The Philippines is a busy market for Korean companies, and increasingly Philippine entities partner with or enter Korea too. The first administrative hurdle is getting Philippine-issued documents recognized by the other country's institutions. Both the Philippines and Korea are Hague members, so a Philippine corporate registry with a government apostille is recognized in Korea without embassy legalization. Apostille Korea handles issuance, notarization, apostille and notarized translation in one stop.
What is a corporate-registry apostille?
An apostille is the international convention that simplifies authentication of foreign public documents. Since both the Philippines and Korea are members, a corporate registry with a Philippine government apostille is recognized as an official document in Korea without separate embassy legalization.
| Apostille | Embassy legalization | |
|---|---|---|
| Applies to | Public documents between Hague members | Non-member countries or private documents |
| Complexity | Simple (single step) | Complex (notarization → consular → embassy) |
| Philippines | Applicable (Hague member) | Not needed |
When do you need it?
- A Philippine entity opening a Korean bank account or applying for a loan
- A Philippine entity contracting with a Korean government or public body
- A Korean firm proving a Philippine entity's legality domestically
- Share transfers, mergers or liquidation of a Philippine entity
- Submitting corporate documents for a visa or residence permit
Documents involved
| Document | Issuer | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate registry (Certificate of Corporate Registration / Copy of Register) | Philippine SEC | Core document |
| Articles of Incorporation | SEC-registered copy | Notarize if private |
| General Information Sheet (shareholders) | SEC-registered copy | Attach if needed |
| Business Permit | Local government | As required by purpose |
| Representative's passport copy / power of attorney | Applicant-prepared | Required for agent filing |
The process
- Issue locallyObtain the corporate registry original from the Philippine SEC.
- Notarization (for private documents)Private documents such as the Articles of Incorporation or shareholder list are notarized by a Philippine Notary Public.
- ApostilleApply for and obtain the apostille stamp from the Philippine DFA.
- Notarized translation (for Korea)Add Korean translation and notarization for Korean submission.
- Submit in KoreaSubmit to a domestic bank, government body, Ministry of Justice and so on.
How to apply
From local issuance through notarization, apostille and notarized translation, we handle the whole Philippine corporate-registry process online — no visits, just web intake and document scans, via our overseas-documents team's local partner network.
FAQ
How long does Philippine corporate-registry apostille take?
Local issuance and DFA apostille typically take 2–4 weeks; with notarized translation, add 1–2 weeks. Our local partner network keeps it as fast as possible.
Where is the Philippine corporate registry issued?
By the Philippine SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission). It's called a Certificate of Corporate Registration or Copy of Register, obtained at an SEC office or via an authorized agent.
Can private documents be apostilled too?
Yes — private documents are notarized by a Philippine Notary Public first, then apostilled. Articles of Incorporation, shareholder lists and powers of attorney need notarization first.
Can Korean notarized translation be done together?
Yes. For Korean submission, the English document is translated into Korean and notarized — handled in one stop.
Does an apostille expire?
The apostille itself has no legal expiry, but some receiving bodies require documents issued within 3–6 months. Confirm the receiving body's conditions in advance.
Why Apostille Korea
- 300,000+ cases handled — deep know-how across countries and document types.
- 4.9-star average — verified by 1,200+ customer reviews.
- One-stop service — issuance, notarization, apostille and notarized translation completed in one place.
- Contactless online intake — apply from anywhere with no visit.
- Dedicated overseas-documents team — fast processing via a Philippine local partner network.