In principle, a foreigner shall obtain a visa at a diplomatic mission abroad in advance in order to enter Korea. A visa is a certificate of permission for entry into the country. Usually, a visa is issued in the form of a sticker or a rubber stamp on the passport, along with a statement of the purpose (status of sojourn) and the period of sojourn.

1. How to Enter Korea

 A foreigner can enter Korea via one of the following three procedures.

A foreigner may enter Korea without a visa, and undergo an entry inspection at the port of entry to obtain the status of sojourn and the maximum period of sojourn.

A foreigner may enter Korea, holding a visa issued at a diplomatic mission abroad.

In the event that the authority to issue visas is not delegated to the head of the diplomatic mission abroad, a foreigner may enter Korea after he/she obtains a visa issuance certificate (or a visa issuance certificate number) issued by the immigration control office having jurisdiction over the inviter's sojourn place, presents said certificate to the diplomatic mission abroad, and obtains a visa.

All foreigners entering Korea shall obtain the status of sojourn under Presidential Decree (the Immigration Control Act, Article 10). Status of sojourn is classified into 36 items, depending on activity scope. Essential professionals and foreign investors fall into the category of business investment (D-8) status of sojourn.

Foreigners' sojourns in Korea are divided into long-term stays and short-term stays based on a ninety-day criterion. Changes to the status of sojourn may be permitted or restricted depending on his/her status of sojourn. Most short-term visas are issued immediately by a diplomatic mission abroad, since the authority to issue short-term visas is delegated to a consul. However, the issuance of a long-term visa may take longer, as it is issued at a diplomatic mission abroad after the approval of the Minister of Justice is obtained.

Procedure for issuance of business investment (D-8) visa 

2. Business Investment (D-8) Visa

 Persons eligible for D-8 visa

A business investment (D-8) visa is issued to essential professionals engaged in management, business administration, production, or technology of a foreign-invested company, as prescribed by the Foreign Investment Promotion Act. Employees hired in Korea, general administrators, or engineers and service providers that can be replaced by domestic human resources are not considered essential professionals.

* Essential professionals 

 Application and procedures for visa issuance

A business investment (D-8) visa can be obtained as follows:

A foreigner shall submit the required documents to a diplomatic mission abroad to apply for visa issuance. The head of a diplomatic mission abroad has the authority to issue business investment (D-8) visas for a period of sojourn of up to one year.

In the event that the authority to issue visas is not delegated to the head of an overseas diplomatic mission, a foreigner may apply for visa issuance after he/she receives a visa issuance certificate or a certificate number, which an inviting party has obtained from the immigration control office which having jurisdiction over the inviter's sojourn place.

In the event that a foreigner has entered Korea without a visa or with a short-term visa for unavoidable reasons, he/she may apply for permission to change the status of sojourn at the immigration control office which having jurisdiction over his/her sojourn place or Invest KOREA.

Documents required for a business investment (D-8) visa

3. F-3 Visa for Accompanying Persons

Those eligible for an F-3 visa are the spouse and unmarried underage children accompanying a person eligible for a business investment (D-8) visa. The dependent family visa (F-3) is issued as follows:

 A foreigner should submit an application to a Korean diplomatic mission in his/her country after preparing the necessary documents. The head of a Korean diplomatic mission abroad has the right to issue F-3 visas for a sojourn period of up to one year

 In the event that the authority to issue visas is not delegated to the head of the diplomatic mission abroad, the certificate of visa issuance confirmation or the relevant number issued by the immigration control office having jurisdiction over the inviter's sojourn place should be presented to a Korean overseas diplomatic mission for visa issuance.

 In the event that a foreigner has entered Korea without a visa or with a short-term visa due to an unavoidable reason, he/she may apply for change of status at Invest KOREA or the immigration control office having jurisdiction over the sojourn place.

 Required documents 

* The required documents may be adjusted in the process of an immigration inspection.

 Passport (or a passport copy in the event of applying for the certificate of visa issuance confirmation)

 An application form for visa issuance or the certificate of visa issuance confirmation

 A family relation certificate (i.e. marriage certificate, a copy of the family register or birth certificate)

 An employment certificate and tax certificate of the inviter

 A color photo sized 3.5X4.5cm

Handling charge (revenue stamp): Please contact diplomatic offices since the charges can be different by country.

*No handling charge is collected for an application for the certificate of visa issuance confirmation.