---
title: "Japan Startup visa vs South Korea Startup Korea Special (D-8-4)"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/compare/japan-startup-designated-activities-vs-south-korea-d8-4s-startup/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-12
---

Head to head

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

Two business routes side by side: money, stay, family, fees and tax, from the official sources. The official authority decides every application.

## Key differences

- **First stay** The first stay is 2 yrs on Japan Startup visa and 5 yrs on South Korea Startup Korea Special (D-8-4).
- **Renewal** Japan Startup visa: renewable, 2 years max. South Korea Startup Korea Special (D-8-4): renewable.
- **Family** Spouse needs a permit on both.
- **Work** Japan Startup visa: limited. South Korea Startup Korea Special (D-8-4): with a permit.
- **Foreign-source income** Foreign-source income: remittance basis in Japan, remittance basis (5 years) in South Korea.

## Side by side

|   | Japan [Startup visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/startup-designated-activities/) | South Korea [Startup Korea Special (D-8-4)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-korea/d8-4s-startup/) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Country:** | *1* Startup visa [Japan](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/) | *2* Startup Korea Special (D-8-4) [South Korea](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-korea/) |
| **Type:** | *1* Startup visa Business / Startup | *2* Startup Korea Special (D-8-4) Business / Startup |
| **Money needed:** | *1* Startup visa **Needs an investment of ¥30M+ ≈ $189k** | *2* Startup Korea Special (D-8-4) |
| **First stay:** | *1* Startup visa **2 yrs** | *2* Startup Korea Special (D-8-4) **5 yrs** |
| **Renewal:** | *1* Startup visa **Renewable, 2 years max** Details 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](https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/newbusiness/startupvisa/startupvisa_20251016.pdf) | *2* Startup Korea Special (D-8-4) **Renewable** Details D-8 is granted for up to 5 years at a time and can be extended. [Korea Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice](https://www.immigration.go.kr/bbs/immigration_eng/230/454085/download.do) |
| **Spouse can work:** | *1* Startup visa **Needs a permit** | *2* Startup Korea Special (D-8-4) **Needs a permit** |
| **Work:** | *1* Startup visa **Limited** Details Start-up preparation activities approved in the project plan. | *2* Startup Korea Special (D-8-4) **With a permit** Details For the approved startup activity; other work requires separate authorization. |
| **Government fees:** | *1* Startup visa | *2* Startup Korea Special (D-8-4) **$60** Details $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. |
| **Permanent residence:** | *1* Startup visa | *2* Startup Korea Special (D-8-4) **After 5 years of residence** Details 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](https://www.immigration.go.kr/bbs/immigration_eng/230/454085/download.do) |
| **Citizenship:** | *1* Startup visa | *2* Startup Korea Special (D-8-4) **General rule: 5 years of residence** Details 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](https://elaw.klri.re.kr/eng_service/lawViewContent.do?hseq=61297) |
| **Processing:** | *1* Startup visa **1–3 months** Details 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](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-1.html) | *2* Startup Korea Special (D-8-4) |
| **Employer needed:** | *1* Startup visa **A sponsor there** | *2* Startup Korea Special (D-8-4) **No** |
| **Tax residence test:** | *1* Startup visa | *2* Startup Korea Special (D-8-4) **At least 183 days (continuous residence in Korea)** |
| **Foreign-source income:** | *1* Startup visa **Remittance basis** Details 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. | *2* Startup Korea Special (D-8-4) **Remittance basis (5 years)** Details 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. |
| **Tax note:** | *1* Startup visa [Tax relief · Non-permanent resident foreign-source income treatment](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/tax/) | *2* Startup Korea Special (D-8-4) [Tax relief · Remittance basis for foreign-source income of foreigners with 5 years or less of residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-korea/tax/) |
| **Official source:** | *1* Startup visa [Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/03_00097.html) | *2* Startup Korea Special (D-8-4) [Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea](https://www.immigration.go.kr/bbs/moj/189/590287/artclView.do) |
| **Checked against official sources:** | *1* Startup visa 12 Oct 2026 | *2* Startup Korea Special (D-8-4) 12 Oct 2026 |

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

**Official sources**

### Japan Startup visa

1. [Startup Visa requirement revision effective 16 October 2025 (METI)](https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/newbusiness/startupvisa/startupvisa_20251016.pdf) · Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Startup Visa (Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Project), organisation list updated 2026-04-30 (METI)](https://www.meti.go.jp/english/policy/economy/startup_nbp/startup_visa.html) · Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry · checked 2026-10-12
3. [Foreign entrepreneur (Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Project) status page (ISA)](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/03_00097.html) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-12
4. [Startup-related policies / Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Project](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/03_00070.html) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-10
5. [List of Designated Activities notice items (as of May 2025)](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001389017.pdf) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-12
6. [Permission to engage in activities other than those permitted for "Dependent" status holders](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri07_00004.html) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-12
7. [Certificate of Eligibility application: standard processing period](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-1.html) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
8. [Application for change of status of residence: standard processing period](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-2.html) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
9. [Application for extension of period of stay: standard processing period](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-3.html) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11

### South Korea Startup Korea Special (D-8-4)

1. [Startup Korea Special Visa (D-8-4(S))](https://www.immigration.go.kr/bbs/moj/189/590287/artclView.do) · Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea · checked 2026-10-12
2. [Visa application fees for each visa type](https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/us-en/brd/m_4502/view.do?seq=715889&page=1) · Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) · checked 2026-10-11
3. [Visa Navigator: Customized Stay Guide for Foreign Residents](https://www.immigration.go.kr/bbs/immigration_eng/230/454085/download.do) · Korea Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-12
4. [Visa Navigator customised stay guide for foreign residents (Korean-language edition)](https://www.immigration.go.kr/bbs/immigration_eng/230/454086/download.do) · Korea Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-10
5. [Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, Annex 1-2: long-term stay statuses (amended 27 May 2025)](https://www.law.go.kr/LSW/flDownload.do?gubun=&flSeq=152014589&bylClsCd=110201) · National Law Information Center, Korea (law.go.kr) · checked 2026-10-12
6. [Nationality Act (Articles 5 and 6, English translation)](https://elaw.klri.re.kr/eng_service/lawViewContent.do?hseq=61297) · Korea Legislation Research Institute (Ministry of Government Legislation) · checked 2026-10-11