D-7 Intra-Company Transfer Visa Korea: Complete Guide 2026

The D-7 visa allows employees of foreign companies to work at their affiliated Korean entities — branches, subsidiaries, parent companies, or liaison offices. It is Korea's designated intra-company transfer category under the Immigration Act.

Unlike the D-8 corporate investor visa, which requires direct investment, the D-7 is built around the corporate relationship between the sending and receiving entities. Get that foundation right, and the rest of the application follows a predictable path.

Table of Contents

• 1. When Is D-7 the Right Visa?
• 2. Qualifying Corporate Relationships
• 3. Position & Salary Requirements
• 4. Duration and Extension
• 5. Required Documents
• 6. Application Procedure
• 7. D-7 vs D-8 — The Most Common Confusion
• 8. Frequently Asked Questions
• 9. Consultation

1. When Is D-7 the Right Visa? {#section-1}

D-7 applies when an employee is transferred within a corporate group — from a foreign entity to a Korean entity. Typical scenarios:

• Foreign headquarters → Korean branch
• Foreign parent company → Korean subsidiary
• Foreign subsidiary → Korean parent company
• Foreign subsidiary → Korean sister company (same group)
• Foreign company → Korean liaison office

Key distinction: The person must already be employed at the foreign entity and be transferred to Korea — not newly hired directly by the Korean entity. New hires go through E-7 (Specific Activities) or similar categories.

2. Qualifying Corporate Relationships {#section-2}

Korean immigration authorities recognize the following relationship types:

Proving the relationship requires official documents: share registers, corporate registrations, and in many cases apostilled or consular-certified translations.

Liaison office note: A liaison office cannot conduct revenue-generating activities. Assignees there must stay within administrative and coordination roles, not sales, contracting, or revenue receipt.

3. Position & Salary Requirements {#section-3}

D-7 is restricted to managers, specialists, and essential knowledge personnel.

Position Categories

• Managers: Must have genuine supervisory authority over a department, team, or branch
• Specialists: Possess advanced expertise in a specialized field relevant to the assignment
• Essential Knowledge: Hold proprietary or highly specialized knowledge of the company's products, processes, or technologies

Junior or administrative staff do not qualify, even if they are employed by a qualifying foreign entity.

Salary

There is no statutory minimum salary for D-7, but immigration officers compare compensation against Korean market rates for equivalent roles. If the salary is significantly below market, they question whether the position is genuinely specialized.

In practice, salaries of at least ₩30–50 million annually pass scrutiny for most industries. Below that level, additional justification is expected.

Pre-transfer Work History

Most applicants should have worked at the foreign entity for at least 1 year before the transfer. Transfers after fewer than 6 months of employment at the originating entity face significantly more scrutiny.

4. Duration and Extension {#section-4}

Initial Stay Period

Standard initial D-7 period is 1 year. Larger, well-established corporations may receive 2–3 years.

Extension

Apply at least 30 days before expiry at the local immigration office or via HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr).

Extension review focuses on:

• Continued assignment — new or renewed assignment letter
• Pay stubs from the Korean entity
• Active corporate status (dissolved or dormant companies fail)
• Tax compliance

There is no legal cap on extensions. Assignees who have been in Korea for 5+ years should explore F-5 permanent residency pathways (typically via F-2-7 points-based or F-5-5 long-term residency).

5. Required Documents {#section-5}

Overseas Consulate Application (Visa Application)

In-Korea Status Change (Already in Korea)

If already in Korea on another visa, you may change status domestically. Add:

• Current alien registration card
• Documents supporting your existing status
• Tax records if you had Korean income

6. Application Procedure {#section-6}

From Overseas

1. Submit to Korean embassy/consulate in applicant's home country or country of residence
2. Processing: typically 5–15 business days; larger corporate applicants may qualify for faster track
3. Enter Korea on D-7 visa
4. Register as foreign resident (alien registration) within 90 days of entry

In-Korea Status Change

1. Apply online via HiKorea or visit the local immigration office in person
2. Processing: typically 1–3 weeks
3. New alien registration card issued after approval

7. D-7 vs D-8 — The Most Common Confusion {#section-7}

Many applicants arrive from multinational companies unsure whether they need D-7 or D-8.

Common case 1: Foreign HQ COO assigned as CEO of Korean subsidiary

• If HQ owns >50% of Korean subsidiary → D-7 eligible
• If COO also made personal capital investment → D-8 also possible
• Choose the path with stronger supporting documents

Common case 2: Transfer within corporate group but paperwork shows new hire

• No assignment letter → D-7 not applicable
• Pursue E-7 instead

Common case 3: Liaison office employee doing sales work

• D-7 status technically maintained but liaison office activity rules violated
• Consider converting liaison office to branch, or establishing a separate entity

8. Frequently Asked Questions {#section-8}

Q. Can I work part-time for another company while on D-7? A. No. D-7 binds you to the purposes of the specific assignment. Working for unaffiliated companies violates your visa conditions.

Q. Can my spouse and children come with me? A. Yes. They apply for F-3 (accompanying family) visas. Your spouse would need a separate work permit to be employed in Korea.

Q. My company's Korean subsidiary has been operating at a loss. Will that affect renewal? A. The entity must remain legally active and filing taxes. Zero revenue alone is not disqualifying, but you'll need to explain the continued business purpose of the assignment.

Q. Can D-7 lead to permanent residency? A. D-7 is not a direct path to F-5 permanent residency. The typical route runs through F-2-7 (points-based long-term residence) or F-5-5 (long-term resident). Consult with an administrative attorney if you have 5+ years of stable residence and income.

Q. What if my visa application is rejected? A. Identify the reason — usually insufficient corporate relationship proof, position documentation, or employment history. Strengthen those elements and reapply, or explore E-7 if the transfer structure doesn't meet D-7 criteria.

9. Consultation {#section-9}

D-7 applications involve layers of corporate documentation, translation, and notarization requirements that differ by country. The most common failure points are:

• Ambiguous shareholding structure that doesn't clearly establish >50% relationship
• Assignment letters that don't specify the position or duration clearly
• Sending entity work history below 1 year

Vision Administrative Office provides D-7 visa consultation, document review, and full application support.

Free consultation: 02-363-2251