D-9 — International Trade and Business Visa (D-9)

The International Trade (D-9) visa is designed for individuals engaged in international trade, the management of a foreign-invested company, or the installation and maintenance of imported machinery. It serves as a primary vehicle for foreign entrepreneurs who wish to establish and operate their own individual businesses in South Korea, as well as for specialists dispatched by foreign companies to oversee technical projects or trade operations. The visa's purpose is to facilitate cross-border commerce and ensure that technical expertise is available for the operation of foreign-sourced equipment.

This visa is ideal for individual business owners who do not meet the specific corporate structure requirements of the D-8 Corporate Investment visa but possess significant capital to invest in the Korean market. It is also frequently used by technical consultants and trade managers who need to reside in Korea for extended periods to fulfill contractual obligations related to the export or import of industrial goods. A key distinguishing feature of the D-9 is its flexibility in covering both high-level management and specialized technical field services within a single visa category.