Consular Legalization (for Non-Apostille Countries) Guide

At a Glance

• Overseas Koreans Agency guidance: Korean public documents to be used in an Apostille Convention member country receive an Apostille, and those to be used in a non-member country receive consular legalization. The list of member countries (as of 2026.9.11.) is on the Agency's overview page.
• Korean public documents: Overseas Koreans Agency legalization, then legalization by the destination country's mission in Korea, then the receiving institution, in that order (Overseas Koreans Agency guidance).
• Foreign public documents: the notary consul can verify the seal, signature and position on a document issued by an official of the host country or notarized by a notary of the host country, and if the host country is an Apostille Convention member, the Convention applies.
• Fees: legalization by the Overseas Koreans Agency costs an electronic revenue stamp of 1,000 KRW per issued item, and a confirmation act at a Korean mission abroad costs an amount equivalent to USD 4. Fees of foreign missions in Korea are set by each mission.

Who Needs It

• A person who wants to submit a Korean public document (a document made officially by the state, a local government or an institution entrusted with its work, a notarized document, or a certified copy or extract of a court judgment) in a country that is not an Apostille Convention member (Overseas Koreans Agency guidance).
• A foreigner who must submit documents issued in a non-member country for a stay application in Korea. The Ministry of Justice stay-affairs manual requires, as official confirmation of the educational certificate and criminal record certificate for conversation instructors (E-2), either an Apostille (Convention countries) or consular legalization by a Korean mission abroad (non-Convention countries).
• For an E-2 criminal record certificate, the same manual also accepts, for those staying in Korea, consular legalization by their own country's mission in Korea as official confirmation.

Where to Apply

• Korean public documents: visit the Integrated Civil Service Office of the Overseas Koreans Agency (Twin Tree Tower A, 15th floor, 6 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul; weekdays 09:00~18:00; 02-6747-0404) or apply by mail.
• Then visit the embassy or consulate in Korea of the destination country. Check its location in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directory of foreign missions in Korea.
• Foreign public documents: commission the Korean diplomatic mission abroad (notary consul) in the country that issued the document.

What to Bring

• The application form (filled in on both front and back) and the document to be legalized. For documents such as those from the Internet Registry Office or Government24 that come in a viewing version and an issuance version, the viewing version has no legal effect, so be sure to obtain the version issued for submission.
• A document not issued by the state or a local government must be notarized. Originals of Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry certificates of origin (from 2024.4.1.), national university academic records (from 2024.6.1.) and public medical institution documents (from 2025.12.1.) can be submitted without notarization.
• Identification: for an application in person, a resident registration card, driver's license, passport or similar; for an application by a proxy, the applicant's ID, the proxy's ID and an authorization letter; for company documents, the representative's ID or the proxy's ID together with the business registration certificate.
• An electronic revenue stamp (1,000 KRW per issued item), and for mail applications a return envelope with a registered-mail stamp and the recipient's name and address written on it.

Costs

• The head of a mission may reduce or waive the fee where there is a clear circumstance showing that the requesting person cannot pay it.
• Fees at Korean missions abroad are paid in cash or with a certificate proving a cash payment. Electronic revenue stamps can be bought on the electronic revenue stamp website or with cash at the Integrated Civil Service Office (Overseas Koreans Agency guidance).

Procedure

• Step 1: Check on the Overseas Koreans Agency list whether the destination country is an Apostille Convention member. If it is, obtain an Apostille instead of consular legalization.
• Step 2: Obtain the Korean public document in the version issued for submission, and have it notarized if the document requires it.
• Step 3: Apply to the Integrated Civil Service Office of the Overseas Koreans Agency in person or by mail. For up to 10 items per applicant, items received 09:00~11:30 and 13:00~14:30 take 1 hour or less on average, items received 11:30~13:00 are handed out together at 14:00 the same day, and items received after 14:30 are handed out at 09:30 the next day. Mail usually takes 7~10 days.
• Step 4: Have the legalized document confirmed again at the destination country's mission in Korea, then submit it to the receiving institution.

Common Sticking Points

• Viewing-version documents have no legal effect and are not accepted. Obtain the version issued for submission.
• The Overseas Koreans Agency states that it may refuse issuance if the authenticity of a public document cannot be verified, for example when the submitted document is clearly false or has a document issued abroad attached.
• Legalization by the Overseas Koreans Agency alone is not the end. You must also obtain confirmation from the destination country's mission in Korea.
• A Korean mission abroad confirms by comparing the seal or signature and position of the official or notary with its signature registry, and if it is not in the registry, it inquires directly with the relevant authority of the host country.
• The Overseas Koreans Agency and the Ministry of Justice do not designate any particular notary office for consular legalization (Overseas Koreans Agency guidance).

This guide is general information and does not assess any individual case. Laws and fees can change, so check the original text via the official links and with the competent office.