South Korea and the United States are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. A U.S. public document used in Korea needs an apostille from the Secretary of State of the issuing state, or from the U.S. Department of State for federal records such as an FBI background check. Korean consulates do not authenticate U.S. records.
Quick facts
This is the single most common consular question from Americans heading to Korea to teach, because the federal background check and the degree both have to be apostilled, and each goes to a different authority.
Fees breakdown
| Item | Cost | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| Apostille on an FBI background check | $20 per document | U.S. Department of State |
| Apostille on a degree or diploma | $3–$25 per document | Secretary of State, after notarisation |
| Apostille on a U.S. civil record | $3–$25 per document | Secretary of State of the issuing state |
| Apostille on a Korean document | Issued in Korea | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Korean translation | Per page | Where the receiving office requires it |
A diploma is a private document, so it usually has to be notarised first. The apostille then certifies the notary’s signature rather than the university’s.
How to prepare a document for Korea
- Identify who issued it, because that decides which authority apostilles it.
- Order a certified copy, or have a private document notarised.
- Send federal records to the U.S. Department of State and state records to the relevant Secretary of State.
- Arrange a Korean translation where the receiving office asks for one.
- Keep everything together and check how recent each document must be.
Required documents
- Original certified copy or notarised private document.
- Completed authentication request and payment.
- Prepaid return envelope for mail filings.
- Photo ID for in-person service.
What consulates do instead
Posts issue passports, receive family register reports, handle nationality and military service filings, and certify signatures and copies for Korean nationals.
No offices currently listed.
Additional notes
Korean documents going the other way
Korean public documents are apostilled in Korea by the foreign ministry, and register certificates can be requested online before doing so.
Freshness
Background checks for teaching visas are expected to be recent. Ordering one too early means paying for it twice.
Never apostille a photocopy
The certificate attaches to an original or to a properly notarised document.
Order two
Korean employers and immigration offices keep what they receive, so a spare apostilled set is worth the small extra cost.