Check your visa first체류자격 확인 — 모든 것의 출발점
Business registration (tax law) and permission to run a business (immigration law) are two separate systems. You need both. Check your status before anything else — doing it in the wrong order can mean fines or visa trouble.
| Your visa | Can you register a business? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| F-5 Permanent | Yes | No activity restrictions |
| F-6 Marriage | Yes | Effectively unrestricted |
| F-4 Overseas Korean | Yes | Some restricted industries (simple labor etc.) |
| F-2 Residency | Yes | Check your sub-type (e.g. F-2-7 points) |
| D-8 / D-9 | Conditional | Investment / trade tracks — specific conditions |
| D-2, D-10, E-series, H-2 | Not as-is | Status change or extra-status permit needed first |
Choose your business — and check its license업종 결정과 인허가 확인
Most small businesses need more than registration alone. Restaurants need a food business report + hygiene training; selling cosmetics needs a responsible-seller license; cafes, academies, real estate all have their own. Know your industry's requirement before you sign a lease.
- Decide what you'll sell (product / food / service / online)
- Look up the license or report your industry requires
- If licensed: check the qualification conditions apply to you
Secure your place사업장 확보 — 임대차계약
You'll need an address for registration. Sign the lease in your own name, keep the contract — it's a required document. Check the building's permitted use matches your business (a residential-only unit can block a restaurant permit).
- Lease contract copy (or property deed if you own)
- Building use matches your business type
- Consider fixed-date stamp (확정일자) for lease protection
Register your business사업자등록 — 세무서 또는 홈택스
The core step — and it's simpler than you fear. Apply at any tax office (no district restriction) or online via Hometax. Deadline: within 20 days of starting business (you can also register before you start).
- Application form (at the office / online) — the form our AI will pre-fill
- Alien Registration Card (or passport)
- Lease contract copy
- Industry license/report certificate, if your business needs one
Selling online? File the e-commerce report통신판매업 신고 — 온라인 판매 시
Selling through smart stores, marketplaces, SNS or your own site requires an e-commerce business report to your district office — online via Gov24. Marketplaces will ask for this number at onboarding.
- E-commerce report form (Gov24) — AI pre-fill target
- Purchase-safety (escrow) service confirmation — issued by your marketplace, bank or PG
- Business registration number
Open, bank, and keep running개업 후 — 계좌·세무 일정
Open a business bank account with your registration certificate, register it with the tax office, and mark the calendar: VAT filings come back every year (January & July for individual businesses; quarterly preliminary periods may apply). Korean admin is a rhythm, not a one-off.
- Business bank account (bring your certificate + ARC)
- VAT calendar: file in Jan & Jul (individual)
- Keep every tax invoice and receipt from day one
This guide is general information based on official sources (National Tax Service, Gov24, Hi Korea), verified 2026.8. It is not legal or tax advice — licensed professionals (tax accountants, administrative agents) handle filings that require representation. Rules change; the AI assistant keeps answers current from official texts.
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