D-8-4 Visa Korea (OASIS): The Tech Startup Route Without KRW 100 Million

The D-8-4 is the Korean government's explicit bet that intellectual capital can substitute for financial capital. If you have a registered patent, a qualifying technology, or a government grant — but not KRW 100 million sitting in a bank account — this is the sub-category designed for you. It operates through a points-based system called OASIS (Overall Assistance for Startup Immigration System), which doubles as a training programme and a visa gateway.

The D-8-4 attracts serious interest from tech founders, researchers, and engineers who want to launch in Korea but cannot or choose not to make the standard D-8-1 capital commitment up front. Understanding exactly how the points system works — and what the fastest path through it looks like — is the difference between a realistic plan and wishful thinking.

What OASIS Is and Why It Exists

South Korea's government created OASIS to solve a specific problem: the D-8-1's KRW 100 million threshold was filtering out exactly the kind of early-stage tech founders the economy most wanted to attract. High-potential founders with patents, advanced degrees, and government backing were bypassing Korea entirely for markets with more accessible startup visas.

OASIS addresses this by replacing the capital gate with an achievement gate. Instead of proving you have money, you prove you have technology, credentials, and commitment — demonstrated through a combination of intellectual property holdings, completed OASIS courses, government programme participation, and language proficiency.

The system is administered through Global Startup Immigration Centers, which serve as both the educational providers and the visa-issuing support offices. In 2026, these centres operate in Seoul, Busan (focused on logistics and marine tech), and Chungbuk (focused on bio-health and healthcare). Regional centres offer the same programmes as Seoul with lower operating costs for founders who fit the regional cluster.

The OASIS Points System in Detail

To qualify for a D-8-4 visa, you need a minimum of 80 points. The points matrix divides into "prerequisite" items (mandatory to satisfy at least one) and elective items.

Prerequisite Items (Must Satisfy At Least One)

Holding a registered patent is the most powerful single prerequisite — it contributes 60 points toward the 80-point threshold on its own. If you arrive with a registered patent, you are already three-quarters of the way there before completing any courses.

The "KRW 100 million investment secured" prerequisite gives 60 points, which may seem counterintuitive for a route meant for founders without capital. In practice, it means D-8-4 can also be used by funded startups — if you have an investor commitment but want the flexibility and startup ecosystem benefits of the OASIS track rather than the standard D-8-1 bureaucratic path.

Elective Items

The practical fastest path for most founders: a registered patent (60 points) plus OASIS-4 (10 points) plus OASIS-5 (15 points) equals 85 points — enough to qualify, with the mandatory courses serving a genuine educational function rather than just a box-checking exercise.

The OASIS Course Curriculum

The courses are not optional add-ons. They are structured programmes that cover the legal and operational knowledge you will actually need to run a company in Korea. For founders unfamiliar with Korean IP law, tax systems, and labour regulations, they provide real value beyond the points.

OASIS-1 — Basic Intellectual Property (12+ hours, 10 points). Covers the Korean IP system, how to develop and protect invention ideas, and the mechanics of patent filing in Korea. Essential for founders whose prerequisite is a patent application.

OASIS-2 — Advanced Intellectual Property (20 hours, 10 points). Patent litigation, prior art searches, and how to write invention declarations. Builds directly on OASIS-1.

OASIS-4 — Basic Startup Class (20 hours, 10 points). Korean taxation, labour laws, business management, and local marketing strategy. The most operationally relevant course in the programme — it covers VAT registration, the "four major insurance" obligations, and basic Korean corporate governance. Worth completing regardless of your points calculation.

OASIS-5 — Startup Mentoring (6–10 hours, 15 points). Direct coaching from industry experts to refine your business model and investor pitch. Structured as one-on-one or small group sessions.

OASIS-7 — Incubation (graduation required, 15 points). Completion of a government-designated startup incubator programme. Higher commitment than the course-based options but provides workspace, investor access, and additional points.

Arriving in Korea Before You Qualify: The D-10-2 Option

Many D-8-4 applicants use the D-10-2 Startup Preparation visa to enter Korea while completing OASIS requirements. The D-10-2 is a job-seeker-adjacent visa category that allows residence in Korea for the purpose of preparing a startup, extendable for up to two years. During this period, you can attend OASIS courses, apply for patents through the Korean IP Office, and establish the business groundwork without needing to have met the D-8-4 threshold yet.

This is the standard path for founders who have relevant IP in progress but have not yet completed enough OASIS modules to reach 80 points. The combination of D-10-2 entry followed by D-8-4 application after accumulating sufficient points is explicitly supported by the OASIS programme structure.

D-8-4 Versus D-8-1: Which Route Is Right for You

The comparison is not simply about whether you have KRW 100 million. It is about which structure better fits your business model, timeline, and growth plan.

Choose D-8-1 if:

• You have the capital and want a faster, more predictable path to residency
• Your business is not tech-IP-driven (F&B, services, e-commerce, education)
• You want the flexibility to choose any business structure without course prerequisites
• You have a target residency timeline and cannot afford the additional 6–12 months that OASIS preparation requires

Choose D-8-4 if:

• You have registered or pending IP that gives you immediate points
• Your startup has received government support funding (TIPS, KOICA, etc.)
• You have an advanced degree and want to leverage your educational credentials
• You want access to the OASIS incubator ecosystem and investor networks
• You are comfortable with the points accumulation process and are not in a rush

The F-5 pathway is different between the two routes. D-8-4 holders can access the F-5-24 permanent residency route after three years if they attract KRW 300 million in investment and employ at least two Korean nationals. D-8-1 holders typically use the F-5-5 route (USD 500,000 investment, five Korean employees) or the general F-5-1 (five years continuous residence, twice GNI income). The D-8-4 F-5 pathway has a lower capital threshold than D-8-1's F-5-5, which may be relevant for founders planning from first principles.

What Happens After D-8-4 Approval

The initial D-8-4 visa is typically issued for one or two years. Renewal requires demonstrating active startup activity — revenue, R&D progress, investor relationships, or Korean employees on payroll. Unlike D-8-1 renewal, which centres on company financial performance, D-8-4 renewal places more weight on innovation indicators: new patents filed, further OASIS module completions, participation in government programmes.

The 9.5% National Pension Service rate effective January 2026 (up from 9.0% in 2025) applies to D-8-4 holders operating a company with employees. Health insurance is mandatory for all foreign residents staying longer than six months regardless of nationality. D-8-4 holders are subject to the same prohibition on working for other companies as all other D-8 sub-category holders — the visa is tied to the startup entity.

The OASIS points system rewards founders who arrive prepared. If you want a full breakdown of the qualifying combinations, the incubator application process, and the documents required for the D-8-4 application, the South Korea D-8 Investment Visa Guide covers the startup visa track in full alongside the standard D-8-1 route.

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