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31-3 · Work, investment & study visas

Trade Management (D-9) Visa Issuance and Extension

D-9 (Trade Management) is a status of stay under Annex 1-2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act for essential professionals who set up and manage a company in Korea or carry on trade or another for-profit business; people hired in Korea and people who qualify for D-8 (Corporate Investment) are excluded. Annex 5 of the Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act sets the attachments by type: dispatch for installing or maintaining export equipment, company management or for-profit business, and trade under a trade business ID number issued by the Korea International Trade Association; the trade type also requires proof of the applicable points under the points system. Applicants abroad apply for a visa at a Korean embassy or consulate, and those already in Korea apply for a change of status or an extension at the immigration office with jurisdiction over their place of stay before their period of stay ends. The maximum period of stay granted at one time is 2 years, and extension reviews check whether the business actually operates through the real existence of the office, tax payments and export-import records.

HWANG YUNSANG ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICESONGDO · 37.3892° N / 126.6439° E
#Trade Management (D-9) Visa Issuance and Extension#Official check#31-3
🌐 D-9 Trade Management Visa: Issuance and Extension Requirements and Required Documents
01

Procedure

Procedure

Procedure type
  • Permit Difficulty High

    A procedure that allows a business, activity or stay that the law generally restricts, after review; licenses fall into this type. The authority reviews facility standards, location and consultation with other agencies, and a permit can be refused if the standards are not met.

  1. 01

    Confirm the application type: First decide whether this is a dispatch for installing, operating or maintaining export equipment (machinery) or supervising shipbuilding or equipment manufacturing, company management or a for-profit business, or trade under a trade business ID number. The attachments differ by type, and a person hired in Korea is not eligible for D-9.

  2. 02

    Business registration and office: Complete incorporation or sole proprietor registration, and prepare a lease, office photos and a signboard so that a real office exists at the address on the business registration certificate. An arrangement that only borrows an address makes it hard to prove the office exists and causes problems in the review.

  3. 03

    Business fund inflow or trade business ID number: For the company management or for-profit business type, prepare documents proving the inflow of business funds from abroad. For the trade type, prepare the trade business ID certificate from the Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association and proof of the applicable points under the trade points system.

  4. 04

    Visa or change of status application: Applicants abroad file a visa application form at a Korean embassy or consulate, and applicants staying in Korea file the integrated application form for a change of status at the immigration office with jurisdiction over their place of stay. Documents issued abroad must carry an apostille or consular legalization and be submitted with a translation.

  5. 05

    Alien registration and change reports: Register as a foreign resident at the immigration office with jurisdiction over the place of stay within 90 days of entry, submitting the business registration certificate (for a corporation, the certificate of registered matters). If the affiliated company changes or is added, or the company name changes, file a report of change in alien registration within 15 days.

  6. 06

    Extension of the period of stay: Before the period of stay ends, submit the integrated application form with a certificate of employment, the business registration certificate, proof of personal tax payment and proof that the office exists. The trade type submits the trade business ID certificate and points evidence again, and shows operating results with export-import declaration certificates and transaction contracts.

02

Filing route

Filing route

Korean embassy or consulate (visa issuance); immigration office with jurisdiction over the place of stay (change of status, alien registration, extension of stay)

Confirm the current filing office, jurisdiction, and online availability on the official website.

Official check
Actual processing agencyKorean diplomatic mission overseas · Competent Immigration Office
Statutory and policy authorityCompetent Korean authority or official service
Online routeHiKorea
03

Deadlines & processing notes

Deadlines & processing notes

Check deadlines and next steps against the notice, filing date, and any request for additional documents.Official check
04

Basic documents

Basic documents

Basic documents0 / 8

If only the business registration and the office are kept without any export-import activity, the operating results cannot be proven at extension and the applicant may receive a shorter period of stay or be refused, so keep transaction contracts and export-import declaration certificates as you go.

Scope of services

Scope of services

Hwang Yunsang Administrative Agent Office prepares and translates documents for administrative agencies, submits them on your behalf, and guides you through permit, application, and notification procedures. Services that require the principal’s personal appearance, principal’s application, or electronic signature may be limited in delegation.