The D-3 (기술연수) visa allows foreign nationals to receive industrial and technical training at Korean manufacturing companies. Unlike E-9 (the employment visa for non-professional workers), D-3 is a training visa — the legal framework positions the trainee as learning Korean production methods to later apply at their home-country employer.
D-3 is used for two main scenarios:
1. Corporate group training (계열사 연수):
A foreign employee of an overseas subsidiary or affiliate of a Korean conglomerate comes to the Korean parent company for technical skills training. Common in Samsung, Hyundai, LG, and similar groups with overseas manufacturing operations.
2. ODA/KOICA technical cooperation training:
Foreign nationals from developing countries sponsored under Korea's ODA programs receive industrial training at Korean companies.
The D-3 framework requires:
• A Korean company approved as a training institution (연수기관)
• A formal training plan (연수계획서)
• The trainee must have a genuine connection to an overseas entity
• The training must be time-limited and oriented toward skills transfer back to the home country
Duration: D-3 is issued for up to 1 year, renewable up to a total of 2 years.
Conditions: D-3 trainees receive a training allowance (연수수당), not a salary. They do not have full employment law protections and cannot freely change companies.
| D-3 Industrial Trainee | E-9 Non-Professional Employment |
|---|
D-3 applicants almost never self-apply — the corporate group or ODA program handles sponsorship.
D-3 trainees who experience workplace abuse or wage violations should contact the Ministry of Employment and Labor (1350).
Need help with this?
Our specialists handle d-3 industrial trainee visa korea — technical training, eligibility & sponsorship rules cases regularly and know exactly what Korean immigration officers look for.
Can a D-3 trainee convert to E-7 in-country?
Converting from D-3 to E-7 is possible if the trainee has acquired qualifications meeting E-7 standards and has a confirmed job offer. Consult an 행정사 for your specific situation.
| Legal status | Training (연수) | Employment (취업) |
| Labor protections | Partial | Full |
| Entry route | Corporate/ODA program | EPS System |
| Nationality | Any (qualifying program) | 16 EPS countries |
| Duration | Up to 2 years | 3 years (extendable) |
For most foreign workers doing production work in Korea, E-9 through the EPS system provides better legal protections. D-3 is specifically for genuine industrial knowledge transfer.