D-8 Business Investment

About this Visa

The D-8 is an investor visa for people who start a business in South Korea and invest at least ₩100 million (about $68,000). You must actively run the business—you can't just invest money and sit back. You can start your own company, manage it, hire people, and work as much as you want. Your spouse and children can live with you in Korea. You get health insurance and retirement benefits like Korean workers. This visa is for entrepreneurs and business owners. You need at least a bachelor's degree and some work experience in your field. You actively manage and operate a South Korean company with your investment. The main benefit is you can start a real business in Korea and build it into a permanent residency or citizenship pathway. After 5 years with a bigger investment ($500,000) and 5 Korean employees, you can get permanent residency and eventually become a South Korean citizen.

Key Benefits

• Work freely without government permission
• Bring spouse and children on dependent visas
• Access South Korea national health insurance
• Pay into national pension program
• Path to permanent residency after 5 years with $500,000 investment and 5 Korean employees
• Travel freely in and out of Korea
• Use fast immigration processing lanes
• Purchase property and real estate

Eligibility & Requirements