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Korean Apostille: Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to the questions we hear most, based on official guidance from the Overseas Koreans Agency and the HCCH. Each answer links to the page with the full details.
Apostille basics
How do I get an apostille in Korea?
Apostilles for Korean documents are issued in Korea by the Overseas Koreans Agency (government and local-government documents) and the Ministry of Justice (notarized documents). Public documents can be submitted as they are, while private documents must be notarized first. See How to Get a Korean Apostille.
What is the difference between an apostille and consular legalization?
An apostille is used only when the destination country is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, and no further embassy step is needed. For non-Convention countries, the document receives consular confirmation and then legalization by that country's embassy in Korea. See Apostille vs Consular Legalization.
Can a document issued outside Korea be apostilled in Korea?
No. A Korean apostille can only be placed on documents issued in Korea, such as Korean public documents and documents notarized in Korea. A foreign-issued document must be apostilled by the competent authority of the country that issued it.
Processing time and government fees
How long does an apostille take in Korea?
For in-person applications at the Overseas Koreans Agency, up to 10 documents per applicant are returned within 1 hour on average, and mail applications usually take 7–10 days. Documents eligible for e-Apostille are issued online instantly. See Apostille Processing Time and Government Fees.
How much is the government fee for an apostille?
It is KRW 1,000 per document for an apostille or consular confirmation, paid with an electronic revenue stamp, and e-Apostille is free (Overseas Koreans Agency guidance, checked 2026-10-02). Notarization, translation, embassy legalization and shipping are separate.
Does an apostille expire?
The apostille itself has no expiry date. However, many receiving institutions only accept documents issued within a certain period, so check their requirement before you obtain the document. See Apostille Validity and Document Issue Dates.
Questions by document
Where can I apostille my Korean university diploma?
Original academic records from national universities can be apostilled without notarization (since June 1, 2024). A private university diploma is first notarized at a notary office and then receives a Ministry of Justice apostille. See Diploma Authentication Guide.
Do I need notarization before apostille for a power of attorney in Korea?
Yes. A power of attorney is a private document, so it is notarized at a notary office first and then receives a Ministry of Justice apostille. See Power of Attorney Authentication Guide.
How do I apostille a Korean criminal record check report?
The report is issued by the Korean National Police Agency and is a public document, so it is apostilled without notarization. From abroad, you can apply for the report at the Korean embassy or consulate in your country of residence, which takes about 2 weeks. See Criminal Record Authentication Guide.
Which comes first, translation or apostille?
Either the original is apostilled and the translation is separately notarized and apostilled, or a notarized translation is apostilled. A translation must be notarized before it can receive an apostille, so follow the form the receiving institution requires. See Translation and Certified Translation.
Applying from abroad
Can someone get a Korean apostille for me while I am abroad?
Yes. The Overseas Koreans Agency accepts applications by family members, acquaintances and agencies, with the applicant's ID, the representative's ID and a power of attorney, among others. The Korean embassy in your country cannot issue it, but e-Apostille-eligible documents can be apostilled by you online on apostille.go.kr. See Remote Apostille Service for Overseas Residents.
Do documents going to the UAE from Korea need an apostille or embassy legalization?
The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention (HCCH status table, checked 2026-10-02), so Korean documents need consular confirmation and then legalization by the UAE Embassy in Korea. The embassy fee is set by the embassy, so check its official notice. See UAE Document Authentication Guide.
Official sources — Overseas Koreans Agency, “Apostille Issuance Procedure” (oka.go.kr); Overseas Koreans Agency, “Consular Confirmation Issuance Procedure” (oka.go.kr); HCCH Apostille Convention Status Table. Checked 2026-10-02.
Want more detail?
What is an apostille?
Apostille guide →Guides by document
Apostille by document type →Guides by country
Authentication by country →What process does my document need?
Tell us the destination country and the type of document, and we will check and explain the steps you need and the order to follow.
※ Vision ApoKorea (Vision Administrative Agent Office) is a private agency service, not a government body. The information above is based on official sources as of 2026-10-02. Agency requirements can change, so please check the latest official guidance before you apply.