What documents does a foreigner need to register a business?

Foreigners can also register a business, but whether you can run a business depends on your status of stay. You apply at the tax office (세무서) that covers your business location, or on Hometax (홈택스, hometax.go.kr). The documents below are the ones usually used in practice. They may differ a little by tax office.

Check this first

You must have a status of stay that allows business activity. For example, Permanent Resident (F-5), Marriage Migrant (F-6), Resident (F-2), and Overseas Korean (F-4) usually allow business. Corporate Investment (D-8) is a status for running the business you invested in. For statuses such as Student (D-2), you may need activity permission from the immigration office before registering a business.

Documents usually needed

• Business registration application form: available at the tax office or on Hometax
• Passport and Alien Registration Card (or Domestic Residence Report Card): to confirm your identity
• Copy of the business premises lease contract: submit it if you rent the premises
• Documents confirming your status of stay: needed to check whether you can run a business
• For businesses that need a permit, registration, or report, the certificate for it: for example, a business report certificate for a restaurant
• For a corporation, the full certified corporate registry and the shareholder list: submit them after the corporation is set up

Steps

1. Check whether your status of stay allows business (immigration office or 1345).
2. Depending on the business type, get the business permit or make the report first.
3. After signing the lease, apply at the tax office or on Hometax.
4. The business registration certificate usually comes out within a few days.

⚠️ Points to note

• For Corporate Investment (D-8), you submit a copy of the business registration certificate and the full certified corporate registry when you change your status of stay. Also, granting D-8 is restricted for speculative businesses and for entertainment bars and karaoke-style bars (유흥주점·단란주점).
• If you run a business that your status of stay does not allow, it may hurt your stay in Korea.

If D-8 investment or a change of status of stay is involved, get a consultation from the Kevi administrative agent (행정사) (Visa Service in the app). Check detailed documents with your local tax office or the National Tax Service (국세청) at 126. Check your status of stay at HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or 1345. Tell me which status of stay you have, and I will explain in more detail.