D-7 Visa Requirements:
Korea Intra-Company Transfer Visa Guide (2026)

D-7 visa requirements at a glance — 1+ year tenure at parent company · managerial or specialist role · salary at local-market rate · sponsoring Korean branch or liaison office must be registered. VISION ARC, a licensed Korean administrative law firm, has guided D-7 applications for branches of US, EU, Japanese, and Chinese parent companies since 2018.

D-7 Visa Overview

The D-7 visa (Intra-Company Transfer) is granted to foreign executives, managers, or specialists who are dispatched from an overseas parent company to its registered branch, liaison office, or local subsidiary in Korea. Korea Immigration treats this category as a non-immigrant work visa with renewable 1-2 year stay periods, and it serves as a common bridge to long-term residency (F-2-7) and ultimately permanent residency (F-5).

Unlike the D-8 corporate investor visa, which requires the foreigner to invest capital and establish a new Korean corporation, D-7 assumes the Korean entity already exists as a registered branch (지점) or liaison office (연락사무소) of an overseas company. The visa is purely employment-based — the foreigner does not need to make a personal investment.

D-7 Eligibility Requirements

Korea Immigration evaluates D-7 applications against four core criteria:

1. Parent-company tenure: The applicant must have been continuously employed at the overseas parent (or its subsidiary) for at least 1 year prior to dispatch.
2. Position seniority: The role in Korea must be at the level of director, manager, or specialist with substantive decision-making or technical authority — administrative or junior staff roles do not qualify.
3. Salary parity: The Korean salary should be at or above the local market rate for an equivalent Korean role. Specialist positions typically require KRW 35-45M per year minimum, while executive roles often start at KRW 60M+.
4. Sponsoring entity registration: The Korean branch or liaison office must be properly registered under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act and have a valid business registration number with the local tax office.

Required Documents (Document Checklist)

Document preparation is the single highest-friction step in D-7 applications. The standard checklist VISION ARC prepares for clients includes:

• Visa application form (signed)
• Color photo (3.5×4.5cm, white background)
• Passport copy (full validity, minimum 6 months remaining)
• Dispatch letter from parent company (signed by HR or executive)
• Employment certificate from parent company (showing 1+ year tenure)
• Korean entity's branch / liaison office registration certificate
• Korean entity's business license and tax registration
• Salary agreement or labor contract (Korean and home-country versions)
• Educational and professional qualification documents (degree, license)
• Career history detailing managerial or specialist responsibilities
• Korean entity's recent financial statements or proof of operating capital
• Apostilled and translated foreign documents (where required)

D-7 Application Process: Step by Step

Step 1 — Visa Issuance Number (VIN) Application: The Korean entity files a Visa Issuance Number application with the regional Immigration Office in Korea. Processing takes approximately 2-4 weeks.

Step 2 — Consulate Visa Stamp: Once the VIN is issued, the foreign applicant submits passport and supporting documents to the Korean consulate or embassy in their home country to receive the actual visa stamp. Typical processing 5-10 business days.

Step 3 — Entry to Korea: The applicant enters Korea using the issued visa, typically within 90 days of issuance.

Step 4 — Alien Registration Card (ARC): Within 90 days of entry, the foreigner must register with Korea Immigration and obtain an ARC, which serves as the foreign resident's Korean ID for the duration of stay.

Step 5 — Annual Compliance and Renewal: D-7 stay periods are 1-2 years and renewable. Each renewal requires updated employment certificates, salary statements, and tax filings.

D-7 vs. D-8: Which Visa Fits Your Situation?

D-7 and D-8 are often confused because both involve foreign nationals operating in Korea on behalf of overseas companies, but the legal structure is different:

For overseas executives and specialists supporting an existing Korean branch, D-7 is the simpler route. For founders establishing a new Korean business, D-8 is required.

Frequently Asked Questions