Apostille Korea has begun offering a contactless service that processes the local apostille for academic documents issued overseas, certifying foreign diplomas and transcripts in their country of origin so applicants do not have to travel abroad to authenticate them.
- The service handles local apostilles for academic documents issued overseas.
- Foreign-issued documents are certified in their country of origin.
- Processing is contactless, removing the need to travel abroad.
- Hague members use an apostille; non-members use embassy legalization.
Why foreign academic documents are certified abroad
When a diploma, transcript or degree certificate is issued outside Korea and must be used officially, it has to be authenticated in the country that issued it — not in Korea. If that country belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention, the document receives a local apostille; if it does not, it goes through that country's foreign-ministry authentication and embassy legalization. For an applicant in Korea, arranging this abroad has traditionally meant either travelling in person or relying on contacts in the issuing country, both of which add cost and delay.
How contactless processing works
Apostille Korea coordinates the local apostille or legalization remotely, so the foreign-issued academic document is certified in its country of origin without the applicant making a trip. The company manages the steps — and any required translation — online, then returns a document set ready for submission in Korea. By removing the in-person leg abroad, the service shortens timelines for students, jobseekers and professionals who studied overseas and now need their records recognised.
Frequently asked questions
Where is a foreign academic document certified?
In the country that issued it — a local apostille for a Hague Convention member, or embassy legalization for a non-member.
Do I have to travel abroad?
No. Apostille Korea processes the local apostille or legalization contactless, so you do not need to travel to the issuing country.
Which documents are covered?
Overseas-issued academic records such as diplomas, transcripts and degree certificates that must be used officially in Korea.
Source: 데이터넷 (datanet.co.kr) ↗