Supporting Global Entrepreneurs in Korea
Empowering foreign entrepreneurs to establish and grow their businesses.
Providing expert guidance, resources, and visa support for a successful launch.
D-8-4 Technology & Business Startup Visa
1. Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be eligible persons, and meet at least one of the following criteria:
- A person who has obtained an associate's degree or higher in the Republic of Korea;
- A person who has obtained a bachelor's degree or higher from a foreign country;
- A person who has been recommended by a relevant central administrative agency, and who possesses intellectual property rights or equivalent technological capabilities, and is a founder of a corporation.
2. Permit Requirements
- The applicant must have already obtained the required academic degree or received a recommendation from the relevant agency. (Applicants with pending or expected qualifications shall not be eligible.)
- The applicant must obtain a minimum score of 60 points out of 300 under the points-based system, and satisfy at least one mandatory requirement.
- The applicant shall directly establish a new corporation in the Republic of Korea and complete all required registration procedures. (The acquisition of an existing corporation shall not be recognized.)
- The established corporation shall be in a field relevant to the applicant's mandatory requirement under the points-based system, such as intellectual property rights owned, registered, invented, or applied for by the applicant.
※ Note
Notwithstanding the above, where all other requirements are satisfied except for the establishment of a corporation, the application may be conditionally acknowledged, provided that the corporation is established within six (6) months. In such cases, a six (6)-month period of stay shall be granted, and an extension may be permitted upon completion of corporate registration and business registration.
3. Legal Basis
- Article 10 of the Immigration Control Act
- Article 12 and Appendix 1-2 (11. 'd' section) of the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Control Act
- Guidelines for Issuance of Visa and Stay Management for Business Investment (D-8) (Revised on 1.2.2026)
4. Eligibility
- Foreign nationals legally residing in Korea who wish to start a technology business
5. Technology Startup (D-8-4) Visa Point System: Total 300 Points
6. Mandatory Items and Points (180 points): At least one is required
| ITEM | Holder (or Registrant) of Intellectual Property Rights | Co-inventor of Intellectual Property Rights | Applicant for Intellectual Property Rights (up to 10 points) | Beneficiary of Government Startup Support Program or OASIS 6 or OASIS 9 | Stayed for 3+ Years with Professor (E1) or Researcher (E3) Status | Person who Secured an Investment of 100 Million KRW or More | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patent | Utility Model or Design | Patent | Utility Model or Design | Patent | Utility Model or Design | ||||
| Score Allocation | 60 | 30 | 30 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 30 | 30 | 60 |
Note:
- If there are multiple intellectual property rights (IPR) holdings (registrations), inventions, or application achievements, duplication is allowed within a maximum of 60 points. However, for IPR applications, a maximum of 10 points will be acknowledged regardless of the number of applications.
- If the intellectual property rights are held (registered), invented, or applied for jointly (with nationals, foreigners, organizations, corporations, etc.), or if the individual has benefited from the OASIS-6 or OASIS-9 program, or government startup support programs, or has secured an investment of over 100 million KRW, the points will be divided by the number of joint participants and awarded accordingly.
7. Selectable Items and Scores (120 points): Duplicate Inclusion Allowed
| 구분 | OASIS 1, OASIS 2, OASIS 4 | OASIS 5, OASIS 7, OASIS 8 | Korean Language Proficiency | Holds a Master's Degree or Higher | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOPIK Level 5 or KIIP Level 5 | TOPIK Level 3 or KIIP Level 3 | ||||
| Score Allocation | Each 10 | Each 15 | 20 | 10 | 10 |
Legend:
- 1) Individuals who received direct business funding of 30 million KRW or more from central government agencies but do not meet the requirements for exemption from the point system, such as obtaining a recommendation from the Minister of SMEs and Startups and the recognition period (2 years).
- 2) Regardless of the current visa status, past stay history is also acknowledged. If an individual changes status from Researcher (E-3) to Professor (E-1), the total duration of stay in Korea for each status is combined, and if the total stay period exceeds 2 years, points are acknowledged.
- 3) Individuals who have received an investment of 100 million KRW or more for startup purposes from AC, VC, etc., and have been recommended by the Global Startup Immigration Center.
- 4) If an individual holds intellectual property rights registered in an OECD country, they are exempt from OASIS-2 training and points are acknowledged.