The Ministry of Justice reduced visa extension requirements for non-Korean small businesses in Korea starting in March 2018. The photo shows participants in a meeting for non-Korean small businesses, new start-up and advisers at the Seoul Global Center on Nov. 14, 2017. (Ministry of Justice)
By Kim Hyelin and Hahm Hee-eun
Requirements to extend certain visas have become more relaxed.
On March 13, the Ministry of Justice announced that it will make it easier to extend D-9 international trade visas for non-citizens who are exporting domestic products, starting in March.
The revised regulations focus on diversifying the ways in which the non-citizen can show their business performance. The ministry introduced a system to extend such visas, and also established an in-depth training curriculum for small businesses that export Korean goods.
First, the scope of the documentary evidence needed to show business performance has been broadened.
Up until now, an Export and Import Performance Certificate issued by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) was the only accepted document to show business performance. Starting this month, however, both Export Performance Certificates and Online Shopping Mall Transaction Details issued by foreign exchange banks will also be recognized.
A recommendation and review system for visa extensions was also introduced.
Up until now, there have been several cases where businesses were abandoned when the required paperwork to extend a visa couldn’t be provided. Starting this month, if a small exporter receives a recommendation from an official trade education institute, as designated by the Ministry of Justice, such as the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), KITA and the Seoul Industry Promotion Agency, a visa extension might be granted after an examination process.
Finally, an in-depth training curriculum for exporters has been newly established so that participants who complete more than 30 hours of training can earn extra points if their visa extension is ever reviewed.
The Ministry of Justice said, “We are expecting that this improvement will encourage foreign residents here to increase their exports of domestic products and to create more jobs for Koreans in this field.”
kimhyelin211@korea.kr
