D-8 Visa Minimum Investment of KRW 100 Million — Remittance Methods and Practical Considerations
The minimum investment amount for a D-8 visa is KRW 100 million, and this amount must be remitted into Korea through the proper legal procedures under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act.
This applies to foreign investors who plan to establish a corporation in Korea or invest in an existing corporation to directly run a business. The remittance must qualify as a recognized "foreign investment," not merely a transfer of funds.
This article covers the actual procedure for remitting KRW 100 million, the differences between remittance methods, and how to explain the source and flow of funds — the area where applicants most often get stuck during review.
Legal Basis for the D-8 Minimum Investment of KRW 100 Million
The investment floor for D-8 status is governed by the standards set out in the Immigration Act and the Foreign Investment Promotion Act.
KRW 100 Million Is a "Per-Person" Standard
The first thing to understand is that the KRW 100 million figure is not the total capital of the corporation but rather the declared foreign investment amount per individual D-8 applicant.
Even if the corporation's capital is KRW 500 million, if the foreign investment registered in the D-8 applicant's own name falls short of KRW 100 million, the D-8 will not be issued.
This is exactly where things often get tangled when there are multiple co-investors.
In particular, when family members split the funds during remittance, it's common in practice for the declared amount per name to fall short of KRW 100 million, resulting in only one person receiving a D-8 while the others end up with a D-10.
Note: The KRW 100 million standard is based on the Foreign Investment Promotion Act and its enforcement decrees. Since policy may change, the standard applicable at the time of application should be confirmed with the competent authority.
The Remittance Must Be "Recognized" as Foreign Investment
Simply sending money does not automatically count as foreign investment.
A foreign investment declaration must first be filed through KOTRA Invest KOREA or a foreign exchange bank, and the remittance must be made based on that declaration in order to be officially recognized as foreign investment.
If this order is reversed, the funds may arrive in the account but still fail to be recognized during D-8 review.
Steps That Must Be Completed Before Remittance
Remittance is not the final step — it's a middle step in the process.
Foreign Investment Declaration First, Then Remittance
The proper sequence is as follows.
- Foreign investment declaration (KOTRA or a foreign exchange bank)
- Issuance of the declaration acceptance certificate
- Remittance from overseas to a domestic account based on the acceptance certificate
- Capital payment → corporate establishment registration
- Foreign-invested company registration
- D-8 visa application
If even one step in this sequence is out of order, the remittance won't be counted as "investment."
In practice, the most common stumbling block is sending the money before filing the declaration.
In that case, the bank treats the funds as "general funds" rather than "investment funds," and it then has to be untangled later during the foreign-invested company registration stage.
Comparison of Remittance Methods
| Remittance Method | Characteristics | Practical Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Personal overseas account → personal domestic account | The cleanest method | Sender and recipient names must match |
| Personal overseas account → corporate virtual account | Directly tied to capital payment | The acceptance number and remittance memo must match |
| Third-party (family) remittance | Heavy burden of explaining source of funds | Additional proof of gift and relationship required |
| Carrying cash into the country | Subject to foreign exchange reporting | Customs declaration required if over USD 10,000 |
Practical Tip: Including the foreign investment declaration acceptance number in the remittance message makes fund tracing much smoother at both the banking and immigration stages.
Source of Funds — Explanation Matters More Than Paperwork
The point at which D-8 reviews most often diverge is not "is the KRW 100 million sitting in the account" but "where did the KRW 100 million come from."
Weak Source Documentation Causes Problems Immediately
Even if the money is in the account, a weak explanation of how it got there will trigger a request for additional documentation.
Commonly overlooked points include:
- The source of a large deposit that suddenly appeared recently
- Proof of gift or loan for funds sent by family or acquaintances
- Sales or dividend records backing funds from overseas businesses
- Outbound remittance approval documents for senders from countries with foreign exchange controls
In real reviews, this is where applicants stand apart.
No matter how thick the document stack is, a single missing line in the flow of funds can cause that single gap to trigger requests for additional documentation and delays.
Country-Specific Considerations
If the remittance originates from a country with strong foreign exchange controls (China, certain Southeast Asian countries, etc.), the outbound remittance approval or filing step in that country tends to take more time.
For remittances from China in particular, individuals are subject to an annual foreign exchange limit, which often makes it difficult to send KRW 100 million in a single transfer.
In such cases, case-by-case planning — such as splitting the remittance or paying capital in installments — becomes necessary, aligning your country's foreign exchange rules with Korea's foreign investment declaration timeline.
Confirm Exact Costs and Procedures Through a Professional Consultation
With D-8 remittance, there are real cases where a single misstep leaves money sitting in the account but no visa issued.
Request a free consultation now → 02-363-2251 / KakaoTalk: alexkorea
Fees vary by case, so we'll give you precise figures during the free consultation.
After Remittance — Capital Payment and Foreign-Invested Company Registration
A completed remittance doesn't immediately mean you can apply for the D-8.
Connecting It Through to the Capital Payment Certificate
The remitted funds must be paid in as capital when the corporation is established, and the following documents must line up consistently.
- Foreign investment declaration acceptance certificate
- Overseas remittance receipt (sender, amount, and declaration number all matching)
- Bank capital payment certificate
- Corporate registration extract
- Foreign-invested company registration certificate
If even one of these has a mismatch in amount, name, or date, you'll receive a request for additional documentation at the foreign-invested company registration stage.
The most common sticking point is when the name on the remittance receipt differs from the name on the declaration.
Foreign-Invested Company Registration Is Essentially a Prerequisite for the D-8
At the HiKorea D-8 Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance application stage, the foreign-invested company registration certificate is a core attached document.
Without this certificate, the D-8 process simply cannot move forward.
The sequence is capital payment → establishment registration → registration filing, and processing times vary by agency, so we design the fastest route for you and move forward with it.
The 5 Most Common Sticking Points in Practice
The explanation of funds is what gets noticed before the volume of documents.
| Sticking Point | Cause | Practical Response |
|---|---|---|
| Mismatched remittance name | Mixing personal and family/corporate names | Unify under the applicant's own name |
| Remittance before declaration | Wrong procedural order | Re-process remittance after acceptance certificate is issued |
| Insufficient source explanation | Sudden large deposit | Reinforce with sales, gift, or loan documentation |
| Exceeding foreign exchange limits | Controls in the sending country | Split remittance or adjust timeline |
| Capital calculation error | Timing of exchange rate application | Clearly state the exchange rate basis at declaration |
These five points keep showing up in recent comparable cases, and the right response differs case by case.
Which of these applies to your situation can only be pinned down by looking at the flow of funds and the sending country together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Does the D-8 minimum investment of KRW 100 million change with exchange rate fluctuations?
The benchmark amount is fixed at KRW 100 million, and foreign currency remittances are converted at the exchange rate at the time of transfer to ensure the total exceeds KRW 100 million.
It's standard practice to send a buffer above the threshold to account for exchange rate movement.
Q2. Is it acceptable to send the KRW 100 million in multiple installments rather than at once?
Split remittance is allowed in principle.
That said, each transfer must be based on the same foreign investment declaration, and the total must be fully paid in within a certain period from the date the declaration was accepted. The installment schedule needs to be designed case by case.
Q3. Can the D-8 still be issued if a family member sends the KRW 100 million on the applicant's behalf?
As a rule, the remitter must be the D-8 applicant themselves.
If you want to use family funds, the safest structure is to clearly document the source — for example, through a gift — and then route the remittance through an account in the applicant's own name.
Q4. If the foreign-invested company registration is delayed after remittance, can I still apply for the D-8?
The foreign-invested company registration certificate is a required attachment when applying for the D-8 Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance, so applying before registration is complete is generally not possible.
Registration processing times vary by agency, so we can design the fastest available route.
Vision Administrative Office — Service Overview
For D-8 visa remittance of KRW 100 million, declaration, remittance, payment, registration, and visa application must all connect in a single line.
Vision Administrative Office handles the entire process — from foreign investment declaration through D-8 Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance — in one place.
- Foreign investment declaration on your behalf (KOTRA / foreign exchange bank)
- Remittance structure design and source-of-funds documentation
- Corporate establishment registration and capital payment certification
- Foreign-invested company registration
- D-8 Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance application
Q5. If I send the KRW 100 million but the business doesn't work out, can I recover the investment?
Investment recovery is restricted while D-8 status is being maintained.
When winding down the business, you need to go through liquidation and cancellation of the foreign-invested company registration. The timing and scope of recovery depend on the specific case.
Fees vary by case, so we'll give you precise figures during the free consultation.
Need to Speak with a Professional?
With D-8 remittance, once something goes off track, it takes much more time to put it back on track.
- Office Name: Vision Administrative Office
- Phone: 02-363-2251
- Email: 5000meter@gmail.com
- KakaoTalk: alexkorea
- Address: 3F, 324 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (04614), Seongwoo Building
A 30-minute consultation before remittance — to lock down the procedural order and the flow of funds first — is the fastest path forward.
Need Expert Consultation?
Don't navigate complex procedures alone. Our professional consultants will guide you.