Short answer: A foreign founder who meets the relevant requirements can apply for a Korean startup visa. D-10-2 covers preparation for a technology-based startup; D-8-4 covers a technology and business startup founded as a corporation. As of October 28, 2026, the published Startup Korea Special Visa recommendation round and K-Startup Grand Challenge 2026 application round are closed. The OASIS process page gives no dated application deadline for its D-10-2 or D-8-4 routes.
Key facts
| Visa type | D-10-2 Startup Preparation Visa; D-8-4 Technology and Business Startup Visa |
|---|---|
| OASIS route | The OASIS page says applicants for either visa through its route must be OASIS participants. D-8-4 is for founders of a technology startup corporation. |
| Main documents and threshold | D-10-2 lists an OASIS certificate and business plan. D-8-4 lists OASIS certificates showing 60+ points, corporation and business registration documents, and a patent, utility or design application. |
| Published application deadlines | The Startup Korea Special Visa recommendation round closed November 20, 2024. K-Startup Grand Challenge 2026 applications closed June 17, 2026 at 15:00 KST. |
| Official guidance | OASIS visa process |
Who can apply
D-10-2 is for preparing a technology-based startup in Korea. The OASIS page limits its D-10-2 route to OASIS participants and says this visa does not permit profit-generating business activities.
D-8-4 is for a founder of a corporation involved in a technology and business startup. The OASIS description specifies a bachelor’s degree and intellectual property rights or equivalent skills. Its D-8-4 application route is also limited to OASIS participants.
The separate 2024 Startup Korea Special Visa recommendation round evaluated overseas startups for business feasibility, innovation, potential to enter the Korean market, and potential contribution to Korea’s economy. Applications ran from November 7 to November 20, 2024. K-Startup Grand Challenge 2026 was a startup support program, not a visa. Its CEO or representative founder had to hold non-Korean citizenship, and all CEOs had to be foreign nationals. Pre-startup teams could apply without a Korean legal entity. Its application period ran from May 6 to June 17, 2026 at 15:00 KST.
What you get
OASIS says D-10-2 can initially be issued for six months and extended up to five times, for a period of up to two years. It says D-8-4 can be issued for 12 months and extended while the founder is doing business.
For K-Startup Grand Challenge 2026, Phase 2 offered D-10-2 startup preparation visa support to 40 selected teams. Phase 3 offered D-8-4 startup visa support to 20 top teams; incorporation of a Korean legal entity and local hiring were required in that phase. Under the separate Startup Korea Special Visa process, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups recommended applicants after evaluation, and the Ministry of Justice examined visa applications under immigration law.
How to apply (step by step)
- For the OASIS D-10-2 route, take OASIS classes and obtain an OASIS certificate. The application document list includes an application, passport, photo copy, degree certificate with apostille or recommendation letter, residence agreement, business plan, and Korean personal bank statement.
- For the OASIS D-8-4 route, the listed threshold is 60+ OASIS points. The OASIS process shows corporation establishment and an intellectual property application before the change to D-8-4. Its document list also includes an application, passport, photo copy, alien card, degree certificate with apostille or recommendation letter, corporation registration certificate, business certificate, residence agreement, office rent agreement, patent, utility or design application, and Korean personal bank statement. See the official OASIS document lists for both routes.
For the closed 2024 special visa recommendation round, applications were accepted through the K-Startup Portal and the Global Startup Center website. The ministry announcement describes that round; it does not provide a later application deadline.
FAQ
Could a K-Startup Grand Challenge team include Korean co-founders?
Yes. Korean co-founders or team members could join, but all CEOs had to be foreign nationals.
Was travel support available to Phase 2 teams?
Phase 2 teams could receive up to KRW 8 million per team, limited to up to KRW 4 million per visit for two visits, for participation in designated KSGC activities in Korea. The program said it would give selected teams detailed guidelines.
Did K-Startup Grand Challenge participants have to relocate?
No. The program was hybrid, although some key activities required in-person participation.
How many founders could receive D-8-4 recommendation letters through K-Startup Grand Challenge?
For a startup establishing a Korean entity, recommendation letters could be issued for up to three founders or co-founders of that entity, subject to applicable requirements.
Where could a recommended special visa applicant submit the letter?
A recommended founder could submit it when applying at a local immigration office in Korea or at a Korean embassy or consulate in their country of residence. The published 2024 recommendation round is closed.
Start here: our core guides
- Korea Startup Visa (D-8-4) and the OASIS Program: Step-by-Step Guide for Foreign Founders
- K-Startup Grand Challenge: What It Offers and How to Apply
- Free or Low-Cost Office Space for Foreign Founders in Korea
- Korean Government Support Programs Open to Foreign Founders
- Starting a Business in Korea as an International Student: From D-2 Visa to Your Own Company