What can and can't you do on a D-8 corporate investment visa?

D-8 is a visa that lets you do only management, administration, production, and technical work at a foreign-invested company or a venture/technology startup corporation. Work outside this scope, or work at another place, needs separate permission.

What you can do

The scope of activity differs by sub-type.

• D-8-1 (investment in a corporation): You work in management, administration, production, or technical fields at a Korean corporation that is a foreign-invested company. This applies only to corporations that have finished being established.
• D-8-2 (venture investment): You are the representative of a company that has been confirmed as a venture business or evaluated as having excellent technology.
• D-8-3 (investment in a sole proprietorship): You work in management, administration, production, or technical fields at a Korean individually run business that is a foreign-invested company.
• D-8-4 (technology startup): You are the founder of a corporation with technical strength, such as intellectual property rights.
• Within your permitted period of stay, you do not need separate permission to receive elementary, middle, high school, or university education.

⚠️ What you can't do, and what needs permission first

• Work that is not essential professional staff work: Work that is not done as an executive, senior manager, or specialist is not eligible for permission. People hired in Korea are also excluded from D-8-1 and D-8-3.
• Working at another company: As a rule, permission for activities outside your status of stay is given only to D-8-1 and D-8-3 holders. It does not apply to D-8-2 and D-8-4.
• University lectures: Lectures of 90 days or less are subject to permission for activities outside your status of stay, under the short-term employment (C-4-5) status. Investors who work as a full-time director or higher can apply. A recommendation letter from the president or dean, among other documents, is required. To lecture regularly for more than 90 days, you need approval from the Ministry of Justice headquarters.
• If your company closes: If your company closes or its registration is cancelled while you are staying in Korea, you get a chance to explain. If the problem is still not resolved, your permission to stay may be cancelled.

💡 Good to know

• D-8 is not subject to permission for changing or adding a workplace. If your organization changes or you move to an affiliated company in the same group, report the change to your alien registration details within 15 days. There is a fine for not reporting.
• Apply for an extension of stay from 4 months before your expiry date up to the expiry date. D-8 is excluded from the HiKorea online extension, so you apply by visiting the immigration office.

If you are not sure whether your activity falls within the permitted scope, check first with your local immigration office or 1345 before you start the work.