Trade Management
- Holders · 2024-12
- 2,526
- Arrivals · 2026-06
- 642 -14.9% YoY
- Subtypes
- 5
- Top nationality
- China 447
The D-9 (Trade Management) visa covers: 무역경영. 2,526 foreign nationals held it as of the latest MOJ cross-tab (2024-12-31; all sojourners, including short-term), with China the largest group (447). Application and extension fees are listed with legal citations on the official fee table.
From the MOJ manual · as of 2026-07-31Who qualifies & how
Eligibility. Trade and business management: trade-business operators holding a Korea International Trade Association trade business code who meet the trade-visa points system (60+ of 160 points including 10+ essential points); dispatched technicians installing/operating/repairing imported industrial equipment; essential personnel dispatched by buyers to supervise shipbuilding or industrial-plant construction; and individuals running a business in Korea, including individual proprietors who imported KRW 300 million+ of foreign capital and completed business registration (or FDI-registered individual businesses with KRW 300 million+ capital).
Work rights. Company management, trade and the related for-profit activity, or the specific dispatched technical/supervisory service.
Duration. Up to 2 years per grant; dispatched-technician and supervisor visas are issued for 1 year or less, single entry.
Extension. Renewable while the qualifying trade or business activity continues; business substance (sales, tax records) is reviewed at extension for business-operator categories.
Pathways. D-9 → F-2 points-based residence (trade operators meeting the trade points system; KIIP level 3+ earns extra points) → F-5; D-9 time also counts toward general F-5 (5 years on D-7~E-7/F-2). Navigator route: 무역경영 → 거주 → 영주.
ChecklistRequired documents
- Common: visa application form, passport, 1 standard photo, fee
- Equipment technicians: equipment-import contract or proof, dispatch order, inviter's business registration or corporate register, annual tax payment certificate
- Ship/plant supervisors: order-contract copy, dispatch order, inviter's business registration or corporate register, annual tax payment certificate
- Individual business operators: business registration (and investment registration where held), joint-business agreement where applicable, capital-import proof (remittance/customs), capital-use proof, business-performance proof (export/import declarations, VAT filings), workplace-existence proof (lease, photos), national-employment pledge where applicable
Fees: change of status ₩100,000. The full table with legal citations is on /fees.
Chile nationals receive a 1-year single visa under the Korea-Chile FTA rules when qualifying.
Official taxonomySubtypes (5)
| Code | Name (한국어) | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| D-9-1 | 무역고유거래(D-9-1) | 무역업고유번호를부여받은무역거래자 |
| D-9-2 | 수출설비(D-9-2) | 수출설비기계의설치운영보수자 |
| D-9-3 | 선박설비(D-9-3) | 선박건조설비제작감독 |
| D-9-4 | 경영영리사업(D-9-4) | 회사경영및영리사업자 |
| D-9-5 | 유학무역경영(D-9-5) | 유학생출신무역경영자 |
Who holds itD-9 holders by nationality
| Nationality | Registered holders | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China 중국 | 447 | 17.7% |
| Mongolia 몽골 | 221 | 8.7% |
| Brazil 브라질 | 144 | 5.7% |
| Vietnam 베트남 | 133 | 5.3% |
| France 프랑스 | 123 | 4.9% |
| Uzbekistan 우즈베키스탄 | 107 | 4.2% |
| India 인도 | 106 | 4.2% |
| Nigeria 나이지리아 | 105 | 4.2% |
| Pakistan 파키스탄 | 76 | 3.0% |
| Philippines 필리핀 | 74 | 2.9% |
TrendMonthly arrivals on the D-9
In 2026-06, 642 people entered Korea on a D-9 visa, down 14.9% from a year earlier.
| Month | Arrivals | Relative volume |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-07 | 716 | |
| 2025-08 | 892 | |
| 2025-09 | 607 | |
| 2025-10 | 806 | |
| 2025-11 | 586 | |
| 2025-12 | 460 | |
| 2026-01 | 754 | |
| 2026-02 | 819 | |
| 2026-03 | 742 | |
| 2026-04 | 752 | |
| 2026-05 | 737 | |
| 2026-06 | 642 |
Verified against source · 2026-08-17