D-8-1 Visa Korea: Requirements, KRW 100M Rules, and How It Works

The D-8-1 is the standard Corporate Investment sub-category of the D-8 visa — the one most foreign entrepreneurs will apply for. It is specifically designed for individuals who invest a minimum of KRW 100 million into a Korean corporation and take an active management role. Of the four D-8 sub-categories, D-8-1 has the clearest requirements and the most established application precedent, which makes it both the most predictable and the most rigorously scrutinised.

If you have the capital and a genuine business for the Korean market, the D-8-1 is the right route. This post covers the specific mechanics of this sub-category in detail.

The Core D-8-1 Requirements

Three conditions define D-8-1 eligibility:

1. Minimum investment of KRW 100 million. At 2026 exchange rates, this is approximately USD 75,000 to USD 85,000. This is not a fee — it is registered capital in a Korean corporation. It must remain intact in the company's accounts throughout the life of the visa.

2. Minimum 10% shareholding. The investor must hold at least 10% of the company's total voting shares or investment amount. This requirement exists to prevent "nominee" arrangements where someone else effectively owns the company while the foreigner uses it for visa purposes.

3. Active management participation. The D-8-1 holder must engage in the day-to-day management, administration, or technology operations of the invested company. A passive shareholder who is not involved in operations does not qualify, regardless of shareholding percentage.

There is a fourth condition that is not always stated clearly in official summaries: the investment must be registered as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act (FIPA). A foreign national who incorporates a company through a domestic process without completing the FDI notification and registration is not eligible for the D-8-1.

Entity Types Eligible Under D-8-1

The D-8-1 requires investment into a corporation — not a sole proprietorship, partnership, or unincorporated joint venture. Korean law recognises two corporate forms commonly used by foreign investors:

Chusik Hoesa (Joint Stock Company / JSC). The most commonly used structure for D-8-1 applications. Shares are freely transferable, governance is more formal, and the JSC is viewed as more credible by banks and government agencies. If you plan to raise external capital or eventually pursue an IPO, the JSC is the standard choice.

Yuhan Hoesa (Limited Liability Company / LLC). Management is simpler and disclosure requirements are lower. Transfer of interests typically requires the consent of other members. Some banks are more cautious with accounts for new foreign-led LLCs, but for a solo-managed business the LLC is a legitimate option.

Both structures cap the investor's personal liability at the amount of their investment. The immigration office is primarily concerned with the capital amount and the FDI registration, not the corporate form.

A liaison office does not qualify. A liaison office representative can obtain a D-7 visa (Intra-Company Transferee) but cannot conduct profit-making activities and therefore cannot satisfy the "active business management" requirement for D-8-1.

The KRW 100 Million: What It Must Be and Where It Must Come From

The KRW 100 million requirement is more precise than most applicants expect. Several specific conditions apply.

It must be remitted from overseas. The investment capital must originate from an account outside Korea and be transferred into a temporary escrow account at a Korean bank. Capital that was already in Korea — from a previous stay, a Korean bank account opened as a tourist, or salary from a Korean employer — does not qualify as FDI under FIPA.

It must come from the investor's own account. Transfers from a spouse's account are generally accepted. Transfers from a minor child's account are accepted in specific circumstances. Transfers from a business partner, friend, or any non-qualifying relative are not acceptable and will result in rejection at the bank stage before the application reaches immigration.

It must remain in the company. The KRW 100 million is registered capital. It is not a deposit that the investor can recover while the visa is active. Immigration officers verify at renewal that the balance sheet still shows the capital intact. If it has been withdrawn for personal use or transferred back to the investor as a "loan," the visa will not be renewed. The company can use the capital for legitimate business expenses — office rent, equipment, payroll — but it cannot be returned to the investor.

It must not be borrowed purely for the application. Immigration is alert to "rent-a-capital" schemes where an applicant borrows KRW 100 million, shows it to the bank, completes the FDI notification, and then returns it. Source of funds verification — six to twelve months of personal bank statements, income tax returns, salary certificates, or audited business financial statements — is mandatory. Applicants who cannot show a plausible accumulation history for the capital face serious delays or outright rejection.

The Source of Funds Audit

This is the most common failure point for D-8-1 applications, and it has become more intensive since late 2025. Immigration officers now cross-reference bank statements with declared income, look for unusual large deposits shortly before the transfer date, and request additional documentation whenever the accumulation story is unclear.

Acceptable source-of-funds evidence, in order of strength:

Applicants from countries that Korean immigration classifies as higher-risk for visa violations face additional scrutiny regardless of their personal financial standing. If your capital is below KRW 300 million, expect to be asked for a detailed Capital Usage Plan showing how the money will be spent on the business, plus receipts for initial expenses like office setup and equipment.

The 10% Shareholding Requirement in Practice

Ten percent of voting shares is the minimum. There is no maximum — an investor can hold 100% of the shares.

Where this requirement becomes complicated is in multi-investor setups. If you are establishing a company with Korean co-founders or other foreign investors, each D-8-1 applicant must independently hold at least 10% of the total shares. A structure where the foreign investor holds 5% and the Korean co-founder holds 95% will not qualify the foreigner for D-8-1, even if the foreigner is the active manager.

The shareholding must be documented in the Articles of Incorporation, the court registry extract, and the shareholder register. At each visa renewal, immigration verifies that the shareholding has not dropped below 10% through any share issuance, transfer, or restructuring.

Alternatively to the shareholding requirement, the D-8-1 can be satisfied through a contract for "executive dispatch" — an arrangement where the investor is formally designated as a dispatched executive by a foreign parent company. This route is less common for first-time investors but is used by multinational companies sending senior managers to establish Korean subsidiaries.

What Immigration Verifies at Each Stage

Initial application. Foreign Currency Purchase Certificate, FIE Registration Certificate, corporate registry extract, Business Registration Certificate, office lease agreement, business plan, source of funds documentation, degree or experience evidence (for the education-field alignment requirement in force since November 2025).

At renewal (one year later). Corporate tax payment certificate, VAT standard amount certificate, updated corporate registry confirming shareholding structure, proof of physical office continuity, social insurance payment records for any employees, company bank statements showing capital intact, and evidence of active business activity.

The "active business" standard is what catches many first-year operators off guard. A company that registered, opened a bank account, and then produced no revenue, no employees, and no documented transactions is not viewed as an "active business" regardless of how good the initial business plan was. Immigration officers look for evidence that the company has actually been operating in Korea — invoices issued, contracts signed, staff hired, or documented progress on R&D for pre-revenue technology businesses.

Hiring Korean Nationals: The Fastest Path to Renewal Security

Of all the things that smooth a D-8-1 renewal, hiring at least one Korean national on payroll with social insurance contributions is the single most effective measure. It demonstrates economic contribution in the most direct way possible. A company with even one full-time Korean employee, tax-compliant and social-insurance-registered, is far less likely to face renewal complications than a one-person operation with the same revenue figures.

Social insurance contributions for 2026 include the National Pension Service at 9.5% (up from 9.0% in 2025, split equally between employer and employee), National Health Insurance at 7.19%, and Employment Insurance at a minimum of 1.8%. These records are submitted monthly and are exactly what immigration inspects at renewal to confirm that staff are genuinely on the payroll.

The D-8-1 and the Path to Permanent Residency

D-8-1 holders have two primary routes to permanent residency (F-5).

F-5-5 (High-Investment Investor). If the total investment reaches USD 500,000 and the company has employed at least five Korean nationals for at least six months, the F-5-5 is available. It waives the Korean language test requirement and the Social Integration Program, making it the most efficient permanent residency path for investors who scale.

F-5-1 (General, after five years). Requires five years of continuous residence with income at twice the national GNI per capita, language proficiency at TOPIK Level 5 or KIIP Stage 5, and a clean immigration record. This is the standard path for investors who grow a solid but not high-capital business over the medium term.

Between D-8-1 and F-5, many investors transition to the F-2-7 points-based long-term residency status. F-2-7 requires at least one year in Korea, income above the GNI per capita, and a points score above 80 from income level, education, language proficiency, and age. F-2-7 status removes the restriction on working for other companies, which is one of the most significant practical limitations of the D-8-1.

The D-8-1 is the most direct, capital-backed route into the Korean business immigration system. If you want a document checklist, source-of-funds template, and full renewal preparation guide tailored to D-8-1 applicants, the South Korea D-8 Investment Visa Guide covers every stage from FDI notification to F-5 eligibility.

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