Can I change from D-7 (intra-company transferee) to another visa status?

Yes, you can. But whatever you change to from D-7, you must meet the requirements of the new status and get permission for a change of status of stay before you start the new work. D-7 is a status for working as essential professional staff at the company you were dispatched to. So if your job or the nature of the company changes, you must move to the status that fits the new activity.

Check before you change

• Which status fits your new activity (investment, employment, marriage, etc.)
• Whether you meet that status's requirements (education, career, income, investment amount, etc.)
• Whether you still have time left on your current stay period (apply before it expires)
• Whether you have no unpaid taxes or record of violating the Immigration Act
• Whether you have not yet started the new activity (working before you get permission is a violation)

Common changes

• Corporate Investment (D-8): Usually when you meet the foreign investment requirements and set up or run a company yourself
• Specific Activities (E-7): When you are newly hired by a Korean company that is not an affiliate
• Residence (F-2) and Permanent Residence (F-5): When you meet requirements such as the points system or length of stay
• Marriage Immigrant (F-6): When you have married a Korean citizen

💡 When you do not need to change status

Moving to another affiliate in the same group, or adding a workplace, is usually not a change of status. In this case, you file a 'report of change in alien registration details' within 15 days of the change. The documents are the original dispatch order issued by the head office, a certified copy of the corporate registry (법인등기사항전부증명서) showing the companies are affiliates, and copies of the new workplace's operating funds import documents, corporate registration and business registration certificate.

The fee for a change of status of stay is 100,000 KRW. It is 200,000 KRW to change to Permanent Residence (F-5), and it is waived for a change to Corporate Investment (D-8). You can apply through the e-Application service on HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or visit the immigration office for your address. If the requirements are unclear, or you are weighing several statuses, try the Kevi administrative agent consultation (Visa Service in the app).

Once you have decided which status to change to, check that status's requirements first on HiKorea or by calling 1345.