What Is an Apostille and Consular Confirmation?

 

(e-mail) skkimlaw@naver.com

 

What Is an Apostille and Consular Confirmation?

 

Some foreign notarized or official documents must have an apostille or consular confirmation before being submitted to the South Korean registry office or a bank. Generally, these documents are things like powers of attorney, letters of consent, passport copies, sealed registration forms, and proofs of residence. If your home country is a signatory to the Apostille Convention, you must obtain an apostille for these documents. Otherwise, you must receive consular confirmation.

 

 

1. Apostille

An apostille (pronounced “uh-paa-stil”) is a certificate issued by a government agency that authenticates the seals and signatures of officials and notaries public on documents. An apostille certifies the document(s), so the document can be recognized in the other countries that are members of the Apostille Convention. As of 2023, the countries that issue apostilles are as follows.

Region	Country
Asia	Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, China, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
Europe	Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom
North America	Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Federation, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Granada, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, USA
South America	Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela
Africa	Botswana, Burundi, Cape Verde, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tunisia
Oceania	Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu

 

 

2. Consular Confirmation

Documents from countries that do not issue apostilles but otherwise would require one must be confirmed by the South Korean consulate of that country. (Act On Notarial Acts Done At Diplomatic Missions Abroad Article 30 (1)) For example, the Canadian government does not issue apostilles because Canada has not signed the Apostille Convention. Therefore, documents that would otherwise require an apostille have to be confirmed to be genuine by a South Korean consulate in Canada.

 

 

KIM Sang Kyoon (김상균, 金相均), Attorney at Law (Seoul Bar Association)

He specialized in corporate law and wrote a book about commercial registration. He has conducted a wide range of commercial activities, including incorporating corporations, raising capital in redeemable convertible preferred stock (RCPS), and providing corporate advice. He provides advisory and transactional services in both Korean and English to domestic and foreign clients. Please contact him to find out how he can help you achieve your business goals in South Korea.

 

Email (Korean and English): skkimlaw@naver.com 

Telephone (Korean only): +82-2-596-6720
Fax (Korean and English): +82-2-6008-6761
Address: 9th floor, 113 Seochojungang-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06644, South Korea