The client was a company I managed visas for foreign employees (most of the employees had a D8 visa). They requested the invitation of a domestic helper for one of their foreign employees currently working. The company was a foreign-invested corporation established in Korea (a corporation based in Singapore set up a corporation in Korea). The nationality of the inviter, who was inviting the domestic helper, was German, and he held a D8 visa. The nationality of the domestic helper (invitee) was Filipino. While both visa issuance and visa issuance approval applications are possible for the F1 domestic helper visa, the visa issuance process (where the invitee applies at the local consulate) generally requires more effort, energy, and cost than inviting from Korea (via (Application for confirmation of visa issuance). ※ Especially in Southeast Asia, it's often difficult to even book an appointment at the Korean consulate, and the process of preparing documents is more cumbersome, as they often have to be sent via DHL from Korea. If there's an issue, it's hard to address promptly.
Let's take a look at the requirements and documents needed for the domestic helper visa (F-1) of a foreign investor.
F-1 Visa for Domestic Helper of a Foreign Investor
◆ If the employment period of the domestic helper is less than a year.
※ When applying for Application for confirmation of visa issuance, the employment period of the domestic helper must be less than a year.
◆ Domestic helpers employed overseas for at least a year at the time of application are eligible to apply at the overseas consulate.
※ If employed overseas for more than a year, you must apply for a visa issuance locally.
Requirements for the Inviter (Foreign Investor in Korea)
❍ As a foreign investor, one must fall under the categories of corporate investment (D-8), residence (F-2), permanent residency (F-5), or marriage immigrant (F-6)
- Foreign investors (CEO, executives, and senior managers) who have invested more than USD 500,000.
- Investors (CEO, executives, and senior managers) who have invested between USD 100,000 and USD 500,000 in high-tech industries (IT, technical management, nano, digital electronics, bio, transportation and machinery, new materials, environment, and energy).
• The company must employ at least three full-time Korean workers.
- The annual income must be at least three times the Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of the previous year as announced by the Bank of Korea.
• • For high-value investors of over 1 billion won, the annual income requirement is exempted.
Requirements for the Domestic Helper (Invitee)
- As of the application date, they must be between 20 and 58 years old and have at least a high school education or its equivalent.
※ Only one foreign domestic helper can be employed per inviter.
Required Documents
Required Documents
◆ Documents prepared by the Inviter (Foreign Investor)
1. Application for confirmation of visa issuance form (Form No. 21) with a 3.5cm×4.5cm passport photo of the invitee attached.
2. Employment contract for the domestic helper.
3. Identity guarantee letter (specific format).
4. Copy of the foreigner registration card.
5. Certificate of employment (or identity verification).
6. Proof of annual income level: withholding tax receipt, income certificate, pay slip, bank statement, etc.
Foreign investment report (copy of the corporate registration or business registration) or a copy of the foreign investment company registration.
• For venture investment (D-8-2), replace with
- Venture company verification or preliminary venture company verification.
- Proof of ownership of intellectual property rights or similar technology rights.
- Documents proving the investment amount requirement.
• For tech startups (D-8-4), replace with
- For those who have registered intellectual property rights: copies of patents, utility model registrations, design registrations.
- For those who have applied for patents, etc.: proof of application issued by the patent office.
- Documents issued by the "Global Startup Immigration Center" designated by the Minister of Justice, proving completion of the OASIS program, winning a prize, being selected, etc.
- Other documents proving points.
- Documents proving the investment amount.
8. Additional documents for investors investing less than USD 500,000 (must be in advanced IT industries)
- Documents proving the employment of Korean full-time workers (withholding tax receipt, income certificate, pay slip, bank statement, etc.)
◆ Documents prepared by the Invitee (Domestic Helper)
- Passport copy
- Educational proof documents such as a graduation certificate