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Chapter Twelve: Temporary Entry for Business Persons – Text of the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement

Article 12.1: General Principles

This Chapter reflects the preferential trading relationship between the Parties, the desirability of facilitating temporary entry on a reciprocal basis and of establishing transparent criteria and procedures for temporary entry, and the need to ensure border security and to protect the domestic labour force and permanent employment in their respective territories.

Article 12.2: General Obligations

1. Each Party shall apply its measures relating to this Chapter in accordance with Article 12.1 and, in particular, shall apply expeditiously those measures so as to avoid unduly impairing or delaying trade in goods or services or conduct of investment activities under this Agreement.

2. This Chapter does not prevent a Party from applying measures to regulate the entry of natural persons into, or the temporary stay in, its territory, including those measures necessary to protect the integrity of, and to ensure the orderly movement of natural persons across its borders, provided that such measures are not applied in such a manner as to unduly impair or delay trade in goods or services or the conduct of activities under this Agreement. The sole fact of requiring a visa, or other document authorising entry or work for a business person, or for natural persons shall not be regarded as unduly impairing or delaying trade in goods or services or the conduct of activities under this Agreement.

Article 12.3: Grant of Temporary Entry

1. Each Party shall grant temporary entry to business persons who otherwise comply with existing immigration measures related to public health, safety and national security applicable to temporary entry, in accordance with this Chapter, including Annex 12-A.

2. A Party may refuse to issue a work permit or authorisation to a business person if the temporary entry of that person might affect adversely:

3. If a Party refuses pursuant to paragraph 2 to issue a work permit or authorisation, it shall inform in writing the business person of the reasons for the refusal.

4. Each Party shall limit fees for processing applications for temporary entry of business persons to the approximate cost of services rendered.

Article 12.4: Provision of Information

1. Recognising the importance to the Parties of transparency of information on temporary entry and further to Article 19.1 (Publication), each Party shall, after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, make available through any means, information on its measures relating to this Chapter.

2. Each Party shall collect and maintain data respecting the granting of temporary entry under this Chapter to business persons of the other Party who have been issued a work permit or authorisation. On the request of a Party, the other Party shall make such information available to the other Party in accordance with its domestic law.

Article 12.5: Contact Points

1. Each Party hereby establishes a contact point:

2. The contact points shall meet at least once each year, unless otherwise agreed, to exchange information as described in Article 12.4 and to consider matters pertaining to this Chapter, such as:

Article 12.6: Dispute Settlement

1. A Party shall not initiate proceedings under Chapter Twenty-One (Dispute Settlement) regarding a refusal to grant temporary entry under this Chapter unless:

2. The remedies referred to in paragraph 1(b) are deemed to be exhausted if a final determination in the matter has not been issued by the competent authority within one year of the initiation of an administrative proceeding, and the failure to issue a determination is not attributable to delay caused by the business person.

Article 12.7: Relation to Other Chapters

Except for this Chapter and Chapters One (Initial Provisions and General Definitions), Nineteen (Transparency), Twenty (Institutional Provisions and Administration) and Twenty-Three (Final Provisions), this Agreement does not impose an obligation on a Party regarding its immigration measures.

Article 12.8: Definitions

For the purposes of this Chapter:

business person means a national of a Party who is engaged in trade in goods, the provision of services or the conduct of investment activities;

contract service supplier means an employee of an enterprise who is engaged in the supply of a contracted service as an employee of an enterprise. That enterprise has a service contract from an enterprise of the other Party, who is the final consumer of the service which is supplied. The contract and duration of stay shall comply with the domestic law of the other Party;

independent professional means a self-employed professional who seeks to engage, as part of a service contract granted by an enterprise or a service consumer of the other Party, in an activity at a professional level, provided that the person possesses the necessary education, or satisfies accreditation or licensing requirements as stipulated for the profession;

management trainee on professional development means an employee who has a Bachelor or Baccalaureate degree or who has a license at a professional level concerning the intra-company activity, who is on a temporary work assignment intended to broaden an employee’s knowledge of and experience in a company in preparation for a senior leadership position within the company;

pre-arranged professional service means a professional service to be provided in the territory of the other Party, the terms of which have been determined and documented prior to the entry of the professional into the territory of the other Party;

professional means a national of a Party who is engaged in a specialty occupation as stated in Appendix 12-A-2 who is not engaged in the field of education; and

temporary entry means entry into the territory of a Party by a business person of the other Party without the intent to establish permanent residence, and does not apply to measures regarding citizenship or employment on a permanent basis.

Annex 12-A: Temporary Entry for Business Persons

Section A - Business Visitors

1. Each Party shall grant temporary entry to a business person seeking to engage in a business activity set out in Appendix 12-A-1 without requiring that the business person obtain a work permit or authorisation, provided that the business person otherwise complies with existing immigration measures applicable to temporary entry, on presentation of:

2. Each Party shall provide that a business person may satisfy the requirements of paragraph 1(c) by demonstrating that:

A Party shall normally accept an oral declaration as to the principal place of business and the actual place of accrual of profits. If the Party requires further proof, it shall normally consider a letter from the employer attesting to these matters as sufficient proof.

3. A Party shall not:

4. Notwithstanding paragraph 3, a Party may require a business person seeking temporary entry under this Section to obtain a visa or an equivalent requirement prior to entry. Before imposing a visa or an equivalent requirement, the Party shall consult with the other Party whose business persons would be affected with a view to avoiding the imposition of the requirement.

Section B - Traders and Investors

5. Each Party shall grant temporary entry and provide a work permit or visa to a business person seeking to:

in a capacity that is supervisory, executive or involves essential skills, provided that the business person otherwise complies with existing immigration measures applicable to temporary entry.

6. A Party shall not:

7. Notwithstanding paragraph 6, a Party may require a business person seeking temporary entry under this Section to obtain a visa or an equivalent requirement prior to entry. Before imposing a visa or an equivalent requirement, the Party shall consult with the other Party whose business persons would be affected with a view to avoiding the imposition of the requirement.

Section C - Intra-Company Transferees

8. Each Party shall grant temporary entry and provide a work permit or visa to a business person employed by an enterprise who seeks to render services to that enterprise or a subsidiary or an affiliate or a branch thereof as an executive or manager, a specialist or a management trainee on professional development, provided that the business person otherwise complies with existing immigration measures applicable to temporary entry. A Party may require the business person to have been employed continuously by the enterprise for one year within the three-year period immediately preceding the date of the application for admission.

9. A Party shall not:

10. Notwithstanding paragraph 9, a Party may require a business person seeking temporary entry under this Section to obtain a visa or an equivalent requirement prior to entry. Before imposing a visa or an equivalent requirement, the Party shall consult with the other Party whose business persons would be affected with a view to avoiding the imposition of the requirement.

Section D - Professionals

11. Each Party shall grant temporary entry and provide a work permit or visa to a business person who is a professional seeking to engage in a business activity at a professional level, in a profession set out in Appendix 12-A-2, if the business person otherwise complies with existing immigration measures applicable to temporary entry, on presentation of:

12. A Party shall not:

13. Notwithstanding paragraph 12, a Party may require a business person seeking temporary entry under this Section to obtain a visa or an equivalent requirement prior to entry. Before imposing a visa or an equivalent requirement, the Party shall consult with the other Party whose business persons would be affected with a view to avoiding the imposition of the requirement.

Section E - Spouses

14. Each Party shall grant temporary entry and provide a work permit or authorisation to a spouse of a business person qualifying for temporary entry under Section B, C , or D, if the spouse otherwise complies with existing immigration measures applicable to temporary entry and meets the relevant employment qualifications.

15. A Party shall not:

16. Notwithstanding paragraph 15, a Party may require a spouse of a business person seeking temporary entry under this Section to obtain a visa or its equivalent prior to entry. Before imposing a visa requirement on the spouse, the Party shall consult with the other Party with a view to avoiding the imposition of the requirement.

Appendix 12-A-1 Business Visitors

Research and Design

Growth, Manufacture and Production

Marketing

Sales

Distribution

After-Sales or After-Lease Service

General Service

Appendix 12-A-2: Listed Professionals

Independent Professionals:

ProfessionCanadian RequirementsKorean Requirements
Architect*Bachelor degree; or provincial licenseBachelor degree; or professional license
EngineerBachelor degree; or provincial licenseBachelor degree; or professional license
Management ConsultantBachelor degree***Bachelor degree***
VeterinarianDoctorate of Veterinary Medicine; or provincial licenseBachelor degree; or professional license

Contract Service Suppliers:

ProfessionCanadian RequirementsKorean Requirements
AccountantBachelor degree; or Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), Certified General Accountant (CGA), or Certified Management Accountant (CMA)Professional license**
ActuaryBachelor degree and membership in a professional actuarial associationProfessional license
AgrologistBachelor degreeMaster degree and three years of experience; or doctorate**
Architect*Bachelor degree; or provincial licenseBachelor degree; or provincial license
Landscape ArchitectBachelor degreeBachelor degree
ApiculturalistBachelor degreeMaster degree and three years of experience; or doctorate**
AuditorBachelor degree; or CPA, CA, CGA or CMAProfessional license

Biologist

This category would include the following:
  1. Botanist
  2. Biologist
  3. Ecologist
  4. Embryologist
  5. Toxicologist
  6. Enzymologist
  7. Etiologist
  8. Bacteriologist
  9. Geneticist
  10. Histologist
  11. Helminthologist
  12. Human Physiologist
  13. Pathologist
  14. Immunologist
  15. Mycologist
  16. Naturalist
  17. Physiologist
  18. Virologist
  19. Serologist
  20. Plant Pathologist
  21. Crop Scientist
  22. Anatomist
  23. Bryologist
  24. Cytochemist
  25. Ecobiologist
  26. Echthyologist
  27. Nematologist
  28. Osteologist
  29. Entomologist
  30. Epidemiologist
  31. Biochemist
  32. Plant Breeder
  33. Animal Breeder
  34. Poultry Scientist
  35. Soil Scientist
  36. Food Scientist
  37. Animal Scientist
  38. Zoologist
  39. Dairy Scientist
Bachelor degreeMaster degree and three years of experience; or doctorate**
ChemistBachelor degreeMaster degree and three years of experience; or doctorate**
EngineerBachelor degree; or provincial licenseBachelor degree; or professional license
ForesterBachelor degreeMaster degree and three years of experience; or doctorate**
Geoscientist

This category would include the following:

  1. Palaeontologist
  2. Petrologist
  3. Sedimentologist
  4. Seismologist
  5. Strategrapher
  6. Glaciologist
  7. Hydrogeologist
  8. Hydrologist
  9. Mineralogist
  10. Oceanographer
  11. Petrophysicist
  12. Quaternarist
  13. Volcanologist
  14. Metallurgist
Bachelor degreeMaster degree and three years of experience; or doctorate**
HorticulturalistBachelor degreeMaster degree and three years of experience; or doctorate **
Management ConsultantBachelor degree***Bachelor degree***
MeteorologistBachelor degreeMaster degree and three years of experience; or doctorate **

Physical Scientist

This category would include the following:

  1. Physicist
  2. Astronomer
  3. Aerodynamicist
  4. Cosmologist
  5. Research Scientist
  6. Radiation Biophysicist
  7. Rheologist
Post-graduate degreeMaster degree and three years of experience; or doctorate**
SylviculturalistBachelor degreeMaster degree and three years of experience; or doctorate **
Urban and Land Use PlannerBachelor degree***Bachelor degree***
VeterinarianDoctorate of Veterinary Medicine; or professional licenseBachelor degree; or professional license
Information System Analyst Database Analyst and Data Administrator

Bachelor degree in computer sciences or a related discipline and two years of experience in computer science;

Bachelor degree and five years of experience in the field of computer science and information systems; or

A Canadian I.S.P. designation (Information Systems Professional of Canada) or a license or designation from a recognised foreign certification body

Bachelor degree or Post-secondary diploma in computer science or a related discipline and seven years of experience in computer and information systems;

Bachelor degree or Post secondary diplomas and nine years of experience in computer and information systems; or

Engineering Mobility Forum (EMF) license in the case of Professional engineers

Computer Programmer and Interactive Media Developer

Bachelor degree in computer science or a related discipline and two years of experience in computer science;

Bachelor degree and five years of experience in the field of computer science and information systems; or

A Canadian I.S.P. designation (Information Systems Professional of Canada) or a license or designation from a recognised foreign certification body

Bachelor degree or Post secondary diploma in computer sciences or a related discipline and seven years of experience in computer and information systems;

Bachelor degree or Post secondary diplomas and nine years of experience in computer and information systems; or

EMF license in the case of Professional engineers

Software Engineer and Designer

Bachelor degree in computer sciences or a related discipline and two years of experience in computer science;

Bachelor degree and five years of experience in the field of computer science and information systems; or

A Canadian I.S.P. designation (Information Systems Professional of Canada) or a license or designation from a recognised foreign certification body

Bachelor degree or Post secondary diploma in computer science or a related discipline and seven years of experience in computer and information systems;

Bachelor degree or Post secondary diplomas and nine years of experience in computer and information systems; or

EMF license in the case of Professional engineers

* Providing architectural services is subject to collaboration with architects registered under Korean law in the form of joint contracts.

** If there is no conflict of laws in both countries, Korean educational requirements shall be deemed to be met whenever a Canadian professional has met Canadian educational requirements and the Korean client or employer has provided a letter indicating that the Canadian professional’s qualifications are satisfactory and vice versa.

*** A license may be required to perform certain activities.

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