D-3-11 (Trainee — Overseas Direct Investment) Korea Visa Guide | 2026

1. What D-3-11 Is

D-3-11 is the technical training code for trainees sent by a company that directly invested overseas under the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act. The typical trainee is a production-line employee of an overseas joint venture or of a Korean company's overseas local subsidiary — legally established and already operating for a qualifying period — where acquiring the skill in that country is impossible or difficult.

2. Eligibility Checklist

• Planned activity fits current D-3-11 trainee scope.
• Host institution/company trainee records are complete.
• Training plan, duration, and support records are coherent.
• Funding/support evidence covers trainee period.
• No unresolved compliance issues in prior records.

3. Criteria Summary

• D-3-11 is not points-based.
• Review is trainee-scope and host-document driven.
• Training plan specificity is central.
• Scope drift toward labor activity is high-risk.

4. Salary and Contract Rules

• Not reviewed under ordinary work salary floors.
• Training allowance/support records should be consistent.
• Host documents must not mischaracterize trainee status as employment.
• Conflicting compensation descriptions trigger scrutiny.

5. Employer and Workplace Change Rules

• D-3-11 is trainee-host linked.
• Host/training-site changes may require reporting/approval.
• Out-of-scope activity can invalidate status compliance.
• Maintain updated training attendance/progression records.

6. Required Documents

• Application form, passport, ARC (if applicable), photo, and fee proof.
• Host trainee acceptance and training-plan documents.
• Support/funding records for trainee period.
• Host legitimacy and program records as requested.
• Additional office-requested documents.

7. Fees and Processing

• Fees follow current D-3 issuance/change/extension schedules.
• Processing varies by host verification complexity.
• Supplements common when training plan is generic.
• Submit role-specific trainee evidence early.

8. Common Rejection Reasons

• Activity does not satisfy D-3-11 trainee scope.
• Host/training records are incomplete or inconsistent.
• Support/funding proof is weak.
• Documents imply unauthorized employment.
• Core training facts cannot be verified.

9. FAQ