- Meetings and contracts
- Visa-free with K-ETA, or C-3-4
- Short paid work
- C-4, up to 90 days
- Transfer to a branch
- D-7
- Investment and startups
- D-8
Start with the purpose of your trip
Korean rules draw one clear line: unpaid business activities — meetings, negotiations, market research, conferences, signing contracts — are allowed on visa-free entry or a short-term visit visa. Work that is paid or productive in Korea — installing machinery, giving paid training, performing, working for a Korean entity — requires a work-related status, even for a few days. Since 2017, visa-free business visitors have been limited to non-profit activities.
Short business trips without a visa
If your nationality is visa-exempt, you can come for meetings, trade fairs and contract signings with an approved K-ETA (or under the temporary exemption, until 31 December 2026). The stay is limited to the visa-free period of your nationality. Our guide on business trips on a K-ETA details what is allowed. Frequent travellers can apply for a K-ETA valid for three years and multiple trips.
Travelling for meetings?
Visa-exempt business travellers need an approved K-ETA. Apply in about ten minutes — valid for three years and multiple trips.
Apply for my K-ETAC-3-4: the short-term business visa
Nationals who need a visa apply for the C-3-4 general business visitor visa, for stays of up to 90 days and unpaid activities only. Embassies usually ask for:
- the application form, passport and photo;
- an invitation letter from the Korean company, on letterhead, stating the purpose, dates and accommodation;
- the inviting company’s business registration certificate;
- a certificate of employment from your own company and financial documents.
Multiple-entry business visas can be granted at the embassy’s discretion. Repeat visitors invited by a Korean company who have entered Korea several times without any violation may be able to apply online through the Korea Visa Portal.
C-4: short-term paid work
The C-4 covers paid activities of 90 days or less: installing, repairing or maintaining imported equipment, supervising industrial or shipbuilding work, short paid lectures or research, performances and advertising work. Some embassy pages still list equipment installation under C-3-4 — when in doubt, ask the embassy before you travel.
D-7: intra-company transfer
The D-7 is for employees of a foreign company, with at least one year of service, who are posted to its Korean branch, subsidiary or liaison office as executives, managers or specialists. It is granted for up to three years at a time.
D-8: corporate investment and startups
- D-8-1 — essential staff of a company registered as a foreign investment.
- D-8-2 — venture businesses.
- D-8-3 — joint investments with a Korean partner.
- D-8-4 — technology startups founded by degree holders who earn enough points in the government’s OASIS startup programme.
- D-8-4S — the Startup Korea Special Visa, open since November 2024, for founders selected by a government committee.
D-9: trade and business management
The D-9 covers trade businesses, the supervision of exported ships, plants and industrial equipment under construction, and individual businesses — including some run by graduates of Korean universities.
Which status fits your project?
| Your plan | Status |
|---|---|
| Meetings, fairs, negotiations | Visa-free with K-ETA, or C-3-4 |
| A few weeks of paid technical work | C-4 |
| Posting to your company’s Korean office | D-7 |
| Running a foreign-invested company | D-8 |
| Trade or supervising a construction | D-9 |
| Hired locally by a Korean company | E-7 (see work visas) |
Practical tips for business travellers
- Carry your invitation letter and meeting schedule: immigration officers may ask about the purpose of your visit.
- Never accept payment from a Korean source on a visa-free stay or C-3 visa.
- APEC Business Travel Card holders whose card is valid for Korea are exempt from the K-ETA.
- Long assignments require foreigner registration within 90 days of arrival.