D-9-1 (Trade Business (Points-Based)) Korea Visa Guide | 2026

1. What D-9-1 Is

D-9-1 (무역업/Trade Business) is a points-based subtype of D-9 (Trade Management), granted to applicants who meet a scoring threshold across mandatory and elective categories: trade performance (recent 2-year average export/import volume), trade-field expertise (relevant career experience, relevant academic major, completion of professional trade education), domestic residence duration, education level, and other elective items. It governs both initial status change/visa issuance and subsequent extensions, with the score directly determining how long an extension is granted.

2. Eligibility Checklist

• Applicant/entity fits current D-9-1 trade-business pathway requirements.
• Trade operation evidence is concrete and verifiable.
• Business structure and role records are internally consistent.
• Financial/tax records support continuity claims.
• No unresolved reporting/compliance issues affect eligibility.

3. Criteria Summary

• D-9-1 handling references designated criteria frameworks in manual annexes.
• Review emphasizes operational substance, continuity, and record reliability.
• Initial and extension stages can apply different evidence expectations.
• Inconsistent business and financial records are major refusal signals.

4. Salary and Contract Rules

• D-9-1 is not primarily salary-floor reviewed.
• Business performance and continuity evidence is central.
• Representative compensation data should align with filings and records.
• Material discrepancies across tax/banking/corporate documents raise risk.

5. Employer and Workplace Change Rules

• D-9-1 is entity-operation based, not ordinary employee sponsorship.
• Business location/structure changes may require reporting or approval.
• Keep ownership/control updates accurately documented.
• Unreported changes can negatively affect extension review.

6. Required Documents

• Application form, passport, ARC (if applicable), photo, and fee proof.
• Business registration/corporate records and trade-operation evidence.
• Financial/tax records supporting continuity review.
• Any designated criteria-sheet supporting records required by office.
• Additional mission/office-requested case documents.

7. Fees and Processing

• Fees follow current issuance/change/extension schedules.
• Processing depends on operation evidence depth and consistency.
• Supplements are common in evidence-light continuity cases.
• Submit complete operational records before expiry in extension cases.

8. Common Rejection Reasons

• Activity does not satisfy D-9-1 pathway scope.
• Trade-operation evidence is weak or inconsistent.
• Financial/tax/corporate records conflict materially.
• Required reporting for material changes is missing.
• Review office cannot verify core operation continuity facts.

9. FAQ