If you are a Nigerian founder planning to start a company in Korea, this page lists the official contacts in Nigeria and the trade and tax framework between the two countries. A Korea–Nigeria double tax treaty was signed in 2006 but is not in effect. The last section explains the practical path to a startup visa and support programs in Korea.
Key contacts
| Contact | Official website |
|---|---|
| Korean mission: Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nigeria (Abuja) | https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/ng-en/index.do (English version); Korean version: https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/ng-ko/index.do |
| KOTRA Korea Business Center in Nigeria | Lagos: https://www.kotra.or.kr/lagos (pages in Korean) |
The Korean embassy listed above handles visa applications and consular questions for people in Nigeria. KOTRA’s Korea Business Center mainly supports trade and investment between Korea and Nigeria, so it is a useful contact if your business plan involves importing, exporting or investment.
Trade and tax
Trade agreements
Korea’s official FTA portal does not list a trade agreement between Korea and Nigeria, either in force or under negotiation. Source: Korea FTA portal – status of Korea’s FTAs.
Double tax treaty
A Korea–Nigeria double tax treaty was signed on 6 November 2006, but the Korean government list marks it as suspended (효력정지), with no entry-into-force date. Do not rely on it for tax planning; ask a tax adviser in both countries. 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 Nigeria 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. Africa has become one of its largest applicant regions. 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 embassy in Abuja listed above, as requirements can change.
Sources
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nigeria (Abuja) – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nigeria (Abuja) (Korean version)
- KOTRA Lagos 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 Nigeria
No country-specific updates yet. New programs for founders from Nigeria will appear here automatically. Meanwhile, start with our visa guides and government programs.