If a foreign regulator, bank, court or business partner has asked for a Korean company document “with an apostille” or “legalized,” the document must be authenticated in Korea before it can be used abroad. Which route you need depends on two things: who issued the document, and where it will be used.
- The destination is a member of the Apostille Convention (for example China, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, the United States and EU countries): a single apostille issued in Korea is enough.
- The destination is not a member (for example the UAE, Qatar or Kuwait): the document needs consular legalization, meaning confirmation in Korea followed by legalization at that country’s embassy in Seoul.
- The document was issued by a company or private body (articles of incorporation, powers of attorney, ISO certificates): it must be notarized by a Korean notary before either route.
This guide explains which route applies, how each common Korean business document is handled, the process step by step, the mistakes that get documents rejected, and how to get everything done without traveling to Korea.
Apostille or embassy legalization?
Korea has applied the Hague Apostille Convention since 14 July 2007. An apostille is a certificate attached to a Korean public document that confirms the signature, seal and authority of the official who issued it. Other Convention countries then accept the document without any embassy legalization.
Who issues apostilles in Korea
- The Overseas Koreans Agency (재외동포청), under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issues apostilles for most public documents, including government and court-registry certificates.
- The Ministry of Justice issues apostilles for its own documents and for notarized documents.
When you need consular legalization instead
If the destination country is not a Convention member, an apostille will not be accepted there. The document goes through two steps instead:
- Consular confirmation (영사확인) by the Overseas Koreans Agency, which verifies the Korean document.
- Embassy legalization by the destination country’s embassy or consulate in Korea.
Some countries add a final step after the document arrives. Documents for the UAE, for example, are typically attested again by the UAE’s own foreign ministry.
Which Korean business documents can be apostilled?
Almost any business document issued in Korea can be apostilled or legalized. What differs is the preparation: public documents go straight to authentication, while private documents need a Korean notary first.
| Document | Usually issued by | Type | Before the apostille or legalization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of registered matters (법인등기사항전부증명서), the corporate registry extract | Court registry office | Public | Nothing extra; request a fresh copy |
| Certificate of corporate seal impression (법인인감증명서) | Court registry office | Public | Nothing extra |
| Business registration certificate (사업자등록증명) | National Tax Service | Public | Nothing extra; usually issued only to the company or with its consent |
| Tax payment and tax residency certificates | National Tax Service | Public | Nothing extra |
| Free sale certificates and manufacturing licenses | Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and other regulators | Public | Nothing extra |
| Cosmetics export certificates (six types) | Korea Cosmetic Association | Accepted without notarization since 2024 | Nothing extra |
| Trade secret original certificates | Bodies designated by the Korean Intellectual Property Office | Accepted without notarization since September 2025 | Nothing extra |
| Patent and trademark registration certificates | Korean Intellectual Property Office | Public | Nothing extra |
| Court judgments and certified court records | Korean courts | Public | Nothing extra |
| Articles of incorporation, board and shareholder resolutions, shareholder registers | The company | Private | Notarization by a Korean notary |
| Powers of attorney, letters of authorization, distributor appointment letters | The company | Private | Notarization, signed and sealed by an authorized representative |
| Declarations and certificates of country of manufacture | The manufacturer | Private | Notarization |
| ISO and GMP certificates (for example ISO 22716) | Private certification bodies | Private | Notarization of a true copy |
| Financial statements, audit reports, contracts, invoices, bank letters | The company, its auditor or its bank | Private | Notarization |
The six cosmetics certificates now exempt from notarization include the manufacturing and sales certificate, the manufacturer certificate and the certificate of origin by product type. That change removed a step many K-beauty exporters used to pay for.
Two ways to prepare a private document for apostille
- Notarize the original. The company’s authorized representative signs or seals the document before a Korean notary public. For company documents, the notary usually asks for a recent corporate seal certificate (often issued within the last three months), the corporate registry certificate and the signer’s ID.
- Notarize a translation. A translation of the document is notarized, and the apostille is placed on the notarized translation. This route can start from a clear scan and does not need the issuer to sign, but it only works when the document must be translated into another language, and the recipient has to accept it.
Some receiving authorities, including in China, ask for an apostille on both the Korean original and its notarized translation. Confirm this before you order, because it changes how many authentications you need.
How to legalize or apostille Korean business documents, step by step
Every document answers two questions: who issued it, and whether the destination is a Convention member. The answers decide whether you need a notary, an apostille, or the longer embassy route.
- Confirm the requirements with the receiving authority. Ask whether they need an apostille or embassy legalization, whether a translation is required and in which language, whether the translation must also be authenticated, how recent the document must be, and how many originals they want.
- Get a fresh original from the issuer. Registry and tax certificates show the company’s status on the day they are printed, and many recipients reject documents older than three to six months. Some certificates, such as the business registration certificate, can only be issued to the company itself or with its consent.
- Line up authorization from the Korean company. When someone other than the company applies to authenticate its documents, Korean offices expect the company to take part. Typical requirements are the corporate seal stamped on the application forms, a recent corporate seal certificate, a copy of the business registration certificate and a power of attorney naming the agent. If you are a foreign buyer or distributor, ask your Korean supplier for these early, because this is the step that most often stalls.
- Notarize private documents. Have the original notarized by a Korean notary, or arrange a notarized translation if the recipient accepts one. Public documents skip this step.
- Get the apostille or the consular confirmation. For Convention countries, the apostille comes from the Overseas Koreans Agency or the Ministry of Justice. For other countries, the Overseas Koreans Agency issues a consular confirmation instead.
- Legalize at the destination country’s embassy in Seoul (non-Convention countries only). Each embassy sets its own document rules, forms and fees, and some require an appointment or a translation into their official language.
- Ship the originals and finish any step abroad. Authenticated originals travel by tracked international courier. Some countries, such as the UAE, add an attestation by their own foreign ministry after arrival.
Each document is authenticated on its own. Binding several certificates together does not make them one document for apostille or legalization purposes, so plan for one authentication per document.
If you are in Korea and want to handle a simple public document yourself, our guide on how to get an apostille in Korea walks through an in-person application.
8 mistakes that get Korean business documents rejected
- Using the wrong route. An apostille is not accepted in the UAE, Qatar or Kuwait, and embassy legalization is no longer needed for China or Vietnam. Check the destination’s current status before you start, because it changes: Vietnam switched in September 2026 and Thailand switches in February 2027.
- Skipping notarization on a private document. Company-issued papers and private certificates, including ISO and GMP certificates, cannot be apostilled until a Korean notary has certified them.
- Sending a scan when an original is required. Notarizing a company document generally needs the original in hand. Scans work mainly for the notarized-translation route.
- Submitting an outdated certificate. Registry, seal and tax certificates are snapshots. If the recipient wants a recent issue, or the company’s details have changed, order a new one.
- Missing corporate authorization. Without the company’s seal, a recent seal certificate and a power of attorney, a third party cannot move the application forward.
- Mismatched names and romanization. The company’s English name and the representative’s name should match across the registry certificate, the business registration certificate and your contracts. Inconsistent spellings invite questions abroad.
- Translating in the wrong order or language. An apostille does not translate anything. Decide at the start whether the translation is done and authenticated in Korea, or done in the destination country.
- Expecting one apostille to cover a bundle. Each certificate needs its own apostille or legalization, even when all the documents belong to one filing.
How KoreanApostille.com makes the process seamless
Getting a Korean business document accepted abroad usually involves several government offices, a Korean company that must sign and seal forms, and instructions written only in Korean. KoreanApostille.com handles the whole chain from inside Korea, so you never need to travel to Seoul or deal with offices in another language.
- A document review before you commit. We confirm whether your document needs an apostille or embassy legalization, whether notarization is required, and exactly what the Korean company must provide, all before we send an invoice.
- One team for every step. Notarization, notarized translation into many languages, apostille, consular confirmation and embassy legalization in Seoul are handled together, in the right order.
- Built for multi-document filings. Product registrations, subsidiary setups and bank onboarding often need several certificates at once. We run them as one coordinated job, while each document still gets the authentication it needs.
- Delivered worldwide. You receive a scan when the work is complete and the originals by tracked international courier. Express delivery is available when a deadline is close.
- Clear, secure communication. Our English-speaking team works by email and collects documents only through a secure upload link, never as email attachments.
We work with importers and exporters, regulatory consultants, law firms, and translation and legalization agencies that need a dependable partner in Korea. See how our remote apostille service works for clients outside Korea. Please note that we only process documents issued in South Korea.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a Korean business document apostilled without traveling to Korea?
Yes. An agent in Korea can handle notarization, the apostille or legalization, and shipping for you. You will usually need the Korean company’s help with authorization forms, plus the original of any document that must be notarized.
Does a Korean business registration certificate need notarization before an apostille?
No. The business registration certificate is issued by the National Tax Service, so it is a public document and can be apostilled directly. It is normally issued only to the company or with its consent, and many recipients also want a translation.
Can a Korean corporate registry certificate be apostilled?
Yes. The certificate of registered matters (법인등기사항전부증명서) comes from the court registry office and is a public document. Order a fresh copy, because recipients often expect one issued within the last few months.
Can I get an apostille from a scanned copy?
Usually not for the document itself. Public certificates are apostilled as issued originals, and private documents must be notarized from the original. The exception is a notarized translation, which can start from a clear scan if the recipient accepts a translation.
My destination country is not in the Apostille Convention. What do I need?
Consular legalization. The Overseas Koreans Agency first issues a consular confirmation, and then the destination country’s embassy in Seoul legalizes the document. This applies to the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait, among others.
Is an e-Apostille from apostille.go.kr enough for business use?
It can be, if your document is on Korea’s e-Apostille list and the recipient accepts electronic apostilles. Many business documents are not on that list, so confirm both points before you rely on it.
Can several certificates share one apostille?
No. Each document receives its own apostille or legalization, even when they are submitted together for one application.
Do I need a certified translation?
It depends on the receiving authority. Ask which language they need, whether the translation must be done in Korea or in the destination country, and whether the translation itself must be apostilled.
Who can apply for an apostille on company documents?
The company itself, or an agent it authorizes. Expect the corporate seal on the application forms, a recent corporate seal certificate and a power of attorney naming the agent.
