Korea for foreign founders: Startup Korea visa window closes 30 December, SVC Seoul desks 11 December

Korea for foreign founders: Startup Korea visa window closes 30 December, SVC Seoul desks 11 December

28 September 2026: South Korea's government has two routes open for founders who are not Korean nationals, and both have a closing date this year. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) accepts applications for a recommendation towards the Startup Korea Special Visa until 30 December 2026. The Korea Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development (KISED), which runs the government's K-Startup portal, is recruiting foreign startups for SVC Seoul Global membership until 11 December 2026.

The Startup Korea Special Visa

The visa is issued on the ministry's recommendation, after an assessment of how feasible and innovative the startup is. Applications have been taken on a rolling basis since the ministry's announcement of 3 December 2024; the current window closes at 00:00 on 30 December 2026 (Korean time).

• Who can apply: the representative of a startup, or of a planned startup, who is not a Korean national. The business must meet the criteria of Korea's Support for Small and Medium Enterprise Establishment Act.
• What to submit: a recommendation application form, a business plan, a copy of a passport or alien registration certificate, a corporate or business registration certificate, a consent form for personal data, and, where needed, a co-representative verification issued by a "K-Scouter".
• How it is decided: a review of the requirements, then a presentation, then a judging committee.
• What is granted: a recommendation letter for the visa. The immigration decision itself is separate.

Applications are made online through K-Startup. The Global Startup Center handles questions about applying.

SVC Seoul Global membership

KISED's notice of 6 August 2026 invites foreign startups that want to enter the Korean market to take space at SVC (Startup Venture Campus) Seoul, at 136 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, near Hongik University station.

• Who can apply: planned founders, or startups with less than seven years of trading, that want to set up in or sell into Korea.
• What it offers: a shared-office seat, meeting and investor-presentation rooms, a consulting voucher and networking programmes.
• Scale and cost: around 10 companies; the notice gives a monthly fee of KRW 200,000 and an operating period from September 2026 to the end of December 2027 (expected).
• Selection: a qualification review. Applications close at 17:00 on 11 December 2026 (Korean time).

What to do

• If you are a non-Korean founder considering Korea, start the visa recommendation file now: the business plan and the presentation stage take time, and the window closes on 30 December.
• If you mainly need a base and introductions rather than residence, the SVC Seoul membership is the smaller, faster step; check the supporting-document list in the notice before applying.
• Both schemes publish English forms on K-Startup. Rules and dates can change at the operator's discretion, so confirm them on the announcement pages before you submit.

Sources

• K-Startup (Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Announcement No. 2024-592): Announcement on Application for Recommendations for the "Startup Korea Special Visa" - 3 December 2024
• K-Startup (KISED Notice No. 2026-64): 2026 SVC Seoul Membership (Global) Recruitment Announcement - 6 August 2026
• K-Startup: open calls list (read 2026-09-28) - 28 September 2026