis certificate is required. The family's period of stay follows the per-status maximum stay rules.
On a D-8-2 visa, do I need a re-entry permit for frequent overseas business trips?
Registered foreigners who return within 1 year of departure are exempt from re-entry permits, and if less than 1 year of stay remains, the exemption applies within that remaining period. To return after more than 1 year but within 2 years, obtain a multiple re-entry permit. People subject to entry or visa issuance restrictions must still visit the immigration office for their place of stay to get a re-entry permit.
Key terms
- Venture Investment (D-8-2, 벤처 투자)
- The D-8 sub-code for representatives of venture companies founded on IP or similar technology that hold venture confirmation or an excellent technology rating; the maximum stay per grant is 2 years.
- Venture confirmation certificate (벤처기업확인서)
- A certificate from the Korea Technology Finance Corporation, the Small and Medium Business Corporation or the Korean Venture Capital Association confirming venture (or pre-venture) status; a basic D-8-2 document at application and extension.
- Pre-venture company (예비벤처기업)
- A venture preparing incorporation or business registration, or within 6 months of founding; the maximum stay on a mission-issued visa is 6 months.
- Excellent technology rating (기술성 우수평가서)
- A rating by the Korea Technology Finance Corporation or the Small and Medium Business Corporation that a company's technology is excellent, accepted as D-8-2 proof of technology.
- Technology-appraisal-backed company (기술평가보증기업)
- A company type expressly included, alongside pre-venture companies, within the scope of D-8-2 venture founders.
- Invitation letter (초청사유서)
- A document explaining why the foreign national is being invited, submitted with a D-8-2 Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance application.
- Permission for activities outside status (체류자격외활동허가)
- Permission to carry out activities outside your current status while keeping it, used by Professor (E-1), Research (E-3) and similar holders for D-8-2 activities.
- Proof of business performance (사업실적 입증서류)
- Documents showing the business is actually operating, submitted with a tax payment certificate when extending D-8-2.
About our office
- Office
- Vision Administrative Office (비전행정사사무소 · VISAS KOREA)
- Principal
- Alex Lee (이원중), licensed administrative agent (행정사)
- Licence
- Administrative agent (행정사) — preparing immigration and residence filings and submitting them on the client’s behalf with written authorization (위임장)
- Scope
- Korean visas (visa issuance certificate, change of status, extension), permanent residency (F-5), foreign-invested company, branch and liaison office setup, immigration violation review and entry-ban response
- Languages
- Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese
- Address
- 3F Sungwoo Bldg, 324 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 04614, Korea
- Hours
- Weekdays 09:30–17:30 (KST)
Who hires us for this
- Foreign founders who set up a Korean venture company on patents, designs or other IP
- Startup CEOs rated excellent in technology by the Korea Technology Finance Corporation or the Small and Medium Business Corporation
- Founders with pre-venture confirmation who are preparing incorporation
- Professors and researchers who want to start a company from their research while keeping their status
- D-8-2 holders who must organize extension documents around the 2-year cap
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