Foreign Startup Opportunities in Korea & Japan: A Practical Guide for International Students

As of February, Vietnamese students accounted for approximately 115,000 of all international students in Korea, making them the largest group by nationality. The number of students from countries such as Uzbekistan and Myanmar is also steadily increasing.

The total number of international students enrolled in universities and language institutes reached 310,000, doubling in just five years. For comparison, Japan surpassed 400,000 international students in 2025, achieving its national target years ahead of schedule.

Such a rapid influx of population inevitably reshapes local commercial ecosystems, reflecting the scale of this demographic shift. As the new communities grow, international students may benefit from considering not only employment but also entrepreneurship, after graduation.

Korea offers visa pathways for foreign entrepreneurs. For example, there is the D-8-4 visa (technology-based startup visa), as well as the D-10 visa for job seekers or startup preparation.

A typical pathway for international students would be:
D-2 (student) → D-10 (job seeker/startup preparation) → D-8-4 (startup visa)

To obtain a D-8-4 visa, having a technology-based business is advantageous. Rather than capital alone, factors such as innovation, technical capability, and evaluation scores play a more important role. Government programs such as K-Startup provide various forms of support. However, the screening process is rigorous, and businesses such as restaurants are generally difficult to qualify. In essence, the model resembles a venture-backed startup.

In Japan, the process is somewhat different. Foreign entrepreneurs typically begin with a startup visa (preparation phase), followed by the Business Manager Visa.

The startup visa allows up to two years for business preparation. However, compared to Korea, Japan generally imposes higher capital requirements, along with conditions such as securing office space and hiring employees. On the other hand, one key advantage is that there are relatively fewer restrictions on business types.