South Korea self-employment visa
1 current source-backed self-employment 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 2026-07-22
Current route records
| Route | Conditions | Effective or checked | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-employment route | South Korea's D-9-4 route is for a foreign individual who establishes or runs a company or other profit-making business in Korea; the applicant must register the business and either introduce at least KRW 300 million in foreign capital under foreign-exchange rules or register as a sole proprietor after foreign-investment reporting with at least KRW 300 million capital. | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-employment route | Application fee (residence card, employed) | 35,000 KRW | Official source |
| Self-employment route | Processing time (standard, authority estimate) | 10 days | Official source |
| Self-employment route | Family can come along | yes | Official source |
| Self-employment route | Permanent residence after | 5 years | Official source |
| Self-employment route | Where to apply | at a consulate abroad | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Self-employment route | The exact D-9-4 section requires either at least KRW 300 million in introduced foreign capital with business registration or foreign-investment reporting followed by sole-proprietor business registration with at least KRW 300 million capital. | Official source |
| Self-employment route | The official Korean Easy Law page identifies D-9-4 (International Trade) as covering individuals who establish a company and engage in business or profit-generating activities in Korea. | Official source |