The D-8-4 Technology Startup visa lets a foreign founder run their own technology company in Korea. Most people get it by earning points in the government’s OASIS training programs, usually after first holding the D-10-2 Startup Preparation visa. This guide covers who can apply, how the points work, which documents you need, how long it takes, and where to go.
Key facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Visa | D-8-4 Technology Startup visa (corporate investment, technology startup) |
| Preparation visa | D-10-2 Startup Preparation visa: 6 months at first, can be extended up to 2 years in total |
| Degree | Bachelor’s degree or higher (an associate degree is accepted only if it is from a Korean school), or a recommendation letter from the Global Start-up Immigration Center |
| Points | At least 60 points on the OASIS points table (maximum 300), including at least one “prerequisite” item |
| Company | You must set up a corporation in Korea |
| First stay period | Up to 12 months, which you can extend while the business keeps running |
| Main contact | Global Start-up Immigration Center, 3F, 122 Mapo-daero, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Email oasis@kpc.or.kr. You must book visits in advance. |
| Alternative route | Startup Korea Special Visa (D-8-4S). It needs a recommendation from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and you do not need OASIS points or a degree. |
What is the D-8-4 visa?
The D-8-4 is a startup visa for foreigners who want to start a business in Korea based on technology or intellectual property. The Global Start-up Immigration Center says OASIS (Overall Assistance for Start-up Immigration System) was created to “issue startup visas to non-Koreans who want to start a business in Korea based on their advanced technologies” (OASIS – Global Start-up Immigration Center). The center runs under the Ministry of Justice and KPC (Korea Productivity Center).
The D-8-4 is different from the regular D-8 investor visas. Its main test is a points system that rewards your intellectual property, training, education and Korean language level, rather than a large cash investment.
Who is eligible?
According to the OASIS Startup Visa page, you need three things:
- Education: a bachelor’s degree, or an associate degree from a Korean institution, or a recommendation letter from the Global Start-up Immigration Center.
- Points: at least 60 points on the OASIS points table.
- A Korean corporation: you must establish a company in Korea.
The Korea Times reported in October 2026 that applicants must score at least 60 out of 300 points under the Ministry of Justice system and also meet the technology/IP prerequisites (The Korea Times – Seoul looks to foreign entrepreneurs). Some older guides online still say 80 points. Always check the current number with the Global Start-up Immigration Center before you plan your courses.
How the OASIS points system works
The points table has two parts. You must have at least one prerequisite item. Elective items then add to your total. The numbers below come from the OASIS Startup Visa page.
Prerequisite items (up to 180 points; at least one required)
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Holder of a patent | 60 |
| Holder of a utility model or design right | 30 |
| Co-inventor of a patent / of a utility model or design | 60 / 30 |
| Applicant for an intellectual property right (filed, not yet registered) | up to 10 |
| Selected for a government startup support program, or completed OASIS-6 or OASIS-9 | 30 |
| 3+ years as a professor (E-1) or researcher (E-3) | 30 |
| Investment of KRW 100 million or more | 60 |
Elective items (up to 120 points)
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| OASIS-1, OASIS-2, OASIS-4 (each) | 10 |
| OASIS-5, OASIS-7, OASIS-8 (each) | 15 |
| Korean language: TOPIK or KIIP level 5 or higher | 20 |
| Korean language: TOPIK or KIIP level 3 or higher | 10 |
| Master’s degree or higher | 10 |
Example: how a founder could reach 60 points
Imagine a software founder from Vietnam with a bachelor’s degree. She files a Korean design application (up to 10 points, which counts as a prerequisite). She completes OASIS-4 basic startup class (10), OASIS-5 mentoring (15), OASIS-7 incubation (15) and OASIS-8 corporation support (15). That is 65 points. This is only an example. The center decides which items you actually qualify for.
The OASIS programs
OASIS courses are run by several approved centers. Each course gives a certificate that counts as points. Examples from official pages:
- OASIS-4 Basic Startup Class (10 points): a three-day class (Thursday to Saturday), held offline. See the OASIS schedule page.
- OASIS-5 Coaching and Mentoring (15 points): apply on request through a form. It runs in three sessions.
- OASIS-7 Incubation (15 points): office space and mentoring. The Global Start-up Immigration Center’s schedule says you must stay at least 6 months.
- OASIS-8 Corporation Establishment (15 points): help with setting up your company. You must hold the D-10-2 visa.
The Global Startup Center in Gangnam (run under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups) also offers OASIS-4 and OASIS-5. It is open to non-Koreans “legally residing in Korea” who want to start technology-based ventures. Its 2026 application window was April 14 to May 18, 2026, with three rounds of each course (Global Startup Center – 2026 OASIS Programs).
Seoul Global Center in Jongno also runs OASIS courses. In 2026 Seoul added OASIS-4 (business operations, tax, real estate practice, marketing and startup policy) and OASIS-6 (invention and startup exhibition). The center says it has trained 529 people since July 2023 and helped set up 21 corporations (Seoul Metropolitan Government – OASIS 2.0). Outside Seoul, Busan announced a Global Startup Immigration Center at the Busan Eurasia Platform, run by the Busan Startup Investment Agency and approved by the Ministry of Justice (Busan Metropolitan City – Global Startup Immigration Center).
Step-by-step process
The Global Start-up Immigration Center describes this path (OASIS – Process and Documents):
- Join OASIS courses and start collecting points. Book early, because classes have fixed dates and limited seats.
- Get the D-10-2 Startup Preparation visa. This visa is for preparing your business only. You may not run commercial operations on it (OASIS – Korean process page).
- Establish your corporation in Korea, sign an office lease, and register the business.
- File your intellectual property application (patent, utility model or design) if you have not yet done so.
- Change to D-8-4 at the immigration office once you reach the required points and have your company documents.
- Extend each year. The D-8-4 is issued for up to 12 months and can be extended while you keep doing business.
D-10-2 eligibility
An immigration notice on changing to D-10 status, published by Sangmyung University, says D-10-2 applicants need a Korean associate degree or a foreign bachelor’s degree and one of the following (Sangmyung University – D-10 change of status notice (PDF)):
- holding or having applied for a Korean patent, utility model or design right;
- having completed, or currently taking, at least one OASIS course (it must be less than 3 years since you completed it);
- being a K-Startup Grand Challenge participant with a recommendation for a status change;
- holding intellectual property in an OECD country.
The same notice says holders of E-9, E-10 and G-1 status cannot change to D-10-2.
Documents you need for D-8-4
The OASIS document list includes:
- Application form, passport, photo, and alien registration card (if you have one)
- Degree certificate with apostille, or a recommendation letter
- OASIS certificates showing 60 or more points
- Corporate registration certificate and business registration certificate
- Residence agreement (proof of where you live) and office lease agreement
- Patent, utility model or design application documents
- Personal bank statement from a Korean bank
For extensions, the Korean-language page also lists items such as corporate bank statements, tax payment certificates and sales or purchase contracts to show the business is really operating (OASIS – Korean process page).
Timeline and costs
There is no single official processing time. Your timeline depends mostly on course dates. In practice, plan for these stages:
- OASIS course applications usually open weeks before each class (for example, the Global Startup Center’s 2026 window ran from April 14 to May 18).
- OASIS-7 incubation requires at least 6 months of stay.
- The D-10-2 visa gives you 6 months at first, and up to 2 years in total, to finish everything.
Government fees: the Sangmyung University immigration notice (2022) listed KRW 100,000 for a change of status plus KRW 30,000 for the residence card (Sangmyung University – D-10 notice (PDF)). Fees can change, so check the current amount on HiKorea before your appointment. Other costs include company registration, office rent, IP filing fees and apostille fees in your home country. OASIS-7 incubation at Seoul Global Center has been offered free of charge, and the Global Startup Office in Gangnam charges KRW 30,000 per seat per month (see our office space guide).
Where to apply
- OASIS courses and D-8-4 consulting: Global Start-up Immigration Center, 3F, 122 Mapo-daero, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Email oasis@kpc.or.kr, phone 070-7726-1352. Book your visit by email first (OASIS – Contact).
- OASIS-4 and OASIS-5 in Gangnam: Global Startup Center, 165 Yeoksam-ro, Gangnam-gu. Email oasis@startup-korea.com.
- Visa change or extension: your local immigration office. Make an appointment on HiKorea. For questions, call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345.
The fast-track option: Startup Korea Special Visa (D-8-4S)
Since November 2024, there has been a second route. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups says this visa “minimizes quantitative requirements”. A private evaluation committee judges your business feasibility, innovation, potential to enter the Korean market and contribution to the economy. The Ministry of Justice then issues the visa (Ministry of SMEs and Startups – Startup Korea Special Visa). If you are in Korea, you take the recommendation letter to an immigration office. If you are abroad, you go to a Korean embassy or consulate (Korea.net – New visa to ease startup launches).
The Global Startup Center accepts applications for the recommendation letter on a rolling basis. Applicants must be the non-Korean representative of a startup or a planned startup. The documents include a business plan, a passport or alien registration copy, and corporate registration if you have it. Contact: startup.korea.visa@gmail.com (Global Startup Center – Korea Special Startup Visa).
Tips for founders from Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Central Asia
- Get your degree apostilled early. Apostille procedures in your home country can take weeks.
- File your IP in Korea. A Korean design or utility model application counts as a prerequisite item and also protects your product.
- Learn some Korean. TOPIK level 3 gives 10 points, and level 5 gives 20.
- Keep records. Save every certificate, lease and bank statement. You need them again for each extension.
FAQ
Do I need a lot of capital for the D-8-4?
The official requirements focus on your degree, points and a Korean corporation, not on a minimum investment. However, attracting KRW 100 million or more in investment gives you 60 prerequisite points (OASIS Startup Visa page).
Can I apply from outside Korea?
The OASIS route usually requires you to be in Korea for courses and incubation. The D-8-4S special visa lets you apply at a Korean embassy or consulate with a recommendation letter.
How long can I stay on D-10-2?
At first 6 months. You can extend it up to a maximum of 2 years in total (OASIS – Korean process page).
Is the minimum 60 or 80 points?
The Global Start-up Immigration Center’s website shows 60 points, and the Korea Times reported 60 out of 300 in October 2026. Some older guides say 80. Confirm with the center before you start.
Can I do business while on D-10-2?
No. D-10-2 is only for preparing a startup. Commercial operations are not allowed until you change to D-8-4.
Sources
- Global Start-up Immigration Center – OASIS home
- Global Start-up Immigration Center – Startup VISA (D-8-4) points
- Global Start-up Immigration Center – Process and documents
- Global Start-up Immigration Center – D-10-2 / D-8-4 process (Korean)
- Global Start-up Immigration Center – OASIS schedule
- Global Start-up Immigration Center – Contact
- Global Startup Center – 2026 OASIS Programs
- Global Startup Center – Korea Special Startup Visa
- Ministry of SMEs and Startups – Startup Korea Special Visa launch
- Korea.net – New visa to ease startup launches by int’l entrepreneurs
- Sangmyung University – D-10 change of status notice (PDF)
- Seoul Metropolitan Government – OASIS 2.0
- Busan Metropolitan City – Global Startup Immigration Center in Busan
- The Korea Times – Seoul looks to foreign entrepreneurs (Oct 2026)
- Ministry of Justice – HiKorea