Invest KOREA

Alien registration card, documents that can replace family relations certificate when registering family members, and power of attorney when an agent is making the application are needed. ◎ Health insurance application: Submit to a nearby National Health Insurance office or Help Center for Foreigners. In the case of applying as an employee subscriber, the National Health Insurance office governing the location of the workplace provides assistance. ◎ Application procedure – When the foreigner is making the application in person: Submit alien registration card to have the application processed on the spot. – When registering family members: Bring documents that can confirm your family relations (Documents issued from home country require the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ verification or apostille received within nine months from the date of issuance. Korean translation must be included. Documents issued domestically have an effective period of three months.), as well as alien registration card of each family member to be registered. – When delegating application: Power of attorney, alien registration card of person delegating and person delegated, documents regarding cause of delegation (e.g., document proving that person cannot apply in person due to hospitalization) -> Delegation only possible to family members (bring documents proving family relations) ◎ For questions regarding national health insurance subscription – National Health Insurance webpage (www.nhis.or.kr) – National Health Insurance Service customer center: 1577-1000 – Foreign language operator: 033-811-2000

If a foreigner is a national health insurance subscriber or a dependent family member of a national health insurance subscriber, she can receive the same benefits for medical expenses for pregnancy and childbirth as Korean nationals. ◎ Benefits for medical expenses for pregnancy and childbirth under the national health insurance system (Article 50 of the National Health Insurance Act; Article 23 of the Enforcement Decree of the same Act) – In order to reduce the medical costs for pregnancy and childbirth, and to create a more pregnancy-friendly society, the government provides a voucher (National Happiness Card*) that can be used to pay for the medical costs for pregnancy and childbirth (expenses both covered/uncovered by insurance) when settling co-payment expenses (implemented on December 15, 2008) ◎ Eligibility – National health insurance subscriber or a subscriber’s dependent whose pregnancy or childbirth has been confirmed (including miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy) ◎ Payment amount – For each case of pregnancy, KRW 600,000 per fetus (KRW 1 million in the case of multiple fetuses) ◎ Pregnant women residing in a region without reliable delivery facilities* at the time of application with the residing period lasting at least 30 consecutive days receive additional payment of KRW 200,000. ◎ Period of use – Date of commencement: Voucher issuance date ※ If there is a National Happiness Card that has been issued previously, the voucher may be used from the date of application (date when credit points start to accumulate) with no additional issuance. – Date of expiration: One year from the date of childbirth (expected delivery date, date of miscarriage diagnosis) ※The amount that has not been used within the period shall automatically be eliminated. ◎ Scope of usage – When paying co-payment (not covered by insurance) for medical services from a pregnant woman's pregnancy/birth, and purchasing prescribed medicine and treatment – When paying co-payment (not covered by insurance) for medical services to infants of less than one year of age, and purchasing prescribed medicine and treatment ◎ How to use the card – Medical costs are paid at the medical/treatment agemcy witth the use of voucher (National Happiness Voucher) ◎ Method of application: Apply by visiting the National Health Insurance Service or its webpage. ※ For details, visit the webpage of the National Health Insurance Service (www.nhis.or.kr) ▶ Cyber Help Center.

The holder of a driver's license issued from an organization of authority from overseas can have the validity of the license confirmed through document submission, such as a confirmation notice from the Embassy. When the foreign driver’s license is confirmed to be valid, the license holder can have it exchanged with a Korean license by undergoing an aptitude test, or an aptitude test and a simplified written exam. – In the case of a license issued by a country that recognizes a Korean driver's license, the license holder only needs to take an aptitude test (physical examination). The list of countries that recognize the Korean driver's license can be viewed at the Road Traffic Authority's public website for safe driving (https://www.safedriving.or.kr). – The holder of a license that has been issued by a country that does not recognize the Korean driver's license must take an aptitude test and a simplified written exam. Foreign investors with status of stay of D-8, his/her spouse and his/her children younger than 19 (not married) are exempt from the written examination. They can have their license exchanged at KOTRA’s Investment Consulting Center. – Documents to be submitted: Original copy of foreign driver's license, original copy of passport, alien registration card, 3 sheets of color photo taken within 6 months (3.5cm x 4.5cm), Embassy‘s confirmation of validity of driver's license, certificate of entry and exit (from the date of birth to the application date for license issuance), issuance fee of KRW 8,000 ※There is no physical examination room in KOTRA’s Investment Consulting Center. A D-8 visa holder visiting the Investment Consulting Center in order to have his/her driver's license exchanged shall receive physical examination in the designated hospital, after which he/she shall submit the physical examination report. ※ In the case of foreign licenses, the effectiveness is acknowledged only for full licenses with the expiration period still remaining. Temporary, learner, provisional, probationary licenses or driver permits or certificates cannot be exchanged into a Korean license.

The process is different depending on the status of stay, but in most cases, if one holds an alien registration certificate, he/she can visit a local telecom store to subscribe to a cell phone plan.

KOTRA’s Foreign Investor Support Center (FISC) is comprised with government officials from the central and local governments, officials from relevant government agencies, and KOTRA staff members who are experts in various fields. In addition to general investment consulting, FISC provides various services ranging from foreign investment notification to administrative services required for operation of business. The following services are provided for walk-in visitors (refer to Table 3 of the Enforcement Decree of the Foreign Investment Promotion Act).

According to Article 7-2 of the Immigration Act (Prohibition of false invitations, etc.), it is prohibited to engage in the following acts in order to enter a foreigner into the country. – Recording false information, providing false guarantee of identity, or engaging in other illegal acts to invite a foreigner or mediating such an act – Applying for a visa or confirmation of visa issuance under false grounds, or mediating such an act ※Persons that engage in the above acts are subject to imprisonment of up to three years or fine of up to KRW 20 million.

In order to work as a masseur/masseuse in Korea, one must be visually-impaired and hold a qualification certificate as a masseur/masseuse. According to the Medical Service Act, only visually-impaired persons are allowed to be a masseur/masseuse. In order to receive a certificate for qualifying as a masseur/masseuse, one must complete the prescribed training and will then receive a qualification certificate from the city mayor or provincial governor. Therefore, if a foreign investor establishes a massage shop in Korea and hires foreigners as employees, it constitutes a violation of the law. ※ When a non-disabled person (including foreigners) engages in the massage business, he/she can be subject to up to three years of imprisonment or a fine of up to KRW 30 million for violating the Medical Service Act.

In the case of Non-professional Employment visa, the process for changing the status of stay is restricted in Korea, so it is advised to complete the processes required to acquire a status of stay (e.g., foreign investment notification, registration of foreign-invested company, registration of corporate register certificate), depart the country, and then re-enter Korea after receiving a visa from a diplomatic mission from the home country. However, it should be noted that the funds created through employment in Korea cannot be recognized as foreign investment funds. ◎ Foreign investment under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act means a foreigner (individual or corporation)'s remittance of investment funds from overseas for investment in a Korean corporation or company. After the required investment processes are completed and a visa is issued from an overseas diplomatic mission of Korea or a visa is not issued for inevitable causes, an application for change of status of stay to Business Investment (D-8) can be filed at an immigration office having jurisdiction over the place of stay in Korea.

A foreigner who is born in Korea and wishes to receive status of stay must report to the immigration office having jurisdiction over his/her place of stay within 90 days from the date of birth. If an application for grant of status of stay is not filed within that period, a penalty shall be imposed for violating the Immigration Act (Article 79). However, if the child departs from the country within 90 days from the date of birth, he/she can leave without being granted a status of stay – Application form – Passport of foreigner's child (When an application for a passport is being processed at an embassy: Register with passport application receipt slip, and submit passport after registration) – One copy of the alien registration card of the child’s father or mother – Birth certificate of child (※Certified copy of family register in the case of Japan, Taiwan) – One color photograph of child, 3cm x 4cm – Fee: Grant of sojourn status (KRW 80,000)

A foreigner who invested USD 500,000 or more and the executives dispatched to a foreign-invested company that invested USD 500,000 or more can apply for a visa issuance for a domestic helper who he/she hired overseas at least one year ago from the date of visa application. Also, businesses that invested USD 100,000 or more but less than USD 500,000 that are high-tech businesses* hiring three or more full-time domestic employees can apply for a visa application for a domestic helper as well. ◎ The invited domestic helper can submit the following documents to the South Korean embassy or consulate in his/her country, and enter Korea by applying for and receiving a Household Assistant (F-1) visa. (However, if he/she is residing in a third country for a long period due to acquisition of permanent resident status or employment, the person may apply at the South Korean mission located in the country of residence.) ◎ The invited domestic helper must notify the immigration office governing his/her place of stay when the cause for visa issuance becomes invalid, such as expiration of employment contract, termination of employment, loss of employer’s Business Investment (D-8) status, etc. – Visa issuance application, passport, one standard photograph, fee – Copy of foreign-invested company registration certificate, certificate of corporate register, or copy of business registration certificate – Employment contract, employer's recommendation letter and letter of guarantee – Document certifying employment of at least one year (proof that the person has been employed overseas for at least one year from the point of application) – Documents certifying educational background of domestic helper – Employment certificate in the case of executives/employees – Documents proving the income conditions of the employer (receipt of income tax withholdings, certificate of income amount, salary payment statement, copy of bankbook, etc.) – Document proving full time employment of Korean nationals under employment (person with investment amount of less than USD 500 000)