D-8 Investment Visa in Korea: Who Qualifies and How to Apply

A foreigner wants to reside in Korea long-term for the purpose of making a corporate investment. The D-8 visa (Corporate Investment) is a long-stay visa category under Korean immigration law, allowing investors to live and operate a business in Korea beyond 90 days. This guide explains the legal basis, conditions, steps, and key cautions.

Medium riskImmigration Act (출입국관리법) Article 10-2 (General Stay Status)

Applies to

business_owner · anyone

Quick answer: The D-8 visa is a long-stay visa (over 90 days) for foreigners investing in a Korean corporation. Apply at a Korean embassy/consulate abroad or, if already in Korea, at your regional Immigration Office (Hi Korea portal). The visa requires proof of corporate investment and compliance with Ministry of Justice regulations. Processing fees and exact investment thresholds are set by Presidential Decree — confirm current figures with the Immigration Office before applying.

What Korean law says

  1. ·Article 10-2(1) of the Immigration Act classifies stay statuses into two types: short-stay (up to 90 days, e.g. tourism) and long-stay (over 90 days, e.g. investment, study, marriage).
  2. ·Article 10-2(1)(2) explicitly lists 'investment (투자)' as one of the recognized purposes for a long-stay visa, confirming D-8's legal basis.
  3. ·Article 10-2(2) states that the specific types of stay status, who qualifies, and the permitted scope of activities are determined by Presidential Decree — meaning D-8 investment thresholds and activity limits are not fixed in the Act itself but in subordinate regulations.
  4. ·Article 10-3 establishes a separate 'Permanent Residency (F-5)' category with no restrictions on activity or stay period — long-term D-8 holders may eventually pursue F-5, subject to meeting all conditions including financial self-sufficiency, Korean language ability, and law-abiding conduct.
  5. ·Article 89-2 warns that permanent residency can be revoked if obtained by fraud, if serious criminal convictions occur, or if investment maintenance conditions (set by Presidential Decree) are no longer met — this principle of 'condition maintenance' also applies to investment-based statuses like D-8.

Required conditions

  1. ·Purpose of stay must be corporate investment in Korea (long-stay, over 90 days) — Article 10-2(1)(2)
  2. ·Specific investment amount, type of corporation, and eligible activities are determined by Presidential Decree (Article 10-2(2)) — confirm current thresholds with the Immigration Office
  3. ·Applicant must not have obtained or maintained the visa through fraudulent means (Article 89-2 principle applies)
  4. ·Ongoing maintenance of the qualifying investment condition is required throughout the visa period
  5. ·Compliance with all Korean laws and Ministry of Justice regulations

What to do next

  1. 11. Confirm current D-8 requirements (minimum investment amount, eligible business type, required documents) directly with the Immigration Office or via Hi Korea (www.hikorea.go.kr) — these are set by Presidential Decree and may change.
  2. 22. Establish or invest in a qualifying Korean corporation before applying (specific thresholds set by Presidential Decree — verify current figures).
  3. 33. Gather all required documents (see Documents section below).
  4. 44. If outside Korea: apply at the Korean Embassy or Consulate in your home country. If already in Korea on another visa: apply for a visa change at your regional Immigration Office or online via Hi Korea.
  5. 55. After entry/approval, register your place of residence (외국인등록, Alien Registration) at the Immigration Office within the legally required period.
  6. 66. Maintain the qualifying investment throughout your stay and renew your visa before expiry.
  7. 77. If you plan to pursue Permanent Residency (F-5) in the future, begin tracking the required period of lawful stay and maintaining eligibility conditions per Article 10-3.

Documents to prepare

Valid passportCompleted visa application formProof of corporate investment (e.g. corporate registration certificate, investment certificate) — specific documents required are determined by the Immigration Office; confirm the current list before applyingProof of financial capacity (bank statements, investment funds evidence)Business plan or company profile (if required by the Immigration Office)Alien Registration (after entry, at the Immigration Office)Any additional documents requested by the Immigration Office or Embassy — list varies and is not exhaustively defined in the provided articles

Where to go / who to contact

Regional Immigration Office (출입국·외국인청) — apply online via Hi Korea (www.hikorea.go.kr) or visit in person. Abroad: Korean Embassy or Consulate in your home country.

Time limit / deadline

No statutory deadline specified in the provided articles; however, you must apply for extension before your current visa expires. Confirm processing times with the Immigration Office.

Estimated cost

Official fees are set by Presidential Decree and subject to change — confirm current amounts at the Immigration Office or Hi Korea portal before applying.

Common mistakes

  1. ·Assuming investment thresholds are fixed — they are set by Presidential Decree and can change; always verify the current minimum amount before investing or applying.
  2. ·Failing to maintain the qualifying investment after visa issuance — if the investment condition is no longer met, the visa can be revoked (Article 89-2 principle).
  3. ·Providing false or exaggerated investment documents — fraudulent acquisition is grounds for mandatory visa/residency cancellation (Article 89-2(1)).
  4. ·Missing the Alien Registration deadline after entry — register at the Immigration Office within the required period.
  5. ·Overstaying or conducting activities outside the permitted scope of D-8 — long-stay activities and scope are strictly defined by Presidential Decree (Article 10-2(2)).
  6. ·Not applying for extension before visa expiry — this can result in illegal overstay status.
Original Korean legal text

제10의2조 (일반체류자격) · 출입국관리법

제10조의2(일반체류자격) ① 제10조제1호에 따른 일반체류자격(이하 "일반체류자격"이라 한다)은 다음 각 호의 구분에 따른다. 1. 단기체류자격: 관광, 방문 등의 목적으로 대한민국에 90일 이하의 기간(사증면제협정이나 상호주의에 따라 90일을 초과하는 경우에는 그 기간) 동안 머물 수 있는 체류자격 2. 장기체류자격: 유학, 연수, 투자, 주재, 결혼 등의 목적으로 대한민국에 90일을 초과하여 법무부령으로 정하는 체류기간의 상한 범위에서 거주할 수 있는 체류자격 ② 제1항에 따른 단기체류자격 및 장기체류자격의 종류, 체류자격에 해당하는 사람 또는 그 체류자격에 따른 활동범위는 체류목적, 취업활동 가능 여부 등을 고려하여 대통령령으로 정한다.

제10의3조 (영주자격) · 출입국관리법

제10조의3(영주자격) ① 제10조제2호에 따른 영주자격(이하 "영주자격"이라 한다)을 가진 외국인은 활동범위 및 체류기간의 제한을 받지 아니한다. ② 영주자격을 취득하려는 사람은 대통령령으로 정하는 영주의 자격에 부합한 사람으로서 다음 각 호의 요건을 모두 갖추어야 한다. 1. 대한민국의 법령을 준수하는 등 품행이 단정할 것 2. 본인 또는 생계를 같이하는 가족의 소득, 재산 등으로 생계를 유지할 능력이 있을 것 3. 한국어능력과 한국사회ㆍ문화에 대한 이해 등 대한민국에서 계속 살아가는 데 필요한 기본소양을 갖추고 있을 것 ③ 법무부장관은 제2항제2호 및 제3호에도 불구하고 대한민국에 특별한 공로가 있는 사람, 과학ㆍ경영ㆍ교육ㆍ문화예술ㆍ체육 등 특정 분야에서 탁월한 능력이 있는 사람, 대한민국에 일정금액 이상을 투자한 사람 등 대통령령으로 정하는 사람에 대해서는 대통령령으로 정하는 바에 따라 제2항제2호 및 제3호의 요건의 전부 또는 일부를 완화하거나 면제할 수 있다. ④ 제2항 각 호에 따른 요건의 기준ㆍ범위 등에 필요한 사항은 법무부령으로 정한다.

제19의2조 (외국인의 기술연수활동) · 출입국관리법

제19조의2(외국인의 기술연수활동) ① 법무부장관은 외국에 직접투자한 산업체, 외국에 기술ㆍ산업설비를 수출하는 산업체 등 지정된 산업체의 모집에 따라 국내에서 기술연수활동을 하는 외국인(이하 "기술연수생"이라 한다)의 적정한 연수활동을 지원하기 위하여 필요한 조치를 하여야 한다. ② 제1항에 따른 산업체의 지정, 기술연수생의 모집ㆍ입국 등에 필요한 사항은 대통령령으로 정한다. ③ 기술연수생의 연수장소 이탈 여부, 연수 목적 외의 활동 여부, 그 밖에 허가조건의 위반 여부 등에 관한 조사 및 출국조치 등 기술연수생의 관리에 필요한 사항은 법무부장관이 따로 정한다.

Sources

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Last checked: 2026-07-16

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D-8 Investment Visa in Korea: Who Qualifies and How to Apply — KVBiz Law