비전 아포코리아What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is a certificate attached by a competent authority of the country that issued a document, confirming that the signature and seal on the public document are genuine (1961 Hague Apostille Convention).
Between countries where the Convention is in force, this single certificate is accepted without consular confirmation or embassy legalization, but it does not confirm that the content of the document is correct.
Apostille vs. Consular Authentication (the key distinction)
Convention Member Countries
Apostille (e.g. USA, China, Japan, Canada)
Non-Member / Not-Yet-Effective Countries
Consular authentication + legalization by that country's embassy in Korea (e.g. Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, and Thailand until it takes effect)
⚠️ Even the same country's membership status can change (China joined the Convention in 2023 and became eligible for apostille). Confirming the latest status before submission is necessary.
Membership status by country is based on the official HCCH (Hague Conference on Private International Law) Status Table.
See full membership status by country (expand)
Click a country name to go to that country's process/embassy guide page. Below is the list of confirmed countries; for countries not on this list, we'll confirm accurately through a consultation.
USA
Apostille Convention member
China
Apostille Convention member (effective 2023-11-07)
Japan
Apostille Convention member
Canada
Apostille Convention member (effective 2024-01-11)
Saudi Arabia
Apostille Convention member (effective 2022-12)
Vietnam
Apostille Convention member (effective 2026-09-11)
Thailand
Joined the Convention (scheduled to take effect 2027-02-28; consular authentication required until then)
Philippines
Apostille Convention member (effective 2019-05-14)
Indonesia
Apostille Convention member (effective 2022-06-04)
Qatar
Non-member per the official HCCH list
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Non-member per the official HCCH list
Kuwait
Non-member per the official HCCH list
Eligible Documents (Public vs. Private)
Public documents (issued by government, schools, courts, companies, etc.) are eligible for apostille. Examples: Certificate of Family Relations, Certificate of Marriage Relations, diploma/transcript, certificate of criminal record.
Private documents (powers of attorney, contracts, etc. drafted by an individual) can't be apostilled as-is — they need to be notarized first, then can receive an apostille.
When submitting a Korean document abroad, translation into the destination country's language plus certified translation is usually required alongside it.
Where is it issued in Korea? (Summary)
Online (e-Apostille)
On apostille.go.kr, certain public documents issued by bodies such as the Supreme Court, Ministry of Education, Korean National Police Agency and National Tax Service are apostilled instantly and free of charge, with no visit required.
In person / by mail
At the Integrated Civil Service Center of the Overseas Koreans Agency (Jongno-gu, Seoul), up to 10 documents per applicant are returned within 1 hour on average; by mail it usually takes 7–10 days. The government fee is a KRW 1,000 electronic revenue stamp per document.
Issuing authorities
Overseas Koreans Agency (public documents of the national and local governments, etc.) and Ministry of Justice (notarized documents and documents from Ministry of Justice affiliated agencies). Applications for both are filed at the Integrated Civil Service Center of the Overseas Koreans Agency.
For where to apply, the order of steps and agency support, see How to Get an Apostille in Korea; for time and cost, see Apostille Processing Time and Government Fees. (Source: Overseas Koreans Agency, “Apostille Issuance Procedure”, checked 2026-10-02)
Comparison Guide
Concepts that are easy to confuse, laid out in a comparison table.
Consular Authentication vs. Embassy Legalization
Consular authentication: the process by which Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms the issuing institution's seal. Embassy legalization: the process by which, after consular authentication (or separately, depending on the country), that country's embassy or consulate in Korea authenticates the document again by its own standards. The required order and necessity vary by country. See details →
Translation vs. Certified Translation
Translation: converting the original into the destination country's language. Certified translation: the process by which a notary confirms that the translation matches the original. When the receiving institution requires an official document, certified translation may also be needed. See details →
Applying Yourself vs. Using an Agency
Applying yourself: public documents eligible for online apostille (apostille.go.kr) can be applied for directly by the document holder. An agency is convenient when: you have multiple documents, or need translation, notarization, apostille, and overseas shipping handled all at once.
Notarization vs. Apostille
Notarization: the process by which a notary confirms the genuineness of a signature/seal on a private document (power of attorney, contract, etc.). Apostille: the process by which a country grants internationally recognized certification to a public document (or a private document that has been notarized) — often the step following notarization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an apostille have an expiration date?
Does translation come first, or the apostille?
How many countries accept an apostille?
How do I get an apostille on a Korean document?
Related Services & Guides
Popular Countries
We get the most inquiries about documents for submission to the USA, China, and Vietnam.
Not Sure Which Process Your Document Needs?
Tell us your destination country and document type, and we'll guide you to whether apostille or consular authentication applies.
※ Vision ApoKorea is a private agency service, not a government agency. The information above is based on official sources as of 2026-08-16; requirements vary by country and may change, so confirming the latest information before applying is recommended.