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5 Things to Check Between OASIS-6 or OASIS-9 and D-8-4 Application

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If your team is selected for OASIS-9, does every founder receive 30 points?


If selected for OASIS-6 or OASIS-9, will all team members receive 30 points? There is a detail that foreign startup teams often overlook when preparing for OASIS-6 or OASIS-9. Specifically, if team members participate jointly in the program or are recognized as joint beneficiaries, each participant may not be awarded the exact same number of points.


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According to the scoring table in the Ministry of Justice’s publicly available materials, effective January 1, 2025, a track record of receiving OASIS-6 or OASIS-9 benefits corresponds to the mandatory 30-point requirement under the D-8-4 scoring system. However, the guidelines state that if support from the program is received jointly, the points are divided among the number of joint participants.


(https://www.oasisvisa.com/kor/about.html)


For example, if two people are recognized as joint beneficiaries as a single team, you should first consider the possibility that each will be awarded 15 points based on a simple calculation. However, since the actual number of recognized individuals and the points awarded may vary depending on the selection list, the beneficiary confirmation letter, and immigration screening criteria, individual verification is required.


What are the OASIS-6 and OASIS-9 programs?


OASIS-6 is an invention and startup competition that identifies creative intellectual property ideas and startup concepts from foreign nationals and provides opportunities to develop sales channels and secure investment. OASIS-9 is a startup commercialization support program that provides early-stage commercialization funding, R&D connections, and post-launch support.


Unlike typical educational courses, both programs place a strong emphasis on selecting participants based on the quality of their business ideas and their commercial potential. Therefore, you should not describe them in a way that implies, “Just by taking the course, you automatically receive 30 points.”


Even if you are awarded 30 points, you are not yet fully prepared for the D-8-4 visa.According to the published criteria, the general D-8-4 scoring system requires a score of 60 or higher out of a total of 300 points, and you must meet at least one of the mandatory requirements. Therefore, even if you are awarded 30 points through OASIS-6 or OASIS-9, you must also verify the following items:


  • Your actual OASIS score
  • The number of co-beneficiaries and the points allocated to each individual
  • Scores for optional criteria, such as other OASIS courses and Korean language proficiency
  • Educational and recommendation requirements, such as an associate’s degree from a Korean institution or a bachelor’s degree or higher from an overseas institution
  • Whether the corporation established by the applicant in the Republic of Korea has completed its incorporation registration
  • Whether the corporation has completed its business registration
  • Documents related to intellectual property rights or equivalent technological capabilities



In particular, guidelines from the Ministry of Justice state that the applicant must personally establish a corporation in the Republic of Korea and complete both its incorporation registration and business registration. Therefore, it is difficult to assess the applicant’s overall readiness based solely on the calculated score.


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5 Things to Check First When Applying as a Team


  1. Check whose name appears on the Beneficiary Confirmation Form.You must verify whether only one representative is recognized or if all co-founders are listed as beneficiaries.
  2. Distinguish between “team members” and “co-beneficiaries.”You cannot assume that all team members will automatically receive D-8-4 points simply because they participated in the project.
  3. Prepare separate projected score sheets for each individual.You must calculate the mandatory and optional points that each applicant can earn individually, rather than based on the team’s overall performance.
  4. Prepare strategies to make up for any point deficits.Check which items are eligible for individual recognition, such as OASIS-1, 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8; academic degrees; Korean language proficiency; and intellectual property rights.
  5. Plan the timing of corporate incorporation and the application sequence together.Since program selection, securing points, corporate registration, business registration, and residence status applications are interconnected, it is safest to manage them as part of an overall schedule.





Key Points


A track record of receiving OASIS-6 or OASIS-9 grants can be a crucial requirement for preparing for D-8-4. However, if the grant was received jointly as a team, the points awarded to each individual may vary, and even if you secure 30 points, you must still separately meet other requirements such as total points, educational background, and incorporation. Therefore, you should be able to answer the following question before applying for the program:


Not

“How many points will our team receive?”

But

“How many points will each founder be awarded individually?”



Are you unsure how your participation in OASIS-6 and OASIS-9 will be reflected in your preparation for D-8-4?



VisaBridge reviews each founder’s educational background, OASIS history, intellectual property, and corporate formation plans to outline a personalized preparation path. Before applying, be sure to check your eligibility on an individual basis—not just as a team.


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