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South Korea Updates Eligibility Criteria for D-8 Visa Issuance Number (VIN)

November 19, 2025

    Effective Nov. 2025, the Suwon Immigration Office has updated the eligibility criteria for D-8 Visa Issuance Number (VIN) applications. This new requirement is only applicable to cases processed by the Suwon Immigration Office, where the company’s registered business address is in Suwon.

    Applicants are now required to satisfy the minimum career experience requirements corresponding to their highest level of education.

    Highest Level of Education Minimum Career Experience Required
    Bachelor’s degree 5 years
    Master’s degree 2 years
    Doctorate degree N/A

    Key Requirements

    • The applicant’s career experience must be relevant to the position at the host company.
    • Proof of experience must be provided through a career certificate or certificate of employment.
    • The experience does not need to be recent.
    • The applicant’s major need not be related to the position.
    • The educational background must be verified by an education certificate in English.
    • Applicants who do not meet the above criteria must undergo pre-consultation with the Suwon Immigration VIN officer.
    • The requirements may change without prior notice due to circumstances at the Suwon Immigration Office.

    Additional Requirements

    • A copy of the identification of the Korean entity’s representative
    • A copy of the D-8 expatriate list, as required by the conditions

    For further information related to South Korea immigration process changes, please reach out to Clark Hill’s APAC team at apac@clarkhill.com.

    Authored by Melvin Ng, APAC/EMEA Immigration Manager

    This publication is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or a solicitation to provide legal services. The information in this publication is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional legal counsel. The views and opinions expressed herein represent those of the individual author only and are not necessarily the views of Clark Hill PLC. Although we attempt to ensure that postings on our website are complete, accurate, and up to date, we assume no responsibility for their completeness, accuracy, or timeliness.

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