Apostille Services for South Korea
If your U.S. document needs to be used in South Korea, it needs a U.S. apostille. South Korea is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so for U.S. public documents within the scope of the Convention, a U.S. apostille is sufficient, and no Korean consulate legalization is required.
How it works with Premier Notary & Apostille Services
- Share your document and confirm it is for use in South Korea, for EPIK, GEPIK, SMOE, GOE, or a private hagwon.
- We route it by where it was issued: FBI background checks go for a U.S. Department of State apostille through our Washington, D.C. partner, who hand-delivers to the Department of State in person; state-issued documents, such as a university diploma, go for that state's apostille.
- Private documents, such as a power of attorney, must be notarized first so they count as public documents, then they can be apostilled.
- Your apostilled document is returned to you with tracked shipping. If you also need a certified translation, that service is available, typically delivered back by email within 2 business days.
Timing matters: the FBI check must be issued within 6 months of the E-2 visa application. Plan so the apostille completes 2–3 months before departure. Too early and the document expires; too late and you miss the visa deadline.
EPIK intake windows and the final-documents clock
EPIK runs two main intakes a year, spring and fall, and your apostilled documents are due at the final-documents stage before your start date. The criminal-check and apostille step takes weeks, and starting late is the single biggest cause of missing an intake window. Start the process as soon as you apply: that leaves room for the federal apostille, the degree apostille, and any translation, with the finished documents in hand well before the final-documents deadline. Hagwon placements move faster, typically 6–12 weeks from application to arrival, but the same 6-month FBI freshness rule applies.
Documents commonly apostilled for South Korea
Documents commonly apostilled for South Korea include the FBI Identity History Summary, bachelor's degrees (notarized color copy), teaching licenses, and marriage certificates for dependants or name-change verification.
Korea FBI apostille pricing
FBI Identity History Summary apostille — $280 per document. This is a federal U.S. Department of State apostille, processed through our Washington, D.C. partner, who hand-delivers documents in person. Average turnaround is about 2 weeks.
Return shipping varies by method, and the final scope and total are confirmed after document review. See full services and pricing at premiernotaryservices.com/apostille-pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still need Korean consulate legalization?
No. For U.S. public documents within the scope of the Convention, a U.S. apostille is sufficient for South Korea. Consular authentication by a Korean embassy or consulate is no longer required for these documents.
How long does it take?
It depends on the route. Federal apostilles through our Washington, D.C. partner average about 2 weeks. State apostille timing varies by the issuing authority.
Does my degree need to be notarized first?
Yes. A notarized color photocopy of your bachelor's degree must be apostilled by the Secretary of State of the state where the diploma was issued.
What about transcripts, TEFL certificates, or recommendation letters?
These do NOT need an apostille for the E-2 visa.
What is the difference between a federal and a state apostille?
Federal documents, such as the FBI Identity History Summary, must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. A state Secretary of State cannot apostille them. State documents, such as a university diploma, are apostilled by the Secretary of State of the issuing state.
I hold a teaching license — should I apostille it?
If you hold a state teaching certification and want to qualify for a higher EPIK pay scale, the license itself should be apostilled alongside your diploma. Optional but recommended for scale advancement.
When should I start the apostille process for EPIK?
As soon as you apply. The criminal background check and apostille step takes weeks, and starting late is the single biggest cause of missing an intake window. Beginning early leaves room for both the federal and degree apostilles plus any translation, with the finished documents ready for the final-documents stage.
Official sources
Start Your Order
Start your order at premiernotaryservices.com/book, or see services and pricing at premiernotaryservices.com/apostille-pricing.
General information only, not legal advice. Requirements may change and must be confirmed with the receiving authority.