Japan Startup visa vs South Korea Startup Korea Special (D-8-4)

The start-up preparation period, together with any National Strategic Special Zone start-up period, may not exceed 2 years in total.

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

D-8 is granted for up to 5 years at a time and can be extended.

Korea Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice

Start-up preparation activities approved in the project plan.

For the approved startup activity; other work requires separate authorization.

• $60

  Visa application fee for a single-entry visa for a stay of 91 days or longer; the amount differs for some passport countries and multiple-entry visas cost more.

General rule: more than 5 years in D-7 to D-10, E-1 to E-7 or F-2 status, plus good conduct, ability to earn a living and basic knowledge of Korea (Korean language and society). Tech start-up investors can apply after more than 3 years in D-8 if they invested at least KRW 300 million (≈ $225,000) and employ at least 2 Koreans, with no basic-knowledge requirement.

Korea Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice

General naturalization needs 5 consecutive years of domicile in Korea and qualification for permanent residence, plus good conduct, self-support and basic knowledge of Korea.

Korea Legislation Research Institute

Standard processing: 1 to 3 months for a Certificate of Eligibility, 1 to 2 months for a change of status inside Japan and 2 weeks to 1 month for an extension.

Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice

Non-permanent residents are taxed in Japan on Japan-source income and on foreign-source income paid in or remitted to Japan; foreign-source income paid and kept abroad is outside the Japanese tax base.

A foreign resident whose total period of domicile or residence in Korea is five years or less in the ten years before the end of the tax period is taxed on foreign-source income only to the extent it is paid in Korea or remitted to Korea.