Intra-company transfer visa at a glance
| Official name | Intra-company transfer (D-7) |
|---|---|
| Scope of activity | Work on posting to an affiliate, subsidiary, branch or office in Korea by someone who worked at the head office or a branch of an overseas public body, organisation or company. This includes staff of an overseas local subsidiary or overseas branch set up by a listed company or public body who are posted to the head office in Korea to provide or receive specialist knowledge or technology |
| Work history | Generally at least 1 year of work before the posting. This does not apply where the Minister of Justice accepts an exception, such as work in key national industries or national projects |
| Excluded | People who qualify for the corporate investment (D-8) visa status |
| Subtypes | Foreign company D-7-1 · Korean company D-7-2 · FTA intra-company transfer D-7-91 · FTA contract D-7-92 |
| Key distinction | Whether there is a posting or transfer relationship between the overseas organisation and the Korean organisation |
| Where to apply | The immigration office with jurisdiction over the applicant's place of residence or the location of the Korean entity |
| What K-Biz Visa handles | Consultation, document preparation and filing with the immigration office |
Subtypes
| Code | Name | How they differ |
|---|---|---|
| D-7-1 | Foreign company | Posting from an overseas company to an entity in Korea |
| D-7-2 | Korean company | Transfer from an overseas unit of a Korean company |
| D-7-91 | FTA intra-company transfer | Transfer under a free trade agreement |
| D-7-92 | FTA contract | Contract under a free trade agreement |
The posting relationship and the documents checked depend on which subtype applies. Detailed requirements follow the official guidance at the time of application.
Common points of confusion
- Investment or posting
- If the purpose is investment and a part in management, we look first at corporate investment (D-8). If you are moving from an overseas organisation to work at a Korean one, we look first at intra-company transfer (D-7). The two statuses are not used together for the same company.
- Setting up a branch and visa status
- A foreign company setting up a branch in Korea does not by itself decide the D-7 route. We look at the posting relationship and the duties in Korea together.
- Subtype first
- The facts to check differ depending on whether this is a posting from a foreign company, a transfer from an overseas unit of a Korean company, or a transfer or contract under a trade agreement. We sort out the subtype first in the consultation.
Before the consultation
For a first enquiry, tell us how the overseas and Korean organisations are related and what duties you will take on. Once we set the scope of the review, we give you a list of the documents needed.
What to tell us first
- How the overseas and Korean organisations are related
- Your duties and period of work in Korea
- Your work history abroad
- Your current visa status and entry plans
Documents we ask for later
- Posting order documents
- Corporate documents for the overseas and Korean organisations
- Certificate of work experience
- Copies of your passport and ID
We ask only for the sensitive documents the review needs, and keep and delete them under our privacy policy.
Frequently asked questions
D-7 is the posting and transfer route for moving from an overseas organisation to work at a Korean one. D-8 is the route for investment and a part in management. We decide between them from the business structure and your role.
The Korea Visa Portal lists foreign company (D-7-1), Korean company (D-7-2), FTA intra-company transfer (D-7-91) and FTA contract (D-7-92).
The general rule is at least 1 year of work before the posting. The requirement does not apply where the Minister of Justice accepts an exception, such as work in key national industries or national projects.
Transfers from an overseas local subsidiary or overseas branch of a listed company or public body to the head office in Korea have a separate criterion based on the head office's investment amount.
Setting up a branch and the visa status review are separate matters. We look at the posting relationship and the duties in Korea together.
The documents to submit depend on the subtype and the case. We tell you once we have checked the relationship and the duties in the consultation.
Related agencies and laws
The procedures and criteria on this page follow the guidance of the agencies and the laws below. How they apply is checked case by case.
Agencies
- Ministry of Justice immigration offices
- Korea Visa Portal
- Korean embassies and consulates
Laws
- Immigration Act
- Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act
Send an enquiryTell us how the overseas and Korean organisations are related and what duties you will take on, and we will reply with the routes to review.