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Start →Ⅰ. Visa and Stay in Korea 1. Visa In principle, a foreigner should obtain a visa at a diplomatic mission abroad in advance in order to enter South Korea. Korea treats the visa as a consul’s recommendation for a foreigner’s entry request rather than a certificate of permission to enter a country. Usually, a visa is a stamp or sticker placed on a passport stating the purpose of entry (status of sojourn) and sojourn period. 1-1 How to Enter Korea A foreigner can enter Korea through 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 by holding a visa issued at a diplomatic mission abroad. •In the event that the authority for issuing visas is not delegated to the head of the diplomatic mission abroad, a foreign national may enter Korea after he/she obtains a visa issuance certificate (or a visa issuance certificate number) issued by the immigration office having jurisdiction over the inviter’s place of sojourn and receives a visa by presenting the said certificate to the diplomatic mission abroad. All foreign nationals who enter Korea should obtain a status of sojourn as prescribed by Presidential Decree (Article 10 of the Immigration Control Act). The status of sojourn is classified into 36 categories Arrival at a Korean airport without a visa Immigration inspection at the airport Permission to enter granted Acquisition of a visa at a Korean embassy or consulate Immigration inspection at the airport (check) Permission to enter granted Certificate of visa issuance or visa issuance certificate number issued by an immigration office Permission to enter granted Immigration inspection at the airport Visa issuance by a Korean embassy or consulate Arrival at a Korean airport without a visa Immigration inspection at the airport Permission to enter granted Acquisition of a visa at a Korean embassy or consulate Immigration inspection at the airport (check) Permission to enter granted Certificate of visa issuance or visa issuance certificate number issued by an immigration office Permission to enter granted Immigration inspection at the airport Visa issuance by a Korean embassy or consulate Arrival at a Korean airport without a visa Immigration inspection at the airport Permission to enter granted Acquisition of a visa at a Korean embassy or consulate Immigration inspection at the airport (check) Permission to enter granted Certificate of visa issuance or visa issuance certificate number issued by an immigration office Permission to enter granted Immigration inspection at the airport Visa issuance by a Korean embassy or consulate •How to Enter Korea •Business Investment Visa (D-8) •Visa for Dependent Families (F-3) 75 II. Business Management depending on the scope of permitted activities. Indispensable professional specialists and foreign investors fall into the category of ‘business investment (D-8)’. Foreigners’ sojourn in Korea is divided into long-term stay and short-term stay depending on whether the stay is longer or shorter than 90 days. Changes to the status of sojourn may be permitted or restricted depending on the applicant’s 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 has been obtained. < Procedure for Issuance of a Business Investment (D-8) Visa > Application for a visa issuance certificate Issue certificate to the applicant (foreigner) Application for visa Issuance Arrival in Korea Within 90 days Issuance of the alien registration card Report of the birth of a child (Report within 90 days from the date of birth) Report within 14 days Report within 14 days Return the alien registration card Foreigner registration Investment Consulting Center (KOTRA) Change in applicant’s visa status Extension of period of stay Granting of status of sojourn Immigration office having jurisdiction over the place of sojourn Approval of re-entry Report of changes to foreigner registration Change or addition of workplace Permission for activities beyond the current status of sojourn Immigration office having jurisdiction over the place of sojourn and Si/ Gun/ Gu office Change in place of sojourn Immigration inspection Departure from Korea Diplomatic missions abroad Immigration office having jurisdiction over place of sojourn Report change of address within 14 days 76 Doing Business in Korea 1-2 Business Investment Visa (D-8) (1) Persons Eligible for a D-8 Visa A business investment (D-8) visa is issued to indispensable professional specialists engaged in the 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 who can be replaced by domestic human resources are not considered indispensable professional specialists. (2) Application and Procedures for Visa Issuance A business investment (D-8) visa can be obtained through the following procedures: •A foreigner may submit the required documents to a diplomatic mission abroad to apply for visa issuance. The head of a diplomatic mission has the authority to issue the business investment (D-8) visa with a period of sojourn of up to one year. •In the event that the authority for issuing 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 that has jurisdiction over the inviter’s place of sojourn. •In the event that a foreigner has entered Korea without a visa or with a short-term visa due to unavoidable circumstances, he/she may apply for permission to change the status of sojourn at the immigration office that has jurisdiction over his/her place of sojourn or KOTRA’s Investment Consulting Center. ※ Indispensable professional specialists •Executives An “executive” refers to a person who has primary control over organizational management and exercises extensive rights in the decision-making process. As one of the highest members of a company, an “executive” is generally directed and supervised exclusively by the board of directors and shareholders. (An executive shall not be directly involved in the provision of services or the organization’s service-related business.) •Senior Manager A “senior manager” refers to a person who is responsible for the establishment and execution of a company’s or a department’s objectives and policies; has the right to set up plans, lead employees and supervise business operations; executes the right to employ, dismiss and recommend employees; decides, supervises or controls the work carried out by employees in supervisory, professional or administrative positions; or has discretionary authority over everyday business. Frontline supervisors (except for professional service providers) or employees directly engaged in the provision of services do not fall into this category. •Specialist A “specialist” refers to a person who has highly professional and monopolistic experience and knowledge essential for research, design, technology and management concerning the service provided by the company. 77 II. Business Management 1-3 Visa for Dependent Families (F-3) 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 foreign national 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 period of sojourn of up to one year. <Documents required for a business investment (D-8) visa > More or less documents may be required for review. •Application form •Passport, color phot sized 3.5X4.5cm, processing fee •Certificate of foreign-invested company registration •Copy of business registration certificate •Corporation registration certificate •Specification of change in shareholders (original copy) •Dispatch order and employment certificate (in the case of employees dispatched to Korea) ※ A dispatch order should be issued by the company headquarters, even if the employee is dispatched from a branch. The dispatch order should state the dispatch period. •Documents certifying qualification as indispensable professional specialists: Diploma, technical certifications, certificate of career, company organizational chart, etc. •Certificate of payment of tax (corporation) •Documents certifying place of sojourn (real estate lease contract, etc.) •Documents certifying introduction of investment funds •Cash investments - Documents certifying permission to carry out foreign currency issued by the tax office or bank (financial institute) of the investor’s home country (if applicable) - Specification of introduced investment funds (certificate of remittance, certificate of purchase of foreign currency, customs declaration, etc.) •Investment-in-kind - Copy of completion of investment-in-kind (issued by the Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service) - Certificate of completion of import declaration •Additional documents to be submitted by individual investors investing less than 300 million won •Documents certifying expenditure of capital - Receipt for purchase of goods, office interior design expense, etc. - Withdrawal and deposit records of a domestic bank account, etc. •Documents certifying existence of a business establishment - Office lease contract - Photograph of building, office space, signage, etc. •Sales records - Income statement - Certificate of export declaration (export and import permit) - Documents certifying collection of payment for export (bank transaction records of a domestic account) - Business plan (expenditure of investment funds, future business plans, etc.) - Office lease contract •Documents certifying business experience in the relevant industry or field (if applicable) Processing fee (revenue stamp): Varies by country due to reciprocity principles. Inquire a diplomatic mission for the exact amount. * Processing fee is exempted for applications for certificate of visa issuance. 78 Doing Business in Korea •In the event that the authority for issuing visas is not delegated to the head of the diplomatic mission abroad, the certificate of visa issuance or the relevant number issued by the immigration control office having jurisdiction over the inviter’s place of sojourn 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 a change of status at KOTRA’s Investment Consulting Center or the immigration control office having jurisdiction over the place of sojourn. 2. Stay in Korea A foreigner may stay in Korea within the scope of his/her sojourn status and sojourn period. Foreigners staying in Korea for a period of 91 days or longer are subject to alien registration. To apply for alien registration, the necessary documents should be attached to the alien registration application form and submitted to the head of the immigration office having jurisdiction over the place of sojourn. When a foreigner intends to change or has changed the reported matters of his/her alien registration, status of sojourn, workplace, or place of sojourn, he/she shall make an alteration report or obtain permission for the change in accordance with the Immigration Control Act. A foreign investor who has entered Korea under the sojourn status of D-8 should register his/her status as a foreigner and may change his/her sojourn by acquiring permission for a change of sojourn status or permission to extend his/her sojourn period. • Permission of Change of Visa Status • Alien Registration • Extension of Period of Stay • Re-entry Permit • Report of Change of Place of Sojourn • Report of Change of Alien Registration Matters • Permission of Activities Beyond the Current Status of Sojourn • Change or Addition of Workplace < Documents required for an F-3 visa > More or less documents may be required for review. •Passport (a copy of the passport when applying for a certificate of visa issuance) •An application form for visa issuance or the certificate of visa issuance confirmation •A document certifying family relations (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 3.5×4.5cm Processing fee (revenue stamp): Varies by country due to reciprocity principles. Inquire a diplomatic mission for the exact amount. * Processing fee is exempted for applications for the certificate of visa issuance. 79 II. Business Management 2-1 Permission of Change of Visa Status Foreigners who have entered Korea without a visa or with a short-term visa and intend to obtain a business investment (D-8) visa and their accompanying families, and foreigners who intend to establish and operate a foreign-invested company during a long-term stay in Korea and their accompanying families should apply for a change of visa status. An application for change of visa status can be submitted to KOTRA’s Investment Consulting Center or the immigration control office having jurisdiction over the place of sojourn within the period of stay permitted under the current visa. Foreigners who have entered Korea with a temporary visit visa (C-3) as a member of a tourist group for the sole purpose of travel (C-3-2) or for medical tourism (C-3-3), an industrial training visa (D-3), nonprofessional employment visa (E-9), miscellaneous visa (G-1), working holiday visa (H-1) or working visit visa (H-2) are not allowed to apply for a visa status change. (In the case of the working holiday (H- 1) visa, visa status change is not permitted for nationals of France, Ireland, and the U.K. under bilateral visa agreements.) < Documents required to apply for permission of change of visa status (D-8-1)> More or less documents may be required for review. •Application form, passport, color photo for passport •Foreign-invested company registration certificate •Copy of business registration certificate •Certified copy of corporate registration •Specification of change in shareholders (original copy) •Dispatch order and employment certificate (in the case of employees dispatched to Korea) ※ A dispatch order should be issued by the company headquarters, even if the employee is dispatched from a branch. The dispatch order should state the dispatch period. •Documents certifying qualification as indispensable professional specialists: Diploma, technical certifications, certificate of career, company organizational chart, etc. •Certificate of payment of tax (corporation) •Documents certifying place of sojourn (real estate lease contract, etc.) •Office lease contract •Certificate of sales record (import and export records, etc.) •Specification of introduced investment funds •Cash investments - Documents certifying permission to carry out foreign currency issued by the tax office or bank (financial institute) of the investor’s home country (if applicable) - Specification of introduced investment funds (certificate of remittance, certificate of purchase of foreign currency, customs declaration, etc.) •Investment-in-kind - Copy of completion of investment-in-kind (issued by the Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service), certificate of completion of import declaration •Additional documents to be submitted by individual investors investing less than 300 million won •Documents certifying expenditure of capital - Receipt for purchase of goods, office interior design expense, etc. - Withdrawal and deposit records of a domestic bank account, etc. •Documents certifying existence of a business establishment - Office lease contract - Photograph of building, office space, signage, etc. 80 Doing Business in Korea 2-2 Alien Registration A foreigner who has entered Korea with a long-term (91 days or longer) visa should make an alien registration at the immigration control office having jurisdiction over the place of sojourn or at KOTRA’s Investment Consulting Center within 90 days from the date of entry. Also, a foreigner who has entered Korea with a short-term visa and changed his/her status to a business investment (D-8) visa should immediately file an alien registration at an immigration control office having jurisdiction over the place of sojourn or at KOTRA’s Investment Consulting Center. ※ Foreign nationals aged 17 or older should visit in person to register their fingerprints. Any foreign investor or employee of a foreign-invested company who has completed alien registration should return his/her alien registration card to the departure inspection desk at the airport when leaving Korea at the end of his/her sojourn. 2-3 Extension of Period of Stay A business investment (D-8) visa holder who intends to stay longer than the permitted period should apply for an extension of the period of stay at an immigration control office having jurisdiction over the place of sojourn or at KOTRA (Investment Consulting Center) during the two months prior to expiry •Documents certifying sales records - Income statement - Certificate of completion of export declaration (import and export permit) - Documents certifying collection of payment for export (transaction records of a domestic account) - Business plan (expenditure of investment funds, future business plans) - Office lease contract •Documents certifying business experience in the relevant industry or field (if applicable) Processing fee (revenue stamp): 100,000 won * Processing fee is exempted for applications for change to business investment (D-8) visa. < Required documents > More or less documents may be required for review. •Passport; application form (a unified form); and a color photo sized 3.5×4.5cm •A copy of the certificate of foreign-invested company registration •A copy of the business registration certificate •Documents certifying the place of residence ※ Foreigners who have entered Korea by obtaining a business investment (D-8) visa from a diplomatic mission abroad may submit the documents required for a visa application. However, this shall not apply to those who obtained a visa with a certificate of confirmation of visa issuance. Handling fee: 30,000 won * The same handling fee is charge for the re-issuance of an alien registration card. * No handling fee is charged for a change of the business investment (D-8) visa status. 81 II. Business Management of the current sojourn period. It is possible to apply earlier if there is a legitimate reason for doing so, such as an overseas business trip. In such cases, the period of stay can be extended for up to five years depending on the size of the foreign-invested company, the investment amount, or business operation record. A foreign investor who intends to continue with his/her business activities or foreigners who wish to continue working as a dispatched employee may apply for an extended stay a limitless number of times, provided that he/she has never been involved in any illegal activities. <Required documents> More or less documents may be required for review. •Application form, passport, alien registration card •Foreign-invested company registration certificate •Copy of business registration certificate •Certified copy of corporate registration •Specification of change in shareholders (original copy) •Dispatch order and employment certificate (in the case of employees dispatched to Korea) ※ A dispatch order should be issued by the company headquarters, even if the employee is dispatched from a branch. The dispatch order should state the dispatch period. •Documents certifying qualification as indispensable professional specialists: Diploma, technical certifications, certificate of career, company organizational chart, etc. •Certificate of payment of tax (corporation) •Documents certifying place of sojourn (real estate lease contract, etc.) •Office lease contract •Certificate of confirmation of tax base for value added tax, certificate of sales records (export and import records, etc.) •Documents certifying individual tax payment or receipt for earned income tax withholding •Documents certifying introduction of investment funds •Cash investments - Documents certifying permission to carry out foreign currency issued by the tax office or bank (financial institute) of the investor’s home country (if applicable) - Specification of introduced investment funds (certificate of remittance, certificate of purchase of foreign currency, customs declaration, etc.) •Investment-in-kind - Copy of completion of investment-in-kind (issued by the Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service) •Additional documents to be submitted by individual investors investing less than 300 million won •Documents certifying expenditure of capital - Receipt for purchase of goods, office interior design expense, etc. - Withdrawal and deposit records of a domestic bank account, etc. •Documents certifying existence of a business establishment - Office lease contract, photograph of building, office space, signage, etc •Sales records - Income statement - Certificate of export declaration (export and import permit) - Documents certifying collection of payment for export (bank transaction records of a domestic account) - Business plan (expenditure of investment funds, future business plans, etc.) - Office lease contract •Documents certifying business experience in the relevant industry or field (if applicable) Processing fee (revenue stamp): 60,000 won * Processing fee is exempted for business investment (D-8) visa holders. 82 Doing Business in Korea 2-4 Re-entry Permit A foreigner who intends to re-enter Korea after a temporary departure within the current period of stay should apply for a single or multiple re-entry permit at an immigration control office having jurisdiction over the place of sojourn or at KOTRA’s Investment Consulting Center. The application can also be filed at an immigration control office at the airport on the day of departure. A re-entry permit is issued within the period of validity of the passport, the permitted sojourn period, and the period of the re-entry permit’s validity (one year for a single permit and two years for a multiple permit). 2-5 Report of Change of Place of Sojourn A business investment (D-8) visa holder who has changed his/her place of sojourn should report the change to KOTRA’s Investment Consulting Center, an immigration control office having jurisdiction over the place of sojourn, or the head of the relevant Si/Gun/Gu office within 14 days from the date of moving into the new place of sojourn. Failure to report within the deadline constitutes a violation of Article 36 of the Immigration Control Act and results in a fine. ※ Exemption from a re-entry permit (Enforcement Rule 44-2 of the Immigration Control Act) Those who fall under the following are exempted from the obligation to obtain a re-entry permit, with the exception of foreigners who are banned from entering the country in accordance with Article 11 of the Act and those who fall under the following Items in Article 10 (amended November 16, 2010). 1. Permanent residence (F-5) holders who intend to re-enter the country within two years from the date of departure 2. Persons who intend to re-enter the country within one year from the date of departure (the remaining sojourn period in the case that the remaining period is shorter than one year) holding the following visa types: from 1. Diplomacy (A-1) to 3. Negotiation (A-3), from 10. Culture and arts (D-1) to 28. Accompanying person (F-3), from 29. Others (G-1) to 31. Employment (H-2). ※ Countries exempted from obtaining a re-entry permit (13 countries as of May 2014) The Republic of Surinam, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Luxemburg, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, France, Finland and Chile < Required documents > More or less documents may be required for review. •Passport; alien registration card; application form (a unified form) Processing fee (revenue stamp): 30,000 won for a single re-entry permit; 50,000 won for a multiple re-entry permit * No fee is charged for business investment (D-8) visa holders. < Required documents > More or less documents may be required for review. •Passport, alien registration card, application form (a unified form) •Document certifying the place of sojourn (lease contract, etc.) 83 II. Business Management 2-6 Report of Change of Alien Registration Matters A business investment (D-8) visa holder should report any changes in alien registration matters to an immigration control office having jurisdiction over the place of sojourn or to KOTRA’s Investment Consulting Center within 14 days from the date on which any of the following occurs: •A change in the holder’s name, gender, date of birth or nationality •A change in the holder’s passport number, date of issuance and validity •A change in the company name (if the investor is a company) A registered foreigner should report any change in alien registration matters to the immigration control office within 14 days from the date on which such change occurs. Failure to report within the deadline is a violation of Article 35 of the Immigration Control Act and results in a fine. 2-7 Permission of Activities Beyond the Current Status of Sojourn A business investment (D-8) visa holder who intends to engage in activities other than those permitted by his/her status of sojourn should obtain an approval from an immigration control office having jurisdiction over the place of sojourn in advance. < Required documents > More or less documents may be required for review. •Passport, alien registration card, application form (a unified form) •Documents certifying matters concerning the change(s) < Required documents > More or less documents may be required for review. •Passport, alien registration card, application form (a unified form) •A dispatch order (issued by the company headquarters) •A document certifying that the new workplace belongs to an affiliate of the original workplace (such as a certified copy of corporate registration) •Copy of business registration certificate •A document certifying that the foreign company’s local branch establishment has been notified (approved) •A letter of recommendation issued by the head of the original workplace •A document certifying business records (Certificate of tax payment, etc.) The above required documents apply only to D-8 visa holders’ request for permission to engage in activities permitted for D-7 (intra-company transfer) visa holders, which can be processed by KOTRA’s Investment Consulting Center. For information on the documents required when requesting permission to engage in activities permitted in other visa types, refer to the Korea Immigration Service website (http:/www.immigration.go.kr). Processing fee (revenue stamp): 120,000 won 84 Doing Business in Korea 2-8 Change or Addition of Workplace A business investment (D-8) visa holder whose workplace has been changed or added within the scope of his/her sojourn status should register at an immigration control office having jurisdiction over the place of sojourn or at KOTRA’s Investment Consulting Center within 14 days from the date on which such change or addition occurs. The change or addition should take place within the affiliates of the company to which the D-8 visa holder belongs. 3. Policies for the Favorable Treatment of Foreign Investors The Korean government provides foreign investors with a variety of benefits in relation to their arrival, departure, and stay. There are immigration checkpoints dedicated exclusively to processing foreign investors, and permanent residency is granted provided that certain conditions are met. Also, the Investment Consulting Center of KOTRA provides a one-stop service for foreign investors with services ranging from investment consulting to the resolution of grievances during an investor’s stay in Korea. 3-1 Change to Permanent Residence (F-5) Status Korea grants a change to permanent residence status to foreign investors, executives of multinational companies operating in Korea, and foreigners engaged in high tech businesses who contribute to promoting foreign investment and strengthening the national competitiveness of Korea. < Required documents > More or less documents may be required for review. •Application form •Passport •Alien registration card •Dispatch order •Documents certifying the new workplace’s introduction of business funds •Documents certifying the new workplace’s tax payment •The new workplace’s certified copy of corporate registration •The new workplace’s business registration certificate •The new workplace’s foreign-invested company registration certificate •A document verifying that the new workplace belongs to the same affiliate Processing fee (revenue stamp): None • Change to Permanent Residence (F-5) Status • Hiring of Foreign Housekeepers • Exclusive Immigration Checkpoint for Foreign Investors • Unmanned Immigration Checkpoint for Foreign Investors • Exclusive Visa-Related Services for Foreign Investors • Exemption from Processing Fees for the Issuance of Stay Permits • Extension of the Maximum Period of Stay 85 II. Business Management Permanent residence status is granted to foreigners who are not subject to deportation and meet one of the following requirements: •Foreigners who have invested US$ 500,000 or more pursuant to the Foreign Investment Promotion Act and have employed five or more Korean nationals as regular workers •Foreigners that qualify as adults under the Korean Civil Act who: have stayed in Korea for five years or longer with a business investment (D-8) visa; have earned an annual income equal to or more than twice Korea’s average gross national income (GNI) for the preceding year; have passed Level 2 of the Test of Proficiency in Korean run by the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation or completed the Korea Immigration and Integration Program; and are employed by a company with average sales of 1 billion won for two years prior to the date of application. Foreigners who have obtained permanent residence status are entitled to the following benefits: •Exemption from the obligation to apply for an extension of the period of stay •Exemption from restriction on employment activities due to guarantee of economic activities in Korea •Exemption from the obligation to obtain a re-entry permit if a visit to a foreign country lasts for less than two years •Exemption from deportation, etc. 3-2 Hiring of Foreign Housekeepers Korea allows large-scale foreign investors to hire a foreign housekeeper to make their stay in Korea more comfortable. A foreigner who intends to hire a foreign housekeeper should meet the following requirements: •A foreign investor (a representative, executive or employee of a foreign-invested company)’s investment amount should be at least US$ 500,000 and his/her income should be equal to or greater than three times the amount of the per capita GNI of Korea in the preceding year as announced by the Bank of Korea. •A foreigner, whose investment amount is less than US$ 500,000, should be engaged in a high-tech information business and hire three or more regular Korean employees. A foreign housekeeper should be between the age of 20 and 58 as of the date on which his/her visa application is submitted and should be a middle school graduate or higher. He/she may obtain an F-1 (family visitation) visa only through an inviter’s application for a certificate of visa issuance confirmation. A housekeeper should leave Korea upon termination or cancellation of the employment contract or upon his/her employer being deprived of the business investment (D-8) visa status. ※ Scope of “executives and employees” Executives and senior managers falling into the category of indispensable professional specialists ※ High-tech information business The following high-tech businesses designated by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology - an affiliate of the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy - qualify for Gold Card issuance: Technological management, nanotechnology, digital electronics, bio technology, transportation and machinery, e-Commerce (including information technology), environment, and energy 86 Doing Business in Korea 3-3 Exclusive Immigration Checkpoint for Foreign Investors Korea operates an immigration checkpoint exclusively for foreign investors at Incheon International Airport to enhance the convenience of business investment (D-8) visa holders and their families. 3-4 Unmanned Immigration Checkpoint for Foreign Investors Business investment (D-8) visa holders may use an unmanned immigration checkpoint after registering their passport information along with their fingerprint and facial features at the immigration control office at Incheon International Airport. 3-5 Exclusive Visa-Related Services for Foreign Investors KOTRA’s Investment Consulting Center KOTRA’s Investment Consulting Center assists foreign investors with all matters pertaining to their visa and stay permit. Immigration control officials are dispatched from the Ministry of Justice to handle such matters as change of visa status, extensions of the period of stay, issuance of reentry permits, granting of visa status to children born in Korea, alien registration, report of details of alien registration, report of change in the place of sojourn, and change of or addition to workplaces, regardless of the jurisdiction over the place of sojourn. Foreign investors and indispensable professional specialists may apply for a visa for a foreign housekeeper as follows: •If the inviter is qualified and he/she has employed the housekeeper outside of Korea for at least one year as of the date of application, the inviter can apply for an F-1 visa with a sojourn period of one year or less by submitting the necessary documents to a Korean diplomatic mission. •If the authority to issue a visa is not delegated to a diplomatic mission, the inviter residing in Korea can obtain a certificate of confirmation of visa issuance (or visa issuance number) at an immigration office and submit it to the invitee. The invitee can submit the said certificate (or number) to a Korean diplomatic mission and apply for visa issuance. <Required documents> More or less documents may be required for review. •Copy of passport, application form for confirmation of visa issuance, one color photo •Copy of foreign-invested company registration certificate •The employer’s certificate of employment (certificate of identification) •Documents certifying the annual income of the employer (receipt of earned income tax withholding, certificate of income, certificate of salary, copy of bankbook, etc.) •Where the inviter is a foreign investor investing less than US$ 500,000 in Korea, a receipt for earned income tax withholding or an income amount certificate concerning Korean regular employees •Employment contract of the foreign housekeeper •Personal reference of the foreign housekeeper •Documents certifying the education background of the foreign housekeeper, such as a graduation certificate Processing fee (revenue stamp): Varies by country due to reciprocity principles, etc. For the exact amount, inquire a diplomatic mission. * No processing fee is charged for applications for certificate of confirmation of visa issuance 87 II. Business Management The Seoul Immigration Control Office’s Investment Support Center The Seoul immigration control office and its branch at Seoul City Hall also provide visa related-services exclusively to foreign investors to handle matters concerning stay permits and extension of period of stay. 3-6 Exemption from Processing Fees for the Issuance of Stay Permits A business investment (D-8) visa holder is granted an exemption from payment of the following processing fees concerning stay permits. Stay permit Processing fee Issuance and re-issuance of alien registration card 30,000 won Permit for extension of period of stay 60,000 won Permit for change of visa status 100,000 won Permit for change /addition of workplace None Re-entry permit 30,000 won for a single permit, 50,000 won for a multiple permit 3-7 Extension of the Maximum Period of Stay A foreign investor or an executive or employee of a foreign-invested company investing US$ 500,000 or more may be granted a sojourn period of up to five years from the date of entry when changing his/her visa status or extending his/her period of stay ← End
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