If my trade performance is insufficient on a D-9 Trade Management visa, will my extension be rejected?

Yes, if you have no trade performance score, your extension will be rejected. For the Trade Management (D-9-1, points-based) extension, trade performance is a required item. This score must be at least 5 points. Your total score decides how long you are allowed to stay.

Extension results by score

• First extension: 5 to 10 points gives 6 months, 11 to 20 points gives 1 year, and 21 points or more gives 2 years.
• From the second extension: 10 points or less is not allowed. 11 to 30 points gives 1 year, and 31 points or more gives 2 years.
• Trade performance is calculated as the yearly average of the last 2 years before the application date.

💡 How to make up points when your performance is low

• Extension recommendation letter from the head of a specialized training institution: It counts as 5 points in place of trade performance. It can be used for the same person only up to 4 times.
• Hiring Korean nationals: 1 full-time employee kept for more than 6 months gives 2 points, 2 employees give 5 points, and 3 or more employees give 10 points.
• Personal income tax payment: 2,000,000 KRW or more gives 1 point, and 5,000,000 KRW or more gives up to 7 points.
• Advanced trade specialist training course: If you finished it within 1 year before the application date, you get 3 more points.

However, the points above only help if you have already met the required item with trade performance or a recommendation letter. If you have almost no performance, or you were already rejected, get advice from the K-VISA AI Administrative Agent consultation (Visa Service in the app).

First, calculate your last 2 years of performance using your export-import performance certificate. Check the standards once more at HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or 1345.