South Korea entrepreneur and start-up visa
1 current source-backed entrepreneur and start-up pathway. Verify the responsible authority before applying.
This page contains 1 current route for this destination, with the available eligibility, requirements and duration details.
Source-backed legal route · Checked 2026-08-28
Current route records
| Route | Conditions | Effective or checked | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entrepreneur and start-up route | South Korea's D-8-4 technology-startup route is for a founder of a Korean corporation with intellectual property or equivalent technical skills. The founder must hold a Korean associate degree or higher, a foreign bachelor's degree, or a central-government recommendation, score at least 60/300, and complete the corporation's registration. | 2026-07-13 | Official source |
Fees, processing times and requirements
Each value as the authority publishes it, in the currency it charges.
| Route | Fact | Value | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entrepreneur and start-up route | Application fee (residence card, startup) | 35,000 KRW | Official source |
| Entrepreneur and start-up route | First permit valid for | 24 months | Official source |
| Entrepreneur and start-up route | Family can come along | yes | Official source |
| Entrepreneur and start-up route | Permanent residence after | 3 years | Official source |
Can you work on this route?
Route-specific work rights and conditions stay separate from shortage-list status and individual eligibility.
| Route | Published work answer | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Entrepreneur and start-up route | The Korea Immigration Service OASIS source states that the Technology Startup (D-8-4) route requires the stated Korean or foreign degree or central-government recommendation, possession of intellectual property or equivalent technical skills, at least 60 of 300 points, and direct establishment and registration of a Korean corporation. | Official source |
| Entrepreneur and start-up route | The Korea Immigration Service Visa Navigator identifies D-8 (Foreign Investor) as covering a person who has established or prepares a venture business and a technology entrepreneur with the stated degree; this is the exact route's business-activity scope, not a general employee work permit. | Official source |