South Korea F-2-7 Point-Based Resident Visa 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 requires a 75,000 USD investment; South Korea F-2-7 Point-Based Resident Visa does not.
South Korea F-2-7 Point-Based Resident Visa South Korea · skilled worker | South Korea D-8 Investor Visa South Korea · investment | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | South Korea | South Korea |
| Category | Skilled Worker | Investment |
| Application Fee | $100 | $60 |
| Minimum Income | — | — |
| Minimum Investment | — | $75,000 |
| Processing Time | Not published | 2 months |
| Family Included | Per the Korea Immigration Service guide, a spouse and underage children can be invited on Resident (F-2) status only if the principal F-2 holder meets the income standard (GNI or higher), and on family visitor (F-1) status if the income requirement is not met. However, the spouse and underage children of prospective talent may change to F-2 status with the same period of stay as the principal regardless of the principal's income (F-2-7S). Family relationships do not themselves add points. | Spouse and minor children may obtain F-3 (Dependent) visas to accompany or join the primary holder. |
| Path to PR | Yes — 3 years | Yes — 5 years |
| Path to Citizenship | Yes — 5 years | Yes — 5 years |
| Physical Presence | No single continuous-stay threshold is mandated to hold F-2-7 status, but extended absences from Korea can jeopardize both the more-than-3-year bridge to F-5 permanent residency and the 5-year continuous domestic residence generally required for naturalization. | 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 | An individual becomes a Korean tax resident after 183 days of physical presence in a tax year (or upon establishing a domicile), triggering worldwide income taxation at progressive rates up to 45%. Korea's extensive double-taxation treaty network offers relief for many nationalities, but F-2-7 holders working locally are subject to standard Korean payroll withholding. | 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 | $100 | $60 |
About South Korea F-2-7 Point-Based Resident Visa
South Korea's F-2-7 is the point-system route to Resident (F-2) status for foreign talent. It covers five categories: employees of KOSPI- or KOSDAQ-listed corporations; workers in promising industries (IT, tech management, nanotechnology, digital electronics, biotechnology, transportation/machinery, new materials, environment and energy) whose previous-year income was more than 1.5 times GNI; professionals who have stayed more than 3 consecutive years in News Coverage (D-5) to International Trade (D-9) or Professor (E-1) to Professional (E-7-1) status (excluding E-6-2; time on D-2 or D-10 status does not count, and the requirement is waived for those with annual income of KRW 40 million or more or those recommended for a science-and-engineering talent project); international student talent (a bachelor's degree from a Korean-war participant country plus a master's or higher obtained in Korea); and promising talent (an obtained or expected master's or doctoral degree in science and engineering). Applicants in these categories must obtain the score stipulated in the immigration guidelines and meet the requirements on good conduct, employment activities and public health. KIIP points are differentiated according to the completion level, and additional points are given to those who have completed level 5 or higher (Social Integration Program). After more than three years as a point-based F-2 (F-2-7) resident, holders can apply to upgrade to F-5 permanent residency.
Full South Korea F-2-7 Point-Based Resident Visa 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 F-2-7 Point-Based Resident Visa
- ⚠Applicants must obtain the score stipulated in the guidelines — check the current guidelines with an immigration office before applying
- ⚠Korean naturalization generally requires renouncing your existing citizenship; Korea's dual-citizenship exceptions are narrow and mostly apply to overseas ethnic Koreans and certain elderly or highly skilled cases granted by special permission
- ⚠F-2-7 removes employer sponsorship but does not itself guarantee work authorization in every sector — some regulated professions still require separate licensing
- ⚠Volunteer and community-activity points require documentary evidence (certificates from registered organizations); informal participation is unlikely to count
- ⚠Time spent on short-term or unauthorized stays does not count toward the residence clock for F-5 or naturalization eligibility
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.