Korea Work Visa D-7 Required Documents: Eligibility and Checklist for the D-7 Intra-Company Transferee Visa
The D-7 Intra-Company Transferee visa is for employees who have worked at least one year at an overseas head office or affiliate and are sent to a Korean branch or subsidiary as essential specialized personnel. It covers two groups. The first is executives, managers, and specialists sent to the Korean branch or subsidiary of a foreign company. The second is employees of an overseas subsidiary of a Korean listed company (or similar entity) who are sent to the head office in Korea. This guide covers eligibility, required documents, the application process, common problems in review, and what to manage after you arrive.
What the Korea D-7 "Work Visa" Actually Is
A "work visa" and the D-7 are not the same thing
If you search for a "Korea work visa" in Chinese, the D-7 often comes up in the results. This is where many people go wrong. The D-7 is not a visa for getting a new job at a Korean company. It is a transfer visa for sending someone who already works for an overseas company to that company's Korean office. If a Korean company is hiring you directly, you should usually look at other statuses first, such as the E-7. If you choose the wrong visa at the start, you may collect every document and then have to go back and pick a different visa type.
Legal definition
D-7 status is defined in Annex 1-2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act. It has three core requirements:
- The applicant has worked at least one year at the head office, branch, or similar office of a foreign public institution, organization, or company
- The applicant is being sent to an affiliate, subsidiary, branch, or office in Korea
- The applicant will work in Korea as essential specialized personnel
The status also covers employees who have worked at least one year at an overseas subsidiary or branch set up by a Korean listed company or public institution and are being sent to the head office in Korea. Anyone who qualifies for D-8 (Corporate Investment) status is excluded from the D-7.
Two types of D-7
| Type | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign company's Korean office | Transfer from an overseas head office to a Korean branch, subsidiary, or office | Korean office's setup and operating record are checked |
| Korean company's overseas office | Transfer from the overseas subsidiary or branch of a listed company (or similar) to the Korean head office | Head office requirements and purpose of the transfer are checked |
D-7 Visa Eligibility: Three Things to Check First
At least one year at the overseas office
You must show that you worked at the overseas head office (or a qualifying office) for at least one year right before the transfer. People often overlook whether that service was continuous. If you left and were rehired, or moved between affiliates, the one-year count can get complicated. An employment certificate alone is often not enough. You may need payroll records or social insurance history to prove you actually worked there.
Whether you count as essential specialized personnel
A company cannot send just any employee on a D-7. In practice, the first question is whether the person is an executive, a senior manager, or someone with specialized knowledge. If the title says "Manager" but the job description is vague, you are likely to be asked for more documents. What matters is not the title. It is a clear explanation of why this particular person is needed for the work in Korea.
Whether the Korean office really exists
Whether the Korean entity actually operates matters even more than the paperwork. A foreign company's Korean branch needs a foreign exchange establishment report, corporate registration, and business registration, and its record of bringing in operating funds will also be reviewed. How much operating capital is required, and what counts toward it, depends on each case. To find out which standard applies to your company, it's best to have your actual documents reviewed in a consultation. If there is no office lease, or the lease is only on paper, this is exactly where applications get stuck in review.
Korea Work Visa D-7 Required Documents: Checklist
Documents from the applicant (transferred employee)
| Document | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application for a Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance | Official form under the Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Act | Includes applicant details |
| Passport copy | Personal information page and expiration date | Original must be shown at some stage |
| Passport-size photo | Recent color photo | Rejected if it doesn't meet specifications |
| Transfer order | States transfer period, position, and duties | Issued by the overseas head office |
| Certificate of employment / work experience | Proves at least one year of service | Back it up with payroll and insurance records |
| Education and career records | Support specialist status | Requested case by case |
Documents from the Korean company (inviting party)
| Document | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of corporate or branch registration | Confirms the Korean office exists | Recently issued copy |
| Business registration certificate | Confirms the business is operating | Business type should match |
| Foreign exchange report (acceptance) | Report on branch/office setup or foreign investment | Issued by a foreign exchange bank |
| Proof of operating capital brought in | Foreign currency purchase certificate, etc. | Mainly required for branches |
| Office lease agreement | Confirms a real place of business | Photos of the premises may be requested |
| Tax payment certificate | Confirms operating record | Newly established companies may submit alternatives |
Translation, notarization, and apostille
Documents issued abroad generally need a Korean translation attached. Documents such as the head office's corporate registration or employment certificates may need an apostille or consular legalization, depending on the issuing country. For documents issued in China, the process changed after China joined the Apostille Convention, which took effect in November 2023. The local Immigration Office has the final say on which certification each document needs, so check with your local office before you apply.
Note: The document list changes often as immigration policy changes. You can find the basic list in the visa-specific guidance manual on HiKorea. In practice, it is also common to be asked for documents that are not in the manual.
Practical tip: Even with every document in hand, mismatched filing order or dates can lead to requests for more documents and slow everything down. In a recent similar case, more documents were requested because the branch registration date and the date operating capital came in didn't line up. Talk to a professional to confirm exact costs and steps. Book a free consultation now → +82-2-309-3107 / KakaoTalk: alexkorea
D-7 Visa Application Process and Processing Time
Applying from abroad (Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance)
Usually, the inviting company in Korea first obtains a Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance.
- The inviting company in Korea applies for the certificate at the local Immigration Office or through HiKorea.
- The company sends the issued confirmation number to the employee being transferred.
- The employee applies for the visa at a Korean embassy or consulate abroad.
- The employee completes alien registration within 90 days of arriving.
The Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance is based on Article 9 of the Immigration Act, and alien registration on Article 31 of the same Act.
Changing status while already in Korea
If you are already in Korea on another status, you may be able to apply for a change of status under Article 24 of the Immigration Act. However, changes are often restricted from statuses such as Short-Term Visit (C-3). In those cases, leaving Korea and getting the visa abroad can actually be faster.
Processing time and costs
| Step | Processing time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance | Varies by office and filing period | Longer if more documents are requested |
| Visa issuance at embassy/consulate | Varies by mission | Some countries require extra documents |
| Alien registration | Depends on appointment availability | Within 90 days of arrival |
Processing times vary by immigration office. We plan your timeline around whichever route is currently moving fastest. Costs consist of government fees plus administrative service fees. Because costs vary by case, we'll give you an exact quote during your free consultation.
Why D-7 Visas Get Refused or Delayed: Common Problems
When the Korean office looks like a shell company
The most common case is a company that has been incorporated but shows almost no real business activity. If there is little sign of operations, such as revenue, clients, or local hires, the need for a transfer itself is questioned. For a newly established company, strengthen the application with a detailed business plan and specific plans for upcoming deals.
When the transferee's duties are poorly described
A transfer order that only says "oversee Korean branch operations" is likely to run into trouble in review. It needs to show what work the person will do, with whom, and with what authority. If the role looks like something a local employee could do, it weakens the case that the person is essential specialized personnel.
When it's unclear who pays the salary
Many applications are filed without deciding whether the overseas head office or the Korean entity will pay the salary. If this isn't explained well, it can cause problems again later, with tax filings during your stay or when you apply for an extension. In a recent similar case, the applicant was asked for further explanation at the extension stage because of how the salary was structured. We advise on how to set up the salary structure case by case during consultation.
D-7 Extensions and Bringing Your Family
Maximum stay and extensions
The maximum period granted per D-7 approval is set in Annex 1 of the Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Act. Before it expires, you must get an extension of stay under Article 25 of the Immigration Act. Extension reviews look at the Korean company's actual operating record more closely than the first entry review did. The records required for an extension depend on the review policy at the time, so it's safest to get advice well before your status expires.
Accompanying family (F-3)
The spouse and minor children of a D-7 holder can live in Korea with F-3 (Dependent Family) status. F-3 holders generally cannot work. If your spouse plans to work in Korea, look into a separate visa status for them first.
Switching to another company
The D-7 depends on the relationship between the company that sent you and its Korean office. If you move to a different company, you may no longer meet the D-7 requirements. If you're thinking of changing jobs, first check whether you can switch to another status, such as E-7 or D-8.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Can I use a Korea D-7 work visa to get a job at a Korean company directly?
The D-7 is for sending an employee of an overseas company to that company's Korean office. If a Korean company is hiring you directly, you need to look at other statuses, such as the E-7, instead of the D-7.
Q. Can I still apply if I've worked at the overseas head office for less than a year?
By law, at least one year of service is a basic requirement. If you're a little short or have moved between affiliates, first check how your service period is counted.
Q. Can a liaison office invite an employee on a D-7?
A foreign company's liaison office may be able to sponsor a D-7 if it meets the requirements. However, liaison offices are not allowed to carry out business activities, so you need to confirm that the transferee's duties stay within those limits.
Q. Can I bring my family on a D-7 visa?
Your spouse and minor children can live with you on F-3 dependent visas. Documents proving the family relationship need different certifications depending on the issuing country, so preparing them early saves time.
Q. How long does it usually take to prepare a D-7 visa?
If the Korean office's documents are already in order, things move fairly quickly. If you have to start with the branch registration or bringing in operating capital, those steps will take longer.
A-One Administrative Agency Services
Need expert advice?
The D-7 document list looks simple, but in actual review, the outcome depends on whether the Korean office is real and how well the transferee's duties are explained. The places where people preparing on their own get stuck most often are proof of operating capital, drafting the transfer order, and explaining the salary structure. Immigration manuals are revised often. Once the transfer date is set, checking your documents against the current standards before you apply will save you time.
A-One Administrative Agency handles:
- Document review and filing for the D-7 Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance
- Setting up a foreign company's Korean branch or subsidiary, together with the foreign exchange reports
- Change of status, extensions, and dependent family (F-3) applications
- Strategy for reapplying after requests for more documents or a refusal
Because costs vary by case, we'll give you an exact quote during your free consultation.
- Office: A-One Administrative Agency
- Phone: +82-2-309-3107
- KakaoTalk: alexkorea
- Address: 43, Cheonho-daero 101-gil, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul
※ This article is for general information only and does not guarantee approval in any individual case. For the latest standards, check the notices on HiKorea and the Korea Immigration Service.
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