Panduan buat orang asing bikin toko online di Korea:...

Syarat visa

Visa yang memungkinkan orang asing buka toko online di Korea

Kalau mau buka toko online di Korea, pertama cek apakah visa kamu mengizinkan aktivitas bisnis. Bisa atau tidak tergantung jenis visa.

Visa F-2 (tinggal) hampir tidak ada batas kerja, jadi paling cocok buat daftar bisnis pribadi. Karena masa tinggal lama dan ruang aktivitas luas. Visa F-4 (diaspora) juga bisa bisnis kecuali pekerjaan manual tertentu.

Tapi visa E-9 (pekerjaan non-spesialis) dan D-2 (kuliah) melarang bisnis. Visa E-7 (aktivitas khusus) hanya boleh kerja di bidang yang diizinkan, jadi cek dulu ke imigrasi apakah jualan online termasuk.

Banyak orang asing mulai tanpa tahu syarat visa, terus terhenti di tengah. Pastikan cek di langkah pertama.

ℹ️Cara cek ruang aktivitas visa

Call center Imigrasi: 1345 (24 jam, bahasa Korea/Inggris/Cina dll)

HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr): panduan resmi ruang aktivitas per status tinggal

Lihat kode visa di bagian 'status tinggal' belakang kartu ARC kamu.

Penentu visa

Cek apakah visa kamu bisa pakai buat bisnis online

Jawab ya/tidak untuk pertanyaan, nanti tahu bisa atau tidak.

Question 1

Kamu punya visa F-2 (tinggal) atau F-4 (diaspora) sekarang?

Dapatkan alamat

Buat alamat pendaftaran bisnis pakai virtual office

Pakai virtual office, kamu bisa dapat alamat pendaftaran tanpa kantor fisik. Toko online, e-commerce, penjualan online tidak butuh fasilitas, jadi banyak yang mulai pakai alamat virtual.

Menurut HomeTax, pakai alamat virtual office butuh kontrak sewa. Kalau pemilik langsung, cukup satu kontrak sewa; kalau sublease, harus ada kontrak sublease + persetujuan sublease.

Setiap operator minta dokumen berbeda untuk asing. Umumnya paspor, ARC, kontak Korea, bukti status tinggal, tujuan bisnis & jenis usaha. Ini disebut KYC.

FastFive FiveSpot, JustCo, LeHobot dan coworking lain di Korea sediakan layanan alamat virtual. Sebelum kontrak, tanyakan apakah asing bisa bergabung dan dokumen apa yang dibutuhkan.

⚠️Catatan: Pastikan struktur sublease

Banyak operator virtual office tidak punya gedung, cuma sewa dan sublease ke kamu.

Kalau tidak ada kontrak sublease + persetujuan pemilik, pendaftaran bisnis bisa ditolak.

Sebelum kontrak, tanya 'Apakah ini sublease? Bisa dapatkan persetujuan sublease?'

Preparation documents

Virtual office contract & business registration checklist

Check each item. Missing docs can cause rejection.

0/8 done

Business registration

How to apply for business registration via NTS Hometax

Using Hometax (hometax.go.kr) you can apply without visiting tax office. Must apply within 20 days of start.

Hometax sign‑up & login

Go to hometax.go.kr and sign up as foreigner. Use your ARC number (13 digits). KakaoPay or digital certificate makes login easy.

Select business registration menu

After login, choose 'Apply·Submit → Business Registration (Individual)'. Apply as sole proprietor (general or simplified). If annual sales < 80 million KRW, you can choose simplified.

Enter business location info

Enter virtual office address as business location. Choose industry 'e‑commerce retail (525101)' or 'mail‑order (525103)'. Business name can be in English.

Attach documents & submit

Scan and attach lease (or sub‑lease + consent). Also attach ID (ARC) copy. Usually get registration number in 3–5 business days.

Receive business registration certificate

You can download the certificate as PDF from Hometax. Use it for platform onboarding, e‑commerce report, bank account. Tip: Save PDF right away and print a copy.

Reporting procedure

Mail‑order business report: Fair Trade Commission guide

Running an online shop requires a mail‑order report. Mandatory if >50 transactions/year or sales >12 million KRW. Not reporting may lead to fines.

Things to prepare before reporting

Business registration certificate (from Hometax)

Purchase safety service proof (escrow registration – for Fair Trade disclosure)

Shop domain or platform URL

Visit Gov24 (www.gov.kr)

Search 'mail‑order report', choose online apply. Verify identity with digital certificate or KakaoPay.

Fill out report form

Enter registration number, address (virtual office), sales channel (online shop), product types. Add shop URL if you have one; otherwise write 'preparing'.

Attach purchase safety service proof

If you sell on Naver Smart Store, Coupang etc., they provide escrow. Attach their purchase safety service proof.

Receive report certificate

After approval, you get the report certificate. Takes 2–3 business days. No fee. Tip: display certificate number at bottom of shop.

Platform comparison

Coupang·Naver Smart Store·11st foreign seller requirements comparison

All three platforms allow foreign sellers. Tap to compare requirements.

Foreign seller eligibility

Possible (business account needed)

Required documents

Business registration + mail‑order report + Korean account

Settlement method

KRW settlement to Korean account

Basic selling fees

5–10.8% by category

Foreign seller notes

Join Wing seller center with business account. Can use foreign bank account at account verification.

Taxes & cautions

Tax filing and virtual office cautions

If you register with a virtual office address, the address must match real business activity. If only the address is registered without actual operations, the NTS may suspect a 'shell business' and audit or cancel tax benefits. There are real cases at Chuncheon tax office.

VAT for general taxpayers is 10% of sales. Report/pay in January and July. Simplified taxpayers file once a year (January). Income tax is filed in May each year.

Foreign entrepreneurs' tax filing depends on Korean residence and foreign income. If complicated, consult a tax accountant specializing in foreign startups. Wrong filing can lead to penalties.

⚠️NTS checkpoints when using virtual office

You can separately report the actual storage/shipping warehouse address (there's a field for it).

If the virtual office operator asks for proof of address use, you must provide it.

During audit, they may ask for real business evidence (order list, contracts, bank statements).

Tip: Choose a tax agent experienced with foreign startups early. They can help from registration to first VAT filing, reducing mistakes.

FAQ

Foreign online shop startup FAQ

Can you start with visas other than F-2?▾

Yes, some other visas work. F-4 (overseas Korean) and F-6 (marriage) can start a business within their allowed scope. But conditions vary by visa code, so check with immigration (1345) first. Violating visa terms can risk losing status.

Is a Korean guarantor required for virtual office contract?▾

Not always. Some operators need a guarantor, but many accept just passport and ARC. Big operators like FastFive (FiveSpot) have procedures for foreigners. Ask before signing.

What other businesses can use a virtual office besides online shops?▾

IT freelancers, consulting, translation, design, etc. that need no physical space can register with a virtual address. But food manufacturing, beauty, academies, real estate brokerage, manufacturing that require facilities or permits cannot use only a virtual office.

Can't receive settlements without a Korean bank account?▾

All major Korean platforms (Coupang, Naver, 11st) settle to KRW accounts. Foreigners can open a business account after getting registration, at banks like Shinhan, Hana, Woori. First complete registration, then bring the certificate to the bank.

If I change visa after registration, does the registration stay?▾

Registration stays even if you change visa, but you must re‑check if the new visa permits business. Operating outside allowed scope can breach immigration law. Consult a tax accountant or immigration specialist when changing visa.

guide.e7RefundCap.refTitleUndang-Undang Imigrasi, HomeTax Kementerian Keuangan, Komisi Perdagangan Adil, Naver Smart Store, FastFive FiveSpot

Panduan buat orang asing bikin toko online di Korea: dari pendaftaran bisnis pakai virtual office sampai masuk Coupang