The facility track of Trade and Business (D-9, 무역경영), presented here as the D-9-2 industrial facility visa, is the status for people dispatched or invited to a company importing industrial equipment to install, operate and maintain it, and for essential staff such as executives, senior managers and specialist engineers dispatched to shipbuilding or plant manufacturing; each grant of stay is up to 2 years. Depending on the contract and dispatch arrangement, another status such as D-7, D-8, D-9, E-4 (technology transfer) or E-7 may fit instead, so we start from the contract. As an industrial facility visa agent, Vision Administrative Office handles eligibility, dispatch documents, in-country change of status and extensions.
Korea D-9 industrial facility visa services — what Vision Administrative Office handles
Choose your situation
At a glance
| Who it is for | People dispatched or invited to a company importing industrial equipment to install, operate and maintain it; executives, senior managers and specialist engineers dispatched to shipbuilding or plant manufacturing |
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| Requirements | Dispatch by the ordering company or a specialist service company it designates, an equipment import or shipbuilding contract, dispatch order or certificate of employment from the head office |
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| Process | Confirm the contract and dispatch arrangement → decide the status → visa or change of status in Korea → alien registration → extension before expiry |
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| Documents | Application, passport, photo, head-office dispatch order or certificate of employment, shipbuilding contract or equipment import contract, business registration copy, tax payment certificate (if applicable) |
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| Processing time | Maximum per grant is 2 years. Processing time depends on the immigration office and season |
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Questions by situation
Each answer starts with the conclusion, then who it applies to, the documents and the timing. Jump here from “Choose your situation” above.
Who can get the Korea D-9-2 industrial facility visa?
It covers people dispatched or invited to a company importing industrial equipment to provide installation, operation and maintenance know-how, and essential staff dispatched to take part in shipbuilding or plant manufacturing. Essential staff means executives, senior managers, specialist engineers and similar sent by the ordering company or a specialist service company it designates. The permitted activities are installing, operating and maintaining exported equipment and supervising shipbuilding and plant manufacturing.
We are sending an overseas equipment engineer to a Korean factory — is it D-9, D-7 or E-7?
Depending on the contract and the dispatch or employment arrangement, it can be D-7, D-8, D-9, E-3, E-4 or E-7, among others. If the engineer is sent under an equipment import contract to install or maintain machinery, the D-9 facility track comes first; if they are stationed at the overseas head office's Korean branch, D-7; if a Korean company hires them directly, E-7. We decide from the contract and dispatch order.
Our facility engineer entered Korea visa-exempt or on a short-term visa — can they change to D-9?
Among those who entered on visa exemption (B-1) or a short-term visa for unavoidable reasons, engineers dispatched or invited to an equipment-importing company and essential staff dispatched for shipbuilding or plant manufacturing can obtain a change of status. Submit a statement of reasons, the head office's dispatch order or certificate of employment, the shipbuilding or equipment import contract, the business registration copy and other documents.
What documents are needed to send shipbuilding or plant supervision staff to Korea?
The basics are the dispatch order or certificate of employment issued by the head office, the shipbuilding or equipment import contract and the Korean company's business registration copy. For an in-country change, also prepare a statement of reasons and, where applicable, a tax payment certificate. Make sure the contract shows the dispatched person's role and period.
Does a D-9 facility engineer need a permit to move to another group company's site?
D-9 is not subject to the change-of-workplace permit; it is handled as a report of change in alien registration. For D-7 to D-9 holders moving within the same group in the shipbuilding or plant field, submit the application, passport and residence card with the original head-office dispatch order or certificate of employment and the shipbuilding or equipment import contract.
How long can I get on the Korea D-9-2 industrial facility visa at once?
The maximum stay per grant for D-9 is 2 years. The actual period is set at review based on the equipment or shipbuilding contract term and the dispatch period. If the project runs longer, apply for an extension before expiry.
Installation is taking longer — how do I extend my D-9 stay?
Before your period ends, apply with documents showing the contract continues (equipment import or shipbuilding contract, dispatch order and so on). If your site changed, confirm the report of change in alien registration was filed first. The extension is reviewed against the remaining contract term.
Can my family come with me when I am dispatched to Korea on a D-9 visa?
The spouse of a D-9 holder, and minor children who are not married, are eligible for dependent family status (F-3, 동반). Prepare family relationship documents (with an apostille or consular legalization for foreign documents) and check whether a tuberculosis certificate is required.
Does a D-9 holder need permission to give a university lecture in Korea?
D-7, D-8 and D-9 holders working as full-time directors or above at a Korean company need permission for activities outside their status, as short-term employment (C-4-5), to lecture at a university for up to 90 days. Submit the university president's recommendation, the business registration copy, the employment contract and the original employer's consent, among others. Regular lectures beyond 90 days need separate approval.
Does a D-9 holder need permission to study at a Korean university?
Attending a regular educational institution such as a school or university is allowed within your period of stay without separate permission, as long as it does not undermine the original purpose of stay. If study becomes the main activity it may not fit the purpose, so check the schedule and scope first.
Key terms
- Trade and Business visa (D-9, 무역경영)
- Status for company management, trade and business, installing and maintaining exported equipment, and supervising shipbuilding and plant manufacturing.
- Industrial facility visa (D-9-2)
- The facility installation and shipbuilding or plant supervision track of D-9 described on this page.
- Equipment import contract (설비도입계약서)
- The contract under which a Korean company imports industrial equipment; the basis for dispatching equipment engineers.
- Shipbuilding contract (선박수주계약서)
- The order contract for building a ship; the basis for dispatching the buyer's supervision staff.
- Essential staff (필수전문인력)
- Executives, senior managers and specialist engineers dispatched by the ordering company or its designated service company.
- Report of change in alien registration (외국인등록사항 변경신고)
- The report a D-9 holder files when changing affiliation or moving within a group, in place of a workplace permit.
About our office
- Office
- Vision Administrative Office (비전행정사사무소 · VISAS KOREA)
- Principal
- Alex Lee (이원중), licensed administrative agent (행정사)
- Licence
- Administrative agent (행정사) — preparing immigration and residence filings and submitting them on the client’s behalf with written authorization (위임장)
- Scope
- Korean visas (visa issuance certificate, change of status, extension), permanent residency (F-5), foreign-invested company, branch and liaison office setup, immigration violation review and entry-ban response
- Languages
- Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese
- Address
- 3F Sungwoo Bldg, 324 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 04614, Korea
- Hours
- Weekdays 09:30–17:30 (KST)
Who hires us for this
- Korean factories inviting manufacturers' engineers to install imported equipment
- Overseas shipowners dispatching supervision staff to Korean shipyards
- Companies regularizing the status of engineers who entered short-term
- Dispatched engineers needing an extension as installation runs long
- HR teams deciding between D-7, D-9 and E-7
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