First, many people often confuse the differences between the D7 visa and D8 visa, as well as the eligibility criteria for the D7 visa. Please check the link below for more information on the eligibility criteria for the D7 visa
When examining the eligibility for a D7 visa, it is specified that cases involving corporate investment that qualify for a D8 visa are excluded from D7 visa issuance.
If a foreign company registers the establishment of a branch office in Korea (including registering the place of business), and holds a branch office establishment permit, it qualifies for a D7 visa. However, if the company has filed a foreign investment report, transferred investment funds, completed corporate registration procedures, and obtained a Foreign-Invested Enterprise Registration Certificate, it qualifies for a D8 visa.
The most significant difference between the D8 and D7 visas is that the D8 visa requires at least KRW 100 million in foreign investment to be brought into Korea, "while the D7 visa does not have a set investment capital requirement".
For the D7 visa, when a branch office is first established in Korea and personnel (specialized workers) are dispatched to the branch office, a business plan must be submitted, and the necessary operating funds must be introduced.
※ A business plan is also required for newly established corporations under the D8 visa.
Subsequently, if additional specialized personnel are invited through a D7 visa (visa issuance approval) or if the existing specialized personnel renew their D7 visas, the requirement to prove the introduction of operating funds may be waived if the branch office demonstrates sufficient revenue and tax payment records.
For the D8 visa, if a foreign company establishes a branch (foreign-invested corporation) in Korea, the established foreign-invested corporation can invite employees from the headquarters or affiliated companies through the D8 visa.
In this case, the following conditions apply: one employee per KRW 100 million in investment, one employee per KRW 1 billion in annual sales, one employee per KRW 100 million in annual tax contributions, one employee per three Korean nationals employed for more than six months, and one employee per KRW 1 billion in domestic facility investment. Additionally, an official dispatch order from the headquarters is required.
However, unlike the D7 visa, the D8 visa does not necessarily require a minimum of one year of work experience.
※ The above conditions for applying for a D8 visa (dispatch) only apply when a corporation establishes another corporation in Korea.
These conditions do not apply when an individual establishes a corporation in Korea.
Next, let us review the basic documents required for extending a D7 visa.
D7 Visa Extension Required Documents
① Passport, Alien Registration Card, and Integrated Application Form
② proof of residence
- Lease agreement, real estate registration certificate, etc
- If accommodation is provided: Confirmation of residential accommodation provided and a copy of the provider's identification front and back (if the provider's address differs from the actual place of residence, additional documents be required, such as a lease agreement or real estate registration certificate)
③ Foreigner's Occupational Report
④ Dispatch Order (Issued by the Foreign Headquarters) or Certificate of Employment (From the Foreign Headquarters)
⑤ Copy of Domestic Branch Installation Permit or Contact Office Installation Permit (Issued by a foreign exchange bank)
⑥ Proof of Operating Fund Inflow: Foreign exchange purchase certificate, lease agreement, etc
⑦ Personal Tax Payment Verification Documents (Original personal tax payment verification or last year's income withholding tax receipt or income amount certificate)
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