If you are a Lao founder planning to start a company in Korea, this page brings together the official contacts, the trade and tax basics, and the main steps to a startup visa. Laos is covered by the Korea–ASEAN FTA, and a double tax treaty between Korea and Laos is in force.
Key contacts
| Contact | Official website |
|---|---|
| Korean mission: Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Laos (Vientiane) | https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/la-en/index.do (English version); Korean version: https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/la-ko/index.do |
| KOTRA Korea Business Center in Laos | Vientiane: https://www.kotra.or.kr/vientiane (pages in Korean) |
The Korean embassy listed above handles visa applications and consular questions for people in Laos. KOTRA’s Korea Business Center mainly supports trade and investment between Korea and Laos, so it is a useful contact if your business plan involves importing, exporting or investment.
Trade and tax
Trade agreements
Laos is a party to the Korea–ASEAN FTA, which is listed as in force on Korea’s official FTA portal. Source: Korea FTA portal – status of Korea’s FTAs.
Double tax treaty
A Korea–Laos double tax treaty is in force: it was signed on 29 November 2004 and entered into force on 9 February 2006. The treaty helps prevent the same income, such as salaries, dividends or royalties, from being taxed twice. Source: Korean government list of tax treaties (조세조약 체결 현황), Public Data Portal, as of 20 July 2026.
Your path to starting a business in Korea
- Startup visa (D-8-4) and OASIS: the usual route for founders from Laos is the startup visa (D-8-4). It requires a company set up in Korea and a minimum score in the OASIS points system (Overall Assistance for Startup Immigration System), which you build through OASIS courses, IP applications or startup competition awards. See our D-8-4 startup visa and OASIS guide.
- K-Startup Grand Challenge: this government accelerator program is open to founders from any country and offers funding, office space and visa support to selected teams. Read the K-Startup Grand Challenge guide.
- Office space and global startup centers: several public centers in Seoul and other cities offer free or low-cost desks to foreign founders, and some of these spaces can also serve as your business address. See free office space for foreign founders in Korea.
- Government support programs: an overview of the main programs open to foreigners, from mentoring to grants, is in our guide to Korean government startup programs for foreign founders.
- Studying in Korea first: if you are, or plan to be, an international student, you can move from a D-2 student visa to the D-8-4 startup visa. See the international student startup guide (D-2 to D-8-4).
- Check visa details with official offices: before you apply, confirm the current document list with the Korean mission in Laos listed above, as requirements can change.
Sources
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Laos (Vientiane) – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Laos (Vientiane) (Korean version)
- KOTRA Vientiane Korea Business Center
- Korea FTA portal – status of Korea’s FTAs (발효/서명/협상 현황)
- Korean government list of tax treaties (재정경제부 조세조약 체결 현황), Public Data Portal, as of 20 July 2026
Latest updates for founders from Laos
No country-specific updates yet. New programs for founders from Laos will appear here automatically. Meanwhile, start with our visa guides and government programs.