Korea D-8 Visa for Tech Founders Without KRW 100 Million: Your Real Options

If you are a tech startup founder who wants to build a business in South Korea but cannot meet the KRW 100 million capital requirement for the standard D-8-1 visa, you have three realistic paths — and one of them is specifically designed for your situation. The D-8-4 OASIS visa is the Korean government's direct answer to high-potential tech founders who have intellectual property or startup credentials but not the liquid capital to qualify for the capital-based route. Here is an honest look at all three options, their real requirements, and which one fits which founder.

The Direct Answer

The D-8-4 OASIS visa is the primary path for tech founders without KRW 100 million. It replaces the capital requirement with a points-based system where patents, government startup support, academic credentials, and OASIS program completions accumulate toward an 80-point threshold. A registered patent alone earns 60 points. Combined with a government startup grant (30 points), a founder can qualify well above the threshold without committing liquid capital. The D-8-2 Venture Business visa is the second option, requiring Venture Business Certification rather than capital. The D-10-2 Startup Preparation visa is a bridge — it lets you live in Korea for up to two years while building the credentials for either of the above.

The Three Paths

Who This Is For

• Tech startup founders with a registered or pending patent
• Founders who have received or qualify for a Korean government startup support grant
• Entrepreneurs with advanced degrees (Master's or PhD) in a field directly related to their intended Korean business
• Anyone currently on a tourist or business visit visa in Korea who wants to stay and build a startup without first raising KRW 100 million
• Founders who have graduated from a government-designated incubator program or accelerator

Who This Is NOT For

• Founders who have no IP, no government support, and no advanced degree — the OASIS points system requires at least one of these as a mandatory prerequisite item
• Those whose "startup" is primarily a service business with no technological differentiation — the D-8-4 is intended for tech innovation, and immigration officers evaluate whether the business qualifies
• Anyone who needs to conduct sales and generate revenue immediately — the D-10-2 bridge only allows "preparation" activities, not actual business operations
• Founders who prefer the simpler, more predictable D-8-1 pathway and can raise or structure KRW 100 million (even if that takes time)

Path 1: D-8-4 OASIS — The Points-Based Tech Startup Visa

The OASIS (Overall Assistance for Startup Immigration System) program is the Korean government's most aggressive effort to attract global tech talent. It replaces the KRW 100 million capital requirement with a merit-based points matrix.

The 80-Point Threshold

To qualify for a D-8-4 visa, you must accumulate at least 80 points from the OASIS matrix — and you must satisfy at least one "prerequisite" item from the mandatory category. You cannot reach the threshold using only elective items.

Mandatory prerequisite items (at least one required):

• Registered patent: 60 points — this alone almost reaches the threshold
• KRW 100M+ investment secured: 60 points (note: if you have raised this, the D-8-1 is also available)
• Government startup support recipient: 30 points
• Utility model or design holder: 30 points
• Patent application pending: 10 points

Elective items (stack to reach 80 points or above):

• OASIS-1 Basic IP Course (12+ hours): 10 points
• OASIS-2 Advanced IP Course (20 hours): 10 points
• OASIS-4 Basic Startup Class (20 hours — covers Korean taxation, labor law, and business management): 10 points
• OASIS-5 Coaching and Mentoring (6–10 hours): 15 points
• OASIS-7 Incubation graduation: 15 points
• Master's degree: 10 points
• TOPIK Level 3 or KIIP Step 3: 10 points
• TOPIK Level 5 or KIIP Step 5: 20 points

Most Efficient Point Combinations for Tech Founders

The fastest path for a founder with a registered patent: 60 points from the patent alone, plus 10 points from OASIS-4 (a 20-hour course on Korean business law and taxation) equals 70 points — not quite there. Adding OASIS-1 or OASIS-2 (each 10 points) reaches 80+. A founder with a registered patent can hit the threshold by completing two OASIS courses.

A founder with a pending patent application (10 points) and government startup support (30 points) has 40 points from prerequisites. Adding OASIS-4 (10), OASIS-5 (15), and OASIS-7 (15) reaches 80 points through a combination of IP credentials and program completions.

For founders with a Master's degree and government support but no patent: 30 (startup support) + 10 (Master's) = 40 points from prerequisites. The remaining 40 points must come from OASIS course completions — OASIS-4 (10), OASIS-5 (15), OASIS-7 (15) = 40. This combination works.

The D-10-2 Bridge for OASIS Preparation

If you are not yet at 80 points, the D-10-2 Startup Preparation visa lets you live in Korea for up to two years while you complete OASIS modules and build your point total. You cannot generate revenue on D-10-2 — it is for preparation only — but you can complete OASIS courses, apply for patents in the Korean system, engage with government startup centers, and build the credentials for D-8-4.

The 2026 expansion of Global Startup Immigration Centers to Busan (focused on logistics and marine tech) and Chungbuk (focused on bio-health and healthcare) means OASIS programs are available outside Seoul for the first time, with lower operational costs in those regional hubs.

Path 2: D-8-2 Venture Business Certification

The D-8-2 visa is designed for founders who have obtained Venture Business Certification from an authorized body — primarily the Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KOTEC) or the Korea Venture Capital Association (KVCA). There is no minimum capital requirement, and the focus is on the demonstrated quality of your technology rather than your financial resources.

Obtaining Venture Business Certification requires Korean-market evaluation of your technology's commercial potential. This is more straightforward for founders who already have a registered entity in Korea or who have completed formal incubation programs. For founders approaching Korea from outside, the certification process can be complex because KOTEC and KVCA typically evaluate companies with some Korean operational history.

The D-8-2 is best suited for founders who have already been operating in Korea under a different visa status — for example, D-10-2 preparation or D-2 student status — and have accumulated enough Korean market credentials to obtain the certification.

Path 3: D-10-2 Then D-8-4 — The Staged Approach

For many tech founders, the most practical path is not to arrive with 80 OASIS points already in hand but to enter Korea on D-10-2 and use the two-year bridge period to build them. The staged approach:

1. Enter Korea on D-10-2 (apply at a Korean consulate with evidence of startup intent — a business concept, early IP, or acceptance into a Korean startup program)
2. Enroll in OASIS courses during the D-10-2 period (OASIS-1, OASIS-4, OASIS-5 are the highest-value modules for most tech founders)
3. Apply for a Korean patent or utility model while in Korea under D-10-2 (the Korean patent office, KIPO, processes applications from residents)
4. Apply for a Korean government startup grant through programs like the Global Startup Center or TIPS (Tech Incubator Program for Startup)
5. Accumulate the 80 points and convert status to D-8-4

This approach takes 12–24 months but does not require KRW 100 million at any point. It is the path that Korean immigration policy appears designed to encourage for serious tech founders who are committed to building in Korea.

Tradeoffs of Each Path

D-8-4 OASIS direct application:

• Fastest if you already have a registered patent (60 points, need only 20 more)
• Requires at least one mandatory prerequisite item — cannot qualify on elective points alone
• Immigration evaluates whether your business is genuinely tech-innovation-focused
• The 2026 OASIS expansion makes regional hubs (Busan, Chungbuk) viable for the first time

D-8-2 Venture Certification:

• No capital requirement, no points system — cleaner pathway for founders who qualify
• Harder to obtain for founders without existing Korean operational history
• Most practical for founders already operating in Korea under another status

D-10-2 bridge then D-8-4:

• Most accessible starting point if you currently have neither points nor certification
• Requires 12–24 months before D-8-4 is achievable
• You cannot generate revenue during D-10-2, which limits your ability to build a revenue-generating startup during the bridge period
• The two-year maximum on D-10-2 creates a hard deadline — if you cannot reach 80 points within two years, you must leave

What Changes Once You Have D-8-4

The D-8-4 still requires a physical office. Virtual offices and hot desks are rejected. Immigration will evaluate whether your Korean operation is genuine — and for D-8-4, "genuine" means active technology development, not just attending courses. You need a qualifying office lease, enrolled in the Four Major Insurances as director, and evidence of business activity at renewal.

The path from D-8-4 to permanent residency is structured differently from D-8-1. The F-5-24 route (Tech Startup Permanent Residency) requires: three years of D-8-4 residency, raising at least KRW 300 million in external investment, and employing at least two Korean nationals. This is different from the D-8-1 F-5 path, which requires either five years of residence with twice-GNI income (F-5-1) or USD 500,000 investment with five Korean employees (F-5-5).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for the D-8-4 visa while still outside Korea?

Yes. The OASIS courses can be completed remotely (most are available online), and patents can be applied for before you enter Korea. If you have a registered patent (60 points) and complete two OASIS courses (20 points), you can apply for D-8-4 at a Korean consulate abroad without ever having been in Korea.

What counts as a "government startup support recipient" for the 30 OASIS points?

Korean government programs that qualify include TIPS (Tech Incubator Program for Startup), Global Startup Centers, KOTRA's startup support programs, and support from government-affiliated organizations like NIPA (National IT Industry Promotion Agency). Not all startup accelerators or incubators qualify — the program must be government-operated or government-affiliated. Check with the specific program to confirm it qualifies for OASIS points before relying on it for your application.

Does a patent application (pending, not registered) qualify for OASIS points?

Yes, but only 10 points — versus 60 points for a registered patent. A pending application can help you cross the threshold if you already have other prerequisites, but it is not efficient as a primary source of points. If you plan to use patent points, filing and completing the patent registration process (which takes 12–24 months in Korea) is worth doing early.

Can I run a business and generate revenue on D-10-2?

No. The D-10-2 Startup Preparation visa is for preparation activities only — attending OASIS courses, building a business plan, meeting potential partners, applying for patents, and engaging with incubator programs. Generating revenue, entering contracts, or conducting commercial activities on D-10-2 constitutes unauthorized business activity and can result in visa cancellation.

If I eventually raise KRW 100 million from investors, can I convert from D-8-4 to D-8-1?

Yes. If your company attracts the KRW 100 million investment threshold and you meet the other D-8-1 criteria (10% voting shares, incorporation as JSC or LLC), you can change your visa status. This is common for D-8-4 founders who successfully raise a Series A or equivalent Korean investment. The change of status requires a new visa application but does not require leaving Korea.

The South Korea D-8 Investment Visa Guide covers the full OASIS points matrix with efficient point combinations for common founder profiles, the D-10-2 bridge strategy, the D-8-4 office and renewal requirements, the F-5-24 permanent residency pathway for tech startup founders, and the complete D-8-1 process for founders who raise or structure the KRW 100 million investment threshold.

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