Apostille for a Korea Visa: US, UK & Canada Step-by-Step (2026)
By WCS
Last reviewed and updated: · Checked against official Korean government sources.
South Korea is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, but an apostille is not a universal visa requirement or a guarantee of acceptance. It authenticates the origin of a public document; the Korean mission or immigration office handling the application decides whether the document, translation, notarization, and legalization format meet the current checklist.
This guide is built around what you actually have to do, in order, for documents issued in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. It covers which documents need an apostille for which visa, who the issuing authority is, what it costs in local currency (with rough USD equivalents), how long it takes, and a printable checklist so nothing gets orphaned in the mail.
This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Apostille authorities, fees, and visa document lists change, and your specific case may differ. Always confirm requirements with the relevant Korean diplomatic mission, the issuing authority in your country, and — where needed — a licensed professional before you submit. Last verified: July 18, 2026.
What an Apostille Actually Is (and Is Not)
An apostille is a standardized certificate created by the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents — the "Apostille Convention" drafted by the Hague Conference on Private International Law. It verifies that the signature, seal, or stamp on a public document is genuine, so the document can be used in another member country without further embassy legalization.
A few things it is not, because the misunderstandings here cause real delays:
- It is not a translation. An apostille certifies authenticity, not language. Korea may still require a certified Korean translation of the underlying document separately — and depending on where and how the translation is produced, the translation itself can sometimes need to be notarized or even apostilled. Confirm the exact translation/certification format with the Korean mission handling your case.
- It is not a notarization. For many documents (a diploma, a private contract), you must notarize first, then apostille the notarized version. The apostille often validates the notary's authority, not your document's contents.
- It does not check whether the content is true — only that the official signature/seal on it is authentic.
Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada participate in the Apostille Convention, but the issuing authority, document type, and receiving office still control. Canada joined with effect on 11 January 2024; check the current receiving-office instructions before treating an apostille as the final step.
Author's note (on-the-ground): The single most common avoidable mistake I see is people apostilling the original diploma when Korea's checklist wanted a notarized copy apostilled — or vice versa. The two are not interchangeable, and the wrong one means starting over. Read your specific visa office's instruction line literally, then build the document to match it before you pay any apostille fee.
Which Documents Need an Apostille, by Visa
The Korean diplomatic mission or immigration office handling the application determines the document list. The examples below are orientation only: a document may need an apostille, notarization, translation, legalization, or none of these depending on the visa category, issuing country, document type, and current checklist.
| Visa | Typically apostilled | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| E-2 (Teaching) | National criminal background check; bachelor's diploma (often a notarized copy) | Use the receiving Korean office's current document-validity window; do not assume a universal six-month rule. |
| E-7 (Skilled Worker) | Degree certificate; sometimes career/employment certificates | Requirements vary by the specific E-7 occupation code. |
| F-6 (Marriage) | National criminal background check; sometimes birth/marriage records | Used to show no major criminal history in your home country. |
| F-5 / F-3 (Residence / Dependent) | Marriage and birth certificates; criminal checks where requested | Family-relationship proof drives most of the apostille load here. |
For some E-2 applications, the current checklist may ask for a national-level criminal record check and degree evidence. A city, state, or county document may not meet that checklist, but the exact issuing level, validity period, certification, and translation requirements must be confirmed with the receiving Korean office.
Step-by-Step: United States
- Get the right source document. For the criminal check this is the FBI Identity History Summary (the national check), not a state police letter. For your degree, get an official copy and, if your visa office wants a notarized copy apostilled, have it notarized first.
- Identify the correct authority. Per the US Department of State apostille guidance, federal documents (like the FBI check) are apostilled by the US Department of State, Office of Authentications. State-issued documents (most diplomas, birth certificates) are apostilled by the Secretary of State of the issuing state.
- Submit and pay. Federal and state apostille fees and service times vary by authority and document. Check the current issuing authority's fee and processing page, then add mailing or courier costs.
- Build in time. The FBI check and apostille have separate processing steps. Do not treat a 4-12 week estimate as a promise; check the current issuer timelines and the receiving Korean office's document-validity window before booking travel or filing.
Step-by-Step: United Kingdom
- Get the source document. The UK national criminal check is the ACRO Police Certificate. Degrees may need to be notarized or solicitor-certified first, depending on the receiving Korean office.
- Use the single national authority. The UK has one issuer: the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office. This is simpler than the US — there is no state-by-state split.
- Pay the standard fee. The FCDO standard apostille fee is £45 (roughly USD 57 / KRW 80,000) per document for the standard paper-based service (verified on GOV.UK), plus courier or postage. Registered businesses can use a premium next-working-day paper service for £40, and a pre-approved restricted urgent same-day service costs £100; an e-Apostille option (not available for police certificates) is £35.
- Plan the timeline. The standard FCDO paper service can take up to 25 working days once they receive the document, so the premium next-day business service or the e-Apostille route is worth considering if you are in a hurry; either way, the bottleneck is often getting the ACRO certificate first.
Step-by-Step: Canada
- Confirm you are post-2024. Since the Convention took effect for Canada on 11 January 2024, apostille — not the old "authentication + consular legalization" — is the current route. Older guides may still describe legalization; treat anything pre-2024 with caution.
- Pick federal vs. provincial. Federal documents (e.g., the RCMP criminal record check) go through Global Affairs Canada. Provincial documents (many diplomas, vital records) are apostilled by the competent provincial authority (for example, Ontario's Ministry of the Attorney General).
- Budget the fee. Canadian fees and competent authorities vary by document and province. Use the current Global Affairs Canada routing and the applicable provincial authority's fee page.
- Allow for two timelines. The source document and apostille have separate timelines. Check both current service estimates before planning a filing date.
Fee & Timeline Comparison at a Glance
| Country | Issuing authority | Approx. fee/document | Typical end-to-end time |
|---|---|---|---|
| US (federal) | Dept. of State, Office of Authentications | ~$8–$20 (KRW ~11k–28k) | 4–12 weeks (incl. FBI check) |
| US (state) | Secretary of State (issuing state) | Current issuing-authority fee | Same-day to a few weeks |
| UK | FCDO Legalisation Office | £45 (USD ~57 / KRW ~80k) standard; £40 next-day (business) | Up to 25 working days standard, after ACRO check |
| Canada (federal) | Global Affairs Canada | varies | Check both current service estimates |
| Canada (provincial) | Provincial authority | Current federal or provincial fee | 1–3+ weeks |
Figures are indicative ranges as of June 2026 and are converted at approximate mid-2026 exchange rates; always check the live fee on the issuing authority's own page before paying.
Print-and-Tick Apostille Worksheet
Copy this and fill it in per document. The receiving Korean office's current checklist controls, and the application should be submitted only when the required items for that specific category are complete.
- [ ] Document name: _________________ (e.g., FBI check, bachelor's diploma)
- [ ] Is a notarized copy required first? (yes / no) — if yes, notarized on: ______
- [ ] Correct authority identified (federal / state / provincial / FCDO): ______
- [ ] Document is recent enough (e.g., criminal check within 6 months of start date)? (yes / no)
- [ ] Apostille fee paid, amount: ______ / date sent: ______
- [ ] Apostille received, date: ______
- [ ] Certified Korean translation required and obtained (if applicable)? (yes / no)
- [ ] Copy/scan kept for your records before mailing the original to the visa office
Common Mistakes That Get a File Rejected
- Wrong level of check. A local/state police letter where a national check (FBI / ACRO / RCMP) was required.
- Expired check. Some receiving offices impose a date window on criminal checks. Check the exact validity period in the current visa-office checklist and time the apostille process so the underlying document remains acceptable.
- Apostilling the wrong copy. Original vs. notarized photocopy: match exactly what your visa office wrote.
- Assuming consular legalization for Canada. That changed in January 2024; using outdated instructions wastes weeks.
- Forgetting the translation step. The apostille is not a translation; Korea may still want a certified Korean version.
FAQ
Does South Korea accept apostilles? Korea participates in the Apostille Convention, but acceptance is document- and case-specific. The receiving Korean mission or immigration office decides whether an apostille, legalization, notarization, translation, or another form is required for the application.
Who issues the apostille — Korea or my home country? Your home country issues it. The apostille is added by the competent authority where the document was created (e.g., US Department of State, FCDO, Global Affairs Canada), not by a Korean consulate.
Do I need an apostille and a translation? Often yes. They are separate steps: the apostille certifies the document's authenticity, and Korea may additionally require a certified Korean translation of the underlying document.
How long does the whole process take? Plan around separate issuer and receiving-office timelines. The UK publishes current service estimates, while FBI, Canadian, state, provincial, and Korean-office requirements differ; do not rely on a single 4-12 week promise. Start after checking the live issuer and visa-office instructions.
Can I apostille a regular photocopy myself? No. A plain photocopy is not a public document. You typically must have it notarized or officially certified first, then apostille the certified version.
Related Guides
Once your apostilled documents are ready, the next step is the visa file itself:
- E-7 Skilled Worker visa — the work route many degree-holders use after teaching; degree apostilles overlap heavily. See: Korea E-7 Skilled Worker Visa: A Practical 2026 Guide.
- F-6 Marriage visa — uses the same national criminal-check apostille as E-2. See: The Korean F-6 Marriage Visa: A 2026 Step-by-Step Guide.
- E-2 Teaching visa for US citizens — the most common reason people apostille an FBI check and diploma. See: How a US Citizen Gets a Korean E-2 Teaching Visa: 2026 Guide.
How This Guide Was Verified
Written and fact-checked by: WCS Editorial — Korea relocation & visa desk. Every dated claim in this guide is sourced to a primary official authority rather than a third-party summary. Specifically: Korea's and Canada's entry-into-force dates were checked against the HCCH Apostille Convention status table; the US federal-vs-state issuing-authority split was checked against travel.state.gov; and the UK fees were checked against the live GOV.UK legalisation page. Fees and timelines change, so always confirm the live figure on the issuing authority's own page before you pay.
Updates / Changelog
- 2026-06-14 — Initial publication. Confirmed Korea entry-into-force (14 Jul 2007) and Canada entry-into-force (11 Jan 2024) against the HCCH status table; verified US issuing-authority split against travel.state.gov. Fee ranges stated as of June 2026.
Sources
- https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41
- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications/authenticate-your-document/apostille-requirements.html
- https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised
- Global Affairs Canada authentication and apostille guidance
Editorial review and official sources
Reviewed: July 18, 2026. Bounded apostille claims to the receiving office and document type, removed unsupported timing generalizations, and expanded the article source list with official authorities.
- HCCH Apostille Convention status table - Convention membership and entry-into-force status
- US Department of State apostille guidance - US federal versus state document authentication
- GOV.UK document legalisation - Current UK apostille fees, service options, and timing
- Global Affairs Canada apostille announcement - Canada Apostille Convention entry into force
Requirements, fees, eligibility, and processing practices can change. Confirm the current rule with the responsible authority or provider before making a legal, immigration, tax, insurance, or financial decision.
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