South Korea D-8-4 Technology Startup Visa (OASIS) vs South Korea D-8 Investor Visa
A factual side-by-side comparison of two residency programmes. All figures are drawn from the canonical program pages — follow either link in the table header for sources and the full profile.
Key Differences at a Glance
- ›South Korea D-8 Investor Visa is faster: 2 months vs 3 months for South Korea D-8-4 Technology Startup Visa (OASIS).
- ›South Korea D-8 Investor Visa requires a 75,000 USD investment; South Korea D-8-4 Technology Startup Visa (OASIS) does not.
South Korea D-8-4 Technology Startup Visa (OASIS) South Korea · entrepreneur | South Korea D-8 Investor Visa South Korea · investment | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | South Korea | South Korea |
| Category | Entrepreneur | Investment |
| Application Fee | $50 | $60 |
| Minimum Income | — | — |
| Minimum Investment | — | $75,000 |
| Processing Time | 3 months | 2 months |
| Family Included | Spouse and minor children may apply for F-3 dependent visas; F-3 dependents generally cannot work in Korea without separately qualifying for their own status. | Spouse and minor children may obtain F-3 (Dependent) visas to accompany or join the primary holder. |
| Path to PR | Yes — 5 years | Yes — 5 years |
| Path to Citizenship | Yes — 5 years | Yes — 5 years |
| Physical Presence | No statutory day-count is published for D-8-4 specifically; holders are expected to remain actively, operationally involved in running the registered Korean startup, and prolonged absence can jeopardise renewal. | Must be actively involved in the operation or management of the investment; regular presence in Korea expected. |
| Dual Citizenship | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Tax Impact | Holders residing in South Korea for 183+ days per year are subject to Korean income tax on worldwide income at progressive rates up to 45%. Corporate tax applies separately to the startup's business profits. | Holders residing in South Korea for 183+ days per year are subject to Korean income tax on worldwide income. Corporate taxes apply to business profits. |
| Tax Residency Trigger | 183 days/yr | 183 days/yr |
| Worldwide Taxation | Yes | Yes |
| Renewal Cost | $50 | $60 |
About South Korea D-8-4 Technology Startup Visa (OASIS)
South Korea's D-8-4 visa is a dedicated route for foreign founders launching technology-based startups in Korea, administered through the OASIS framework run jointly by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups via the Global Startup Immigration Center. Unlike the standard D-8 corporate-investor visa, which typically requires paid-in capital of roughly KRW 100 million (about $75,000), the D-8-4 has no minimum capital requirement — eligibility instead rests on a points-based evaluation crediting academic background, intellectual-property ownership, completed OASIS coursework, and business-plan strength. Applicants generally need at least 60 points to qualify. The visa suits IP-driven founders — engineers, researchers, and technical specialists — who want to incorporate and personally operate a Korean startup rather than invest passively. It is issued initially for up to 12 months, extendable while the business operates, with a nominal track toward permanent residency and Korean citizenship for founders who remain resident and build a genuine operating company.
Full South Korea D-8-4 Technology Startup Visa (OASIS) profile →About South Korea D-8 Investor Visa
South Korea's D-8 Investor Visa is for foreign nationals investing in or establishing a Korean business, requiring a minimum KRW 100,000,000 (~$75,000 USD) registered as genuine operating-company capital, not a passive deposit — the company must actually function, with real accounting and ideally at least one Korean employee, since a single founder with no local staff risks difficulty at renewal. Spouses and minor children can obtain F-3 dependent visas. D-8 holders can move to F-2 (Long-Term Resident) status after 5 years, then typically to F-5 permanent residency, sometimes faster for large investors. Citizenship becomes available after roughly 5 years, requiring TOPIK Korean proficiency around B1 and, in most cases, renouncing prior nationality, since Korea largely disallows dual citizenship for naturalised adults. Korean corporate tax runs 9–24%+ on profits, and individuals drawing a salary can elect a flat 19% income-tax rate — instead of progressive rates up to 45% — for up to 20 years, but only if elected before filing the first Korean tax return, after which the option is lost permanently.
Full South Korea D-8 Investor Visa profile →Gotchas to Watch For
South Korea D-8-4 Technology Startup Visa (OASIS)
- ⚠No minimum capital doesn't mean no cost — company registration, legal support, and OASIS coursework fees add up before the visa is even filed.
- ⚠OASIS points evaluation criteria and exact scoring weights are not fully published in English; work with a Korean-language advisor or the Global Startup Immigration Center directly to model your score before committing.
- ⚠The visa is tied to actively operating the specific registered company — substantially pivoting the business can jeopardise renewal.
- ⚠Korea does not generally allow dual citizenship for naturalised citizens; expect to renounce your prior citizenship if you pursue Korean citizenship long-term (narrow exceptions exist for limited categories).
- ⚠F-3 dependent status for spouse/children generally does not include independent work rights.
South Korea D-8 Investor Visa
- ⚠The KRW 100M investment is not a deposit — it becomes the capital of a real Korean operating company that must pay taxes, employees, and accounting fees
- ⚠Korea requires the business to be genuinely operating: a single founder with no Korean employees may face renewal difficulty or rejection
- ⚠Corporate income tax applies at 9-24%+ on Korean company profits; personal income tax on salary up to 45% (or 19% flat rate if elected)
- ⚠Korea does not permit dual citizenship for most naturalised adults — you must renounce prior nationality
- ⚠The 19% flat income tax election must be made before filing your first Korean return; missing this window loses the benefit permanently
- ⚠ARC must be renewed with the visa; forgetting the 90-day registration window results in fines
- ⚠KOTRA can provide free advisory services for foreign investors — use them to avoid costly mistakes with the Foreign Investment Certificate
Neutral reference — we don't recommend one programme over another. Programmes change: always verify each detail against the official source linked on the individual program pages.