Whether you are applying for a foreign visa, registering a marriage abroad, completing immigration paperwork, or handling legal matters in another country, you may need an officially authenticated Korean marriage certificate (혼인관계증명서) or divorce certificate, complete with an apostille that makes the document legally recognized internationally. This comprehensive guide explains what these documents are, how to obtain them, and how to get them apostilled, including how KoreanApostille.com can handle the entire process on your behalf, even if you are living outside South Korea.
What Is a Korean Marriage Certificate?
A Korean Marriage Certificate (혼인관계증명서) is an official civil document issued by the Korean government that records the marital status of an individual, including marriage registration dates, the names of both spouses, and, where applicable, divorce records. It is issued through the Family Registration System maintained by the Supreme Court of Korea.
This document differs from a simple “Certificate of Marriage Registration” (수리증명서). The 혼인관계증명서 is a comprehensive record that shows current and past marital history, making it essential for international legal and immigration purposes.
Two versions of the certificate are available:
- Standard (일반) – shows current marital status
- Detailed (상세) – shows full marriage history, recommended for overseas visa and immigration submissions
What Is a Korean Divorce Certificate?
Korea does not issue a standalone “divorce certificate” as a separate document. Instead, a divorce is reflected in the Marriage Relation Certificate (혼인관계증명서), which will show the marriage as dissolved along with the date of divorce once the divorce has been properly registered.
If the divorce was finalized through the Korean courts (contested divorce), the following documents are typically used together for international purposes:
- 이혼판결문 – Court divorce judgment (for contested/judicial divorce)
- 이혼확인서 – Divorce confirmation document
- 이혼조정조서 – Divorce mediation record
- 혼인관계증명서 – Marriage Relation Certificate (showing divorce status)
For an agreed divorce (협의이혼), the Marriage Relation Certificate showing the updated divorced status is the primary proof of divorce.
Why Do You Need an Apostille?
South Korea joined the Hague Apostille Convention on July 14, 2007, becoming its 90th contracting state. This means Korean-issued documents apostilled in Korea are automatically accepted in over 120 Hague Convention countries, without needing additional embassy legalization.
If you need to submit a Korean marriage certificate or divorce certificate to a foreign government, immigration authority, court, or employer in a Hague Convention member country, an apostille is required. For countries not in the Hague Convention, a more involved embassy legalization process (영사확인 + 대사관인증) is needed instead.
Who Issues Apostilles in South Korea?
In Korea, apostilles are only issued by central government authorities, not by local city offices or district offices. The two main issuing bodies are:
| Authority | Documents Covered |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs (외교부) / Overseas Koreans Agency | Administrative documents: birth, marriage, and family relation certificates, business records, etc. |
| Ministry of Justice (법무부) | Court-related, notarial documents, and legal certificates |
How to Obtain a Korean Marriage Certificate
If You Are in Korea
You can obtain your Korean marriage certificate (혼인관계증명서) through any of the following methods:
- Visit a Gu-office (구청) or Community Center (주민센터) – Present a valid ID (주민등록증, passport, or driver’s license).
- Use an Unmanned Kiosk (무인발급기) – Available at community centers and subway stations.
- Apply Online via Government24 (정부24) – Available at www.gov.kr. Requires a Korean resident registration number and a digital certificate (공동인증서) or mobile phone verification.
- Apply via the Supreme Court’s Electronic Family Registration System (전자가족관계등록시스템) – Available at efamily.scourt.go.kr. English-language certificates can be issued through this platform.
Tip: When applying for international use, always request the Detailed version (상세증명서) and ensure your 주민등록번호 (resident registration number) is fully disclosed on the document.
If You Are Outside Korea
If you are living abroad, your options include:
- Korean Embassy or Consulate – Visit your nearest Korean diplomatic mission to request the certificate. Some embassies allow mail or email applications, but most require in-person visits for verification.
- Designate a Proxy in Korea – Provide a signed Power of Attorney (위임장) to a trusted family member or legal representative in Korea who can obtain the document on your behalf.
- Use a Procurement Service like KoreanApostille.com – A fully remote, English-language option that handles document procurement and delivery internationally (see below).
KoreanApostille.com: Full-Service Remote Procurement and Apostille
For Koreans living abroad and foreign nationals who need Korean documents authenticated but cannot travel to Korea, KoreanApostille.com offers a comprehensive, fully remote, English-language service, covering document procurement, notarization, apostille, and international delivery via DHL or EMS.
Services Offered
KoreanApostille.com provides the following services relevant to marriage and divorce certificates:
- Korean Document Procurement – Obtains your marriage certificate or divorce-related certificate directly on your behalf
- Korean Apostille – Submits your documents to the relevant Korean authority to obtain the official apostille
- Embassy Legalization – For countries not party to the Hague Convention, handles submission to the relevant embassy in Korea
- Notarized Translation – Certified Korean-English (and other language) translations, and notarization.
- International Delivery – Secure worldwide shipping once all authentication is complete
Documents Required for KoreanApostille.com Services
To Procure Your Korean Marriage or Divorce Certificate
If you need KoreanApostille.com to obtain your certificate on your behalf, the following documents are required:
- A copy of the applicant’s current foreign passport (if the applicant holds a foreign passport)
- A copy of the applicant’s Korean passport (showing the resident registration number) OR Korean Resident Registration Card (주민등록증) OR Korean Driver’s License of the applicant and spouse
- Current address of the applicant
- English names of the applicant and the spouse
To Apostille a Marriage or Divorce Certificate
If you already have your Korean marriage or divorce certificate and need an apostille added to it, you will need to provide:
- A copy of the applicant’s Korean passport (showing the resident registration number) OR Korean Resident Registration Card OR Korean Driver’s License of the applicant
- The original copy of the marriage certificate or divorce certificate
- Important: For apostille purposes, the original document is required, and photocopies or digital PDFs are generally not accepted by the Korean apostille authorities, unless you obtain a notarized translation first. If your original has been lost, KoreanApostille.com can first procure a new original on your behalf before proceeding to the apostille step.
Apostille vs. Embassy Legalization: Which One Do You Need?
| Feature | Apostille | Embassy Legalization |
| Applicable when | Both countries are Hague Convention members | One or both countries are not Hague members |
| Process | Document → (Notarization/Translation) → Apostille | Document → (Notarization/Translation) → authentication → Embassy certification |
| Processing time | 5-12 business days | Varies; typically 8–10+ business days |
| Accepted in | 120+ Hague Convention countries | Non-Hague countries (e.g., some Middle Eastern, African nations) |
KoreanApostille.com handles both pathways. Simply contact them at info@koreanapostille.com to confirm which authentication route applies to your destination country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a foreign national obtain a Korean marriage certificate?
Yes. A foreign national who was married to a Korean spouse and whose marriage was registered in Korea can obtain the 혼인관계증명서 by presenting valid identification to a gu-office or community center, or by working with a document procurement service.
Does the marriage certificate need to be translated?
If the destination country requires an English (or other language) version, the document must be translated and notarized by a certified translator and notary in Korea before the apostille can be applied, anad this is where KoreanApostille.com comes in.
What if my divorce is not yet registered in Korea’s family registry?
A divorce only appears on the marriage certificate after it has been formally registered. For overseas Koreans, divorce by agreement can be processed through the Korean embassy with jurisdiction over your residence. The divorce must be fully registered before a certificate reflecting the divorce can be issued.
How long does the full process take through KoreanApostille.com?
From document procurement through apostille and international DHL shipping, the typical timeline is approximately 5–9 days, or 8-12 days for the Korean-side processing, plus international shipping time, depending on the option you select (standard or express service).
What if my destination country is not in the Hague Convention?
KoreanApostille.com also offers embassy legalization services, covering MOFA authentication and embassy certification in Seoul for countries not party to the Hague Apostille Convention.
