To change to the points-based trade status (D-9-1), you must score at least 60 out of a total of 160 points, and at least 10 of those points must come from the required items. The required items are trade performance and trade expertise; the optional items are length of stay in Korea, education and bonus points. The core documents include a copy of your business registration certificate and a copy of the trade business number certificate issued by the Korea International Trade Association.
This guide is for foreign nationals already staying in Korea under another status who have started, or plan to start, a trading business, especially those who graduated from a Korean university or have trade experience. The score table looks long at first, but securing the 10 required-item points is the starting point.
Key Summary
- Eligible for Trade Management (D-9): traders who have been given a trade business number for each trader by the Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association under the foreign trade laws and the Foreign Trade Management Regulations
- Points requirement: at least 60 out of 160 points, with at least 10 points from required items
- On first approval, only 1 year of stay is granted
- If you are co-representative with a foreign national holding the same status, points are applied at 1/n
- Required items up to 65 points (trade performance up to 30, trade expertise up to 35); optional items up to 95 points (stay in Korea up to 20, education up to 20, bonus points up to 55)
- Documents: application form, passport, photo, copy of business registration certificate, copy of the trade business number certificate (issued by the Korea International Trade Association), joint business agreement (for co-owners), proof that the business premises exist, proof for the points claimed
- Ground for refusal: falling under the integrated standards restricting stay permits for persons who received fines and similar
1. Who is the points-based trade status (D-9-1) for?
The activities of Trade Management (D-9) include company management, trade and for-profit business. On the trade side, eligible persons are traders who have been given a trade business number for each trader by the Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association under the foreign trade laws and the Foreign Trade Management Regulations. Obtaining the trade business number first is therefore a precondition.
When changing status inside Korea, a change of status to trade (D-9-1) is granted to persons who meet the trade visa points requirements. The maximum stay that can be granted at one time for Trade Management (D-9) is 2 years, but on first approval under the points system only 1 year is granted.
2. Points requirement: 60 of 160 points, with 10 from required items
The standard is the same for issuance of a Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance and for change of status.
- At least 60 out of a total of 160 points, with at least 10 points from required items
- On first approval, only 1 year of stay is granted
- If you are co-representative with a foreign national holding the same status, points are applied at 1/n
Even if your total exceeds 60, you do not meet the requirement if your required items fall short of 10. If two co-representatives both apply under the same status, the points are divided, so recalculate before deciding on the co-representative structure.
3. Required items table (up to 65 points)
Trade performance (annual average for the most recent 2 years as of the application date, up to 30 points)
| Category | Threshold | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Export performance | USD 300,000 or more | 30 |
| Export performance | USD 100,000 or more | 20 |
| Trade performance (exports + imports) | USD 500,000 or more | 15 |
| Trade performance (exports + imports) | USD 300,000 or more | 10 |
Items cannot be counted together; only the single highest score is counted.
Trade expertise (up to 35 points)
| Category | Points | Recognition standard |
|---|---|---|
| Career in a trade-related field | 20 | 2 years or more of full-time work in trade at a public or private organization in Korea or abroad |
| Major in a trade-related field | 15 | Bachelor's degree or higher in a trade-related major from a university in Korea or abroad |
| Completion of specialized trade education | 10 | Only institutions and courses recognized by the Minister of Justice |
Only those with the career item may additionally count one of either the major or the education item. Without the career item, the major and the education item cannot be added together. The course criteria for recognizing a trade-related major are set out in a separate list.
4. Optional items table (up to 95 points)
Stay in Korea (calculated as of the application date, up to 20 points)
| Category | Points |
|---|---|
| Continuous stay in Korea after alien registration, 5 years or more | 20 |
| Continuous stay in Korea after alien registration, 3 years or more | 15 |
| Continuous stay in Korea after alien registration, 1 year or more | 10 |
| Without alien registration, 200 days or more of stay in the most recent 2 years | 5 |
Education (up to 20 points): doctorate 20, master's 15, bachelor's 10, associate degree 5
For both stay and education, items cannot be counted together; only the single highest score is counted.
Bonus points (up to 55 points, items can be counted together)
| Category | Points | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Study experience in Korea | 30 | Studied at a Korean university for 2 years or more and obtained an associate degree or higher |
| Capital of KRW 100 million or more | 15 | Only the applicant's own funds for running the trading business (loans and the like excluded) |
| TOPIK level 3 or higher, or KIIP completion | 10 | TOPIK level 3 or higher, or completion of the Korea Immigration and Integration Program |
For example, a former international student with an associate degree or higher from Korea can earn both the study-in-Korea bonus and education points, but the 10 required-item points must still come from trade performance or trade expertise.
5. Documents for the change of status
| Document | Note |
|---|---|
| Application form (Form No. 34), passport, 1 standard photo | Common |
| Copy of business registration certificate | |
| Copy of trade business number certificate | Issued by the Korea International Trade Association |
| Joint business agreement, original and copy | For co-owners |
| Proof that the business premises exist | Lease contract, etc. |
| Proof for the points claimed, etc. | For each item you claim |
For the kind of proof, the standard for overseas visa applications is a useful reference. Under the visa standard, trade performance is proved with an export-import performance certificate issued by the Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association, trade expertise with career certificates, diplomas, education completion certificates and the like, plus capital proof, a TOPIK score report, a KIIP completion certificate and so on. The visa standard also states the approval conditions that business registration has been completed in the applicant's own name and that the applicant has not violated the Immigration Act within 3 years before the application date. Whether exactly the same documents are required for an in-country change must be checked case by case.
6. Grounds for refusal and when the change is not available
The ground for refusal for a change to trade (D-9-1) is falling under the integrated standards restricting stay permits for persons who received fines and similar. If you have ever paid a fine for an Immigration Act violation, check this first, regardless of your score.
The Trade Management (D-9) change of status guidance contains a table listing Technical Training (D-3), Non-professional Employment (E-9), Seafarer (E-10), Miscellaneous (G-1), Pure and Group Tourism (C-3-2), Medical Tourism (C-3-3), Working Holiday (H-1) and Working Visit (H-2) as statuses excluded from change. For Working Holiday (H-1), the change is refused only for nationals of countries whose agreement does not allow a change of status (France, Ireland, United Kingdom). However, this table sits inside the item for foreign individual business owners, so whether it applies in the same way to a change to points-based trade (D-9-1) must be checked case by case.
7. Common problems
- Applying with only a business registration, before obtaining a trade business number
- A total above 60 points but required items below 10
- Adding both the major and the education points without any trade career
- Double-counting trade performance under both export performance and trade performance
- Trying to claim the KRW 100 million capital bonus with borrowed money
- Being co-representative with a foreign national of the same status but not dividing the points at 1/n
8. How A-One Certified Administrative Agent can help
We calculate your trade performance, career, education and stay against the score table in advance, and review the document set, including the trade business number certificate, business registration certificate and proof that the premises exist. We do not conduct trade transactions or act as a tax filing agent. The immigration office decides each case, so no result can be promised, and we do not handle litigation or court representation (outside the scope of an Administrative Agent).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many points do I need to change to points-based trade (D-9-1)?
You need at least 60 out of a total of 160 points, with at least 10 points from required items.
Can I apply without any trade performance?
The required items are trade performance and trade expertise. Even without trade performance, you must reach at least 10 required-item points through a trade-related career, a trade-related major or completion of specialized trade education.
How long a stay is granted on first approval?
On first approval, only 1 year of stay is granted.
Where do I get the trade business number certificate?
The documents include a copy of the trade business number certificate issued by the Korea International Trade Association. Persons eligible for Trade Management (D-9) are likewise defined as traders given a trade business number by the Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association.
How are points calculated if we apply as co-representatives?
If you are co-representative with a foreign national holding the same status, points are applied at 1/n.
Related Guides
- The trade management route for foreign sole proprietors
- When you cannot change to the corporate investment visa, and nationality exceptions
- Corporate investment visa guide
Consultation
에이원 행정사사무소 (A-One Certified Administrative Agent) is an administrative office that supports document preparation and filing with the authorities. Fees vary by case and are explained during a consultation. Phone 02-309-3107 · Contact: https://investkorea.co.kr/en/contact