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UAE Embassy Attestation of Korean Company Documents
The short answer: Korean company documents for the UAE cannot be finished with an apostille. For UAE embassy attestation of Korean company documents, papers issued by state bodies, such as the corporate registration certificate or proof of business registration, go straight to consular confirmation at the Overseas Koreans Agency; papers drawn up by the company, such as articles of incorporation, board minutes and a power of attorney (POA), are notarized first and then given consular confirmation; after that comes legalization by the UAE Embassy in Seoul.
At a glance
- The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so the standard route has two steps: consular confirmation, then legalization by the UAE Embassy in Seoul.
- The corporate registration certificate, corporate seal certificate and proof of business registration are public documents; articles of incorporation, minutes, the shareholder register and any power of attorney are private documents that need notarization.
- To apply on behalf of a company, a representative needs their ID, the business registration certificate, the original seal certificate and an original power of attorney bearing the company seal.
- Since April 1, 2024, original certificates of origin issued by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry can be submitted for consular confirmation without notarization.
Which company documents are public and which are private?
The Overseas Koreans Agency accepts without notarization documents prepared in an official capacity by the state, local governments or bodies entrusted with that work. Documents a company prepares itself must first be notarized and become notarial documents before they qualify for consular confirmation. Sort them by who issued them rather than by their name, and the distinction becomes clear.
| Document | Issued / prepared by | Step before consular confirmation |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate registration certificate (full register extract) | Court registry office | Apply without notarization (issued for submission) |
| Corporate seal certificate | Court registry office | Apply without notarization |
| Proof of business registration | National Tax Service | Apply without notarization |
| Articles of incorporation | Company | Apply after notarization |
| Board / shareholders' meeting minutes | Company | Apply after notarization |
| Shareholder register | Company | Apply after notarization |
| Power of attorney (POA) | Company / representative director | Apply after notarization |
| Certificate of origin (Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry) | Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry | Originals: apply without notarization (from April 1, 2024) |
Based on the Overseas Koreans Agency's consular confirmation procedure (checked 2026-10-03). Documents from the Internet Registry Office and Government24 must be issued for submission, not for viewing only.
What do you need when applying in the company's name?
If the representative director goes in person, they need their own ID and the business registration certificate. If an employee or an agency applies on the company's behalf, they need their own ID, the business registration certificate, the original seal certificate and an original power of attorney bearing the company seal. According to the Overseas Koreans Agency, if the original seal certificate and power of attorney are hard to obtain, the company name stamp and company seal can instead be affixed to the front and back of the application form.
An electronic revenue stamp of KRW 1,000 is required for each document issued. If you have several types of documents and many copies, count them in advance.
What is the order of the steps?
Issue / prepare documents → (private documents) notarization → consular confirmation at the Overseas Koreans Agency → legalization by the UAE Embassy in Seoul → submission in the UAE
The Overseas Koreans Agency advises obtaining consular confirmation first and then visiting the destination country's embassy in Korea. The UAE Embassy in Seoul sets its own submission method, days and fees, so check its official notices before you go. Embassy locations are listed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directory of foreign missions in Korea.
What about commercial invoices and certificates of origin?
Since April 1, 2024, original certificates of origin issued by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry can be submitted for consular confirmation without notarization. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that commercial invoices and certificates of origin are handled not by its general document attestation service but by a separate commercial document attestation service (eDAS), so for trade documents it is best to first confirm the route required by the importer or customs side.
How should translations be prepared?
Some receiving authorities in the UAE require an Arabic translation. Whether to have the translation notarized and attested in Korea or to translate locally in the UAE depends on the receiving authority's requirements. Translating before the order is settled can mean doing it all again, so wait until you have the receiving authority's instructions.
Company documents tend to be numerous, with different issue dates. If the receiving authority requires documents issued within a certain period, plan your schedule around the document that will be issued last.
UAE company documents: check before you submit
- Have you sorted each document into public or private?
- Was the registration certificate issued for submission?
- Have the articles, minutes and power of attorney been notarized first?
- For a proxy application, do you have the original seal certificate and a power of attorney bearing the company seal?
- Do you have enough electronic revenue stamps for every document?
- Have you checked the UAE Embassy's submission method and fees in its official notices?
- Have you decided whether an Arabic translation is needed and where it will be done?
Send us your list of company documents and the receiving authority, and we will map out the route for each document.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Can company documents for the UAE not be apostilled either?
- Correct. The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so documents must go through consular confirmation at the Overseas Koreans Agency and legalization by the UAE Embassy in Seoul (based on the Overseas Koreans Agency's member list as of 2026-09-11).
- Does the corporate registration certificate need notarization too?
- No. It is a public document issued by the court registry office, so you apply for consular confirmation without notarization. It must, however, be issued for submission, not for viewing only.
- What about articles of incorporation and board minutes?
- They are private documents prepared by the company, so they are notarized at a notary office first, then given consular confirmation at the Overseas Koreans Agency, then legalized by the UAE Embassy in Seoul.
- Can an employee apply on the company's behalf?
- Yes. According to the Overseas Koreans Agency, the representative needs their ID, the business registration certificate, the original seal certificate and an original power of attorney bearing the company seal. If the originals are hard to obtain, the company name stamp and company seal can be affixed to the application form instead.
- Can a certificate of origin receive consular confirmation?
- Since April 1, 2024, original certificates of origin issued by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry can be submitted for consular confirmation without notarization. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that commercial invoices and certificates of origin are processed through a separate commercial document attestation service (eDAS), so check the importer's requirements as well.
- How long does UAE Embassy legalization take, and what does it cost?
- These are set by the embassy, so check its official notices. The Korean government's consular confirmation fee is KRW 1,000 per document, and the Overseas Koreans Agency's issuance standard for consular confirmation is an average of within 1 hour for in-person visits of 10 documents or fewer, and usually 7–10 days by mail.
Official referencesOverseas Koreans Agency consular confirmation procedure · Ministry of Foreign Affairs directory of foreign missions in Korea · UAE MOFA Documents Attestation
⚠️ 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.