The investment threshold is KRW 300 million for D-9-4 and KRW 100 million for D-9-5 (as of 2026). Immigration examines both the amount and how the funds were obtained, transferred to Korea and spent on the business. Funds may not qualify as investment if those steps cannot be documented, even when the total meets the threshold.
Foreign capital transfers and sources of funds
Investment funds obtained abroad must be brought into Korea in accordance with the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act. Remittance, currency exchange and other records must establish how the funds entered Korea.
The declared purpose of the transfer must also be investment. Money brought in for living expenses or tuition can present problems if it is later used as business investment.
The applicant must document how the funds were obtained, whether from employment, business income, inheritance, a gift or an asset sale. Where a family member sent money on the applicant’s behalf, the applicant must also establish that the funds belong to them.
The D-9-5 allowance for funds earned in Korea
For D-9-5, up to KRW 50 million of the KRW 100 million investment can come from funds accumulated in Korea. The remainder must be foreign capital remitted from the home country (as of 2026). Typical examples include savings from part-time work, assistantships and scholarships during D-2 student or D-10 job-seeking status.
This allowance reduces the amount that must be remitted from abroad. Applicants must still document that the Korean funds were obtained lawfully.
Business expenditure and extensions of stay
Applicants must show that the remitted funds were spent on the business, rather than simply held in an account.
| Recognized | Not recognized |
|---|---|
| Franchise fees · lease deposits | Personal living costs (housing, food, phone) |
| Interior construction · fixtures and equipment | Asset purchases unrelated to the business |
| Initial inventory | Loans to yourself or family |
| Consulting and advisory fees · operating funds | Payments to counterparties of unclear substance |
D-9-4 and D-9-5 are initially granted for one year in most cases. Subsequent extension reviews examine revenue, tax filings, business premises and employment to confirm that the business is operating. Meeting the investment threshold at the initial application will not support an extension if there are no actual operations.
Domestic status changes and family visas
Foreign nationals already in Korea under statuses such as D-2, D-10, E-7 or F-3 can apply domestically to change to a D-9 category. This is the usual procedure for D-9-5 applicants who have Korean degrees and residence histories.
D-9-4 and D-9-5 holders may invite their spouse and minor children under F-3 dependent status. Their permitted stay is tied to the principal holder’s and ends when the principal’s stay ends. F-3 generally does not permit employment, so a spouse wishing to work must change to an appropriate status. D-9 status alone does not generally support an invitation for parents; a separate category must be considered.
Combining parental transfers and Korean savings
Consider an applicant who combines money sent to Korea by their parents with savings accumulated during studies in Korea, for a total of KRW 100 million. The applicant must document the parental gift and how the funds entered Korea from abroad. The Korean savings are subject to the KRW 50 million domestic-funds limit.
For the parental transfer, the applicant needs to establish the gift and ownership of the funds. For the savings, the questions are how they were earned and whether they exceed the allowance. Those sources and transfers must then be matched to planned business expenditure to assess which funds can be presented as qualifying investment.
Frequently asked questions
Law Firm Lawyeon Immigration Law Center provides legal services specialized in the integrated handling of Korean immigration and visa matters together with criminal cases and immigration-violation reviews, built on extensive case experience, professional networks, and practical knowledge.
The Center brings together attorneys Junwoo Min, Dohyun Nam, and Seungchul Kim, criminal-law specialists with extensive immigration advisory experience, and Senior Advisor Taemin Ahn. Mr Ahn has served at the Seoul Global Center, headed a Ministry of Justice Global Start-up Immigration Center, and served on the Foreign Workers' Rights Protection Council of the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Administration. Together, they established Law Firm Lawyeon's dedicated immigration practice.
In particular, for departure orders and entry-ban dispositions that follow a final criminal conviction, the Center presents effective solutions through an integrated strategy spanning criminal defense, objections to the disposition, and applications to lift the entry ban, and it supports stable business activity in Korea by managing many clients' immigration risk.
This article is intended as general information about the relevant legal framework and is not legal advice on any individual matter. Determinations concerning immigration status may differ depending on specific facts such as residence history, income and contractual relationships. If your situation requires individual review, you may request a consultation with the Immigration Law Center of Law Firm Lawyeon (lawyeon-immigration.com).