비전 아포코리아Procedure guide · Notarized translation
Notarized Translation and Apostille in Korea: Which First?
Notarized translation and apostille in Korea — which comes first? Short answer: an original Korean public document gets an apostille without notarization, and if the translation also needs certification, you notarize the translation first and then get a Ministry of Justice apostille on that notarized document. The receiving authority decides which one needs the apostille, so before anything else, check whether it wants “the original only”, “the notarized translation only” or “both”.
At a glance
- Originals issued by government bodies receive an apostille from the Overseas Koreans Agency; notarized documents (including notarized translations) receive one from the Ministry of Justice.
- A notarized translation means having the translation notarized at a notary office; notary fees follow the Notary Public Fee Rules (Ministry of Justice ordinance).
- If you apostille both the original and the notarized translation, that counts as 2 apostilles, with a government fee of KRW 1,000 each.
- In the translation, matching the passport name spelling and the date format is the easiest way to reduce rejections.
Apostille on the original or on the translation?
The Overseas Koreans Agency splits apostille issuance between two authorities. Public documents issued by national or local governments are apostilled by the Overseas Koreans Agency, while notarized documents and documents of agencies under the Ministry of Justice are apostilled by the Ministry of Justice. A notarized translation is a notarized document, so it falls under the Ministry of Justice apostille.
In practice, receiving authorities usually ask for one of three options. The option also determines whether the translation should be done in Korea or in the destination country.
| Option | Order | When |
|---|---|---|
| A. Original only | Original issued → apostille → (translated locally) | The receiving authority accepts a local translation, or an English original is enough |
| B. Notarized translation | Original issued → translation → notarized translation → Ministry of Justice apostille | Official confirmation of the translation is required |
| C. Both | Apostille on the original + Ministry of Justice apostille on the notarized translation | Certification of both the original and the translation is required |
Based on the issuing-authority split in the Overseas Koreans Agency’s “Apostille Issuance Procedure” (checked 2026-10-03). Requirements differ by receiving authority, so check their instructions first.
What is a notarized translation?
A notarized translation is a procedure in which you submit the translation together with the original to a notary office and have it notarized, for example by the translator signing before the notary. The notary does not create the content of the translation; the notary certifies the document in the prescribed manner. Notary fees are set by document and number of items under the Notary Public Fee Rules (Ministry of Justice ordinance), so check with the notary office.
The Overseas Koreans Agency and the Ministry of Justice state that they do not designate any specific notary office for apostille purposes. You can use a nearby notary office or one that regularly handles notarized translations.
What happens if you change the order?
Some receiving authorities require the apostilled original to be translated, bound together with its translation and notarized, and then a Ministry of Justice apostille placed on that notarized document (a variation of option C). In that case the apostille on the original must be completed first, so doing it in reverse means starting over. Settling the order before you begin is the best way to save time.
“Let’s just get the translation done first” is the most common cause of rework. Do not start translating until you know which option the receiving authority requires.
How should you plan for government fees and timing?
The government apostille fee is KRW 1,000 per document (electronic revenue stamp) at both the Overseas Koreans Agency and the Ministry of Justice. If you apostille both the original and the notarized translation, as in option C, that is 2 documents. The Overseas Koreans Agency’s official benchmarks are under 1 hour on average for in-person applications of up to 10 documents per applicant, and usually 7–10 days by mail; the time needed for translation and notarization depends on the volume of documents and the notary office’s schedule.
What problems often come up in translations?
Typical issues are a romanized name that differs from the passport, dates copied in the Korean order, and omitted parts such as official seals or issue numbers. Every entry in the original must appear in the translation, and using the destination country’s date format throughout helps avoid confusion.
Check before notarizing a translation
- Whether the receiving authority requires the apostille on the original, the notarized translation or both
- Whether there are requirements for the translation language or translator qualifications
- Whether a local translation is accepted (so no translation in Korea is needed)
- Whether the English name in the passport matches the spelling in the translation
- Whether the option requires the apostille on the original first
- How many apostilles you need (to calculate government fees)
Send us the receiving authority’s instructions and we will help you confirm whether option A, B or C applies.
Ask about notarized translationFrom translation to notarization and apostille,
we can handle everything in one go, in the order your receiving authority requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which comes first: notarized translation or apostille?
- If the translation needs an apostille, get the translation notarized first and then obtain a Ministry of Justice apostille on that notarized document. If only the original needs one, get the apostille on the original directly, without a notarized translation.
- Does an original public document need a notarized translation before it can be apostilled?
- No. An original public document issued by a government body can receive an Overseas Koreans Agency apostille without notarization. A notarized translation is only needed when the translation itself must be certified.
- Where do I get an apostille on a notarized translation?
- A notarized translation is a notarized document, so it falls under the Ministry of Justice apostille; applications are submitted at the Integrated Civil Service Center of the Overseas Koreans Agency.
- If I apostille both the original and the translation, do I pay the fee twice?
- Yes. An apostille costs KRW 1,000 per document (electronic revenue stamp), so apostilles on both the original and the notarized translation count as 2. Notary fees are separate.
- Can the translation be done in the destination country?
- If the receiving authority accepts local translations, you can apostille only the original, send it and have it translated there. Check the receiving authority’s requirements first.
- Can I use any notary office?
- The Overseas Koreans Agency and the Ministry of Justice state that they do not designate any specific notary office for apostille purposes. Procedures for notarized translations may vary by office, so it is best to check before visiting.
Official referencesOverseas Koreans Agency: Apostille Issuance Procedure · Overseas Koreans Agency: Overview of Apostille and Consular Confirmation · Administrative rules under the Overseas Koreans Agency (National Law Information Center)
⚠️ This article is for general information only. Acceptance criteria, 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 authority at the time you apply. Vision ApoKorea (Vision Administrative Agency) is a private agency service, not a government body.