Do I have to use an agency for an apostille?

No. Anyone can apply directly at the Integrated Civil Service Center of the Overseas Koreans Agency in person or by mail, and documents eligible for e-Apostille can be obtained online free of charge. An agency helps with documents that must be notarized first or need embassy legalization, or when you are abroad and find it hard to act in person.

What is the government fee for an apostille?

According to the Overseas Koreans Agency, an apostille or consular confirmation costs KRW 1,000 per document, paid by electronic revenue stamp. Documents eligible for e-Apostille are free (checked 2026-10-03). Notarization, embassy legalization, translation, shipping and agency fees are separate.

What should I look at first when choosing an agency?

Whether it confirms your document's route first. Depending on whether the destination country is a Convention member and whether the document is public or private, the required steps differ among notarization, apostille, consular confirmation and embassy legalization.

Is the processing time fixed if I use an agency?

The official standard for in-person filing at the Overseas Koreans Agency is issuance within 1 hour on average for 10 documents or fewer per applicant, and within 3 days for agencies or more than 50 documents. Once notarization, translation, embassy legalization and shipping are added, the time varies by document, so it needs to be checked case by case.

Can I use an agency while living abroad?

Yes. The Overseas Koreans Agency accepts proxy applications by family members, acquaintances and agencies; a copy of the applicant's ID and a letter of authorization, among others, are required. For the procedure, see our guide to remote apostille service for overseas residents.

Choosing criteria · Apostille agency

Korean Apostille Agency: How to Choose the Right One

Bottom line: when choosing a Korean apostille agency, it is safer to ask not "who is fastest and cheapest?" but whether the agency first confirms which route your document must take (whether notarization is needed and whether the destination country is a Convention member). Also check whether it explains government fees and service fees separately, discloses its office details, and states processing times with official grounds.

Vision ApoKorea · 2026.10.03

At a glance

Documents eligible for e-Apostille (family relation certificates, criminal record certificates, etc.) can be obtained online, free of charge, without an agency.
The government fee is KRW 1,000 per apostille or consular confirmation (paid by electronic revenue stamp); notarization, translation, embassy legalization and agency fees are separate.
A good agency first asks about the destination country, the receiving institution and the document type, and confirms the route before proceeding.
Rather than definitive processing times or promised outcomes, look for explanations based on official standards.

What can you do yourself before hiring an agency?

Not every document needs an agency. The Overseas Koreans Agency issues certain public documents free of charge via e-Apostille with no visit required, including Supreme Court family relation certificates, resident registration certificates (full and abridged), elementary, middle and high school graduation certificates, National Police Agency criminal record certificates, and National Tax Service certificates of business registration.

Applying in person is not difficult either. Bring the application form, your documents, ID and an electronic revenue stamp to the Integrated Civil Service Center of the Overseas Koreans Agency in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Family members, acquaintances, agencies or company staff can also apply on your behalf; in that case the applicant's ID, the representative's ID and a letter of authorization, among others, are required.

An agency is especially helpful for multi-step jobs: documents that must be notarized first, embassy legalization for non-member countries, or when you are abroad and cannot handle things in person.

What does a good agency ask first?

The apostille route differs by document and by destination country. Even for the same graduation certificate, one issued by a national university can go straight to apostille without notarization, while one from a private university must be notarized first; and if the destination country is not a party to the Convention, the route is consular confirmation and embassy legalization instead of an apostille.

So if an agency jumps straight to a quote without first asking about the destination country, the receiving institution (school, authority, company), the document type and issuing body, and your deadline, it is worth double-checking. If the route is wrong, the time spent preparing again costs more than the agency fee.

Item	Government / official standard	How to verify
Apostille	KRW 1,000 per document (electronic revenue stamp)	Overseas Koreans Agency "Apostille Issuance Procedure"
Consular confirmation	KRW 1,000 per document (electronic revenue stamp)	Overseas Koreans Agency "Consular Confirmation Issuance Procedure"
e-Apostille	Free (eligible public documents only)	e-Apostille website
Notarization	Per the Notary Public Fee Rules (Ministry of Justice ordinance)	Check with the notary office
Embassy legalization in Korea	Set by each embassy	Official notice of the embassy concerned

Only government and official fees are listed. Translation, shipping and agency fees are not government fees, so check them item by item in the agency's quote (Overseas Koreans Agency guidance, checked 2026-10-03).

What should a quote break down?

If a quote says only "all inclusive" in a single line, ask what is included. The government fee (KRW 1,000 per document), notarization fees, embassy legalization fees, translation, domestic and international shipping, and the agency fee are different kinds of costs. Embassy fees for non-member countries in particular vary by country and can change, so check whether the agency bases its guidance on officially announced amounts.

How do you check office details and scope of services?

First see whether the business registration number, office address, representative and contact details are public. It is also worth checking whether it is an administrative agent's office that prepares and submits documents on your behalf, or just a broker. Notarization is performed by a notary, so an agency's role is to connect you with a notary office. The Overseas Koreans Agency and the Ministry of Justice state that they do not designate any particular notary office for apostilles.

Which claims deserve a second look?

Ask for the basis of claims such as "fixed processing time," "no rejections" or "government-designated agency." For in-person filing at the Overseas Koreans Agency, applications of 10 documents or fewer per applicant are issued within 1 hour on average, but applications filed by agencies follow a different standard of issuance within 3 days; once notarization, embassy legalization and shipping are added, the total time varies by document.

7 things to check when choosing an agency

Does it first ask about the destination country, receiving institution and document type, and explain the route?
Does it distinguish public documents from private documents (whether notarization is needed)?
Does it verify Convention membership and entry-into-force dates against official sources?
Does it list the government fee separately from agency, translation and shipping fees?
Does it explain processing times with official standards rather than stating them as certain?
Are its business registration number, office address and contact details public?
Does it share progress, such as keeping copies of completed documents and shipment tracking?

Start by checking which route your document needs to take.

Check my route

Tell us the destination country, document type and deadline.
We will explain the steps needed and break down each cost item.

Ask about an apostille

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use an agency for an apostille?: No. Anyone can apply directly at the Integrated Civil Service Center of the Overseas Koreans Agency in person or by mail, and documents eligible for e-Apostille can be obtained online free of charge. An agency helps with documents that must be notarized first or need embassy legalization, or when you are abroad and find it hard to act in person.
What is the government fee for an apostille?: According to the Overseas Koreans Agency, an apostille or consular confirmation costs KRW 1,000 per document, paid by electronic revenue stamp. Documents eligible for e-Apostille are free (checked 2026-10-03). Notarization, embassy legalization, translation, shipping and agency fees are separate.
What should I look at first when choosing an agency?: Whether it confirms your document's route first. Depending on whether the destination country is a Convention member and whether the document is public or private, the required steps differ among notarization, apostille, consular confirmation and embassy legalization.
Is there a government-designated apostille agency?: The Overseas Koreans Agency and the Ministry of Justice state that they do not designate any particular notary office for apostille issuance. If a business calls itself a "designated agency," ask for the basis.
Is the processing time fixed if I use an agency?: The official standard for in-person filing at the Overseas Koreans Agency is issuance within 1 hour on average for 10 documents or fewer per applicant, and within 3 days for agencies or more than 50 documents. Once notarization, translation, embassy legalization and shipping are added, the time varies by document, so it needs to be checked case by case.
Can I use an agency while living abroad?: Yes. The Overseas Koreans Agency accepts proxy applications by family members, acquaintances and agencies; a copy of the applicant's ID and a letter of authorization, among others, are required. For the procedure, see our guide to remote apostille service for overseas residents.

Official referencesOverseas Koreans Agency: Apostille Issuance Procedure · e-Apostille and Consular Confirmation Service · HCCH Apostille Convention status table

⚠️ This article is for general information only. Filing requirements, eligible documents and fees may change, so always check the official guidance of the Overseas Koreans Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the receiving institution at the time you apply. Vision ApoKorea (Vision Administrative Agency) is a private service provider, not a government agency.