An “Apostille” is a verification seal or page that is attached to a document to certify it for international use. Only state or federal governmental entities can issue apostilles. Apostilles are required in order to submit various documents to teach English in Korea.
Article updated 12 December, 2024.
Which documents need to be apostilled to teach in Korea?
How are apostilles different from notarizations?
Apostilles certify documents for international use whereas notarizations certify that documents are legitimate copies of original documents.
I’m from Canada. What should I do?
Previously, applicants from Canada were required to authenticate their documents, and then get an official stamp of approval from the Korean Embassy. This is no longer the case.
On the 16th of May, 2023, Canada officially joined the Apostille Convention which has come into effect starting 11 January, 2024. For more information about how to go about the apostille process for the RCMP background check, please click here.
Diplomas must be apostilled by your provincial government. Please see your respective province’s website for the apostille requirements/instructions.
I’m from the US. Do I need to get a state apostille or a federal apostille?
This depends on the document. FBI criminal background checks are federal documents and therefore can only receive a federal apostille from the US DoS.
Your university diploma is a state-level document. Therefore you can get it apostilled by your secretary of state office in your own state. Please check your state’s requirements for more information.
Alternatively, you can use Monument Visa to streamline the entire process for both the FBI check and diploma.
Where can I find further instructions about how to apostille documents in my country?
Please see the following links:
Australia
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Canada
Global Affairs Canada (RCMP Checks Apostille only)
Ireland
Department of Foreign Affairs
New Zealand
Department of Internal Affairs
South Africa
Department of International Relations & Cooperation
United Kingdom
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
United States
Monument Visa
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*Featured image courtesy of Freepik
Hello, I used the company that was suggested for the FBI fingerprinting, I got back two forms that are identical- do I need to have BOTH these forms apostilled ?? And do I need my teaching certificate or just my diploma?
Thank you so much
Hi Kwailan,
Thank you for contacting us. You need a teaching certificate if you are not an education major degree holder.
Also we suggest you to contact your Korvia in-house recruiter for any questions regarding required document legalization.
Regards,
Hello Korvia,
Does my apostilled Diploma ever expire, or do I need to get a new copy of my Diploma with a more up-to-date apostille?
Thanks!
Hello John,
Your apostille Diploma has no expiration date however national background check is only valid for six months after the issuance date.
Regards,
Where i can get apostle for bank statement please ? Living in Deagu thanks
We believe you apostille any documents.
Hi!
If I get my diploma apostilled, is there an expiration on it? I want to apply for spring 2022 and get started with my documents, is it ok to request the apostille for my diploma this early?
Thank you!
Hi!
For the background check, is it the apostilled national background check that only last 6 months, or the background check itself? As in, if I request my background check now, can I wait to get it apostilled or is that not correct?
Hi I am from the UK and need my birth certificate apostille, I was born in Thailand so it is in Thai. However I am a British citizen, I have gotten my citizenship a few years back. I am unsure what I need to get apostille and if my situation still allows me to be eligible for the program.
Hi I am from the UK and need my birth certificate apostille, I was born in Thailand so it is in Thai. However I am a British citizen, I have gotten my citizenship a few years back I have been living in the UK for most of my life. I am unsure what I need to get apostille and if my situation still allows me to be eligible for the program.
Hi, I want to get my DEGREE apostilled along with the FBI check. May I scan and send them to you guys to get that processed? Im a U.S. citizen.
Hello Hyun,
We are a recruiting agency, and we do not deal with any apostilles ourselves. You would need to send a copy of your degree and FBI to check to Monument Visa, which is the agency that will take care of everything for you.
An apostille is a type of verification in documents and certificate are legalized in a special format that is acceptable in all countries related to The Hague Convention. Essentially, Apostille is an international verification.
my name is Ranjith . I am from INDIA . for visa process I have summited by original certificate with Apostille to Korea immigration office , successfully I got visa and the type is E7 . and my problem is still I didn’t get back my certificate .. how can I get back ?
Hello Ranjith,
The documents you submitted, you will not be able to get back; however, you can contact immigration and request to obtain official copies of them.
Hello there, I hope you’re well. I just came across a statement that says South Africans must get and then also apostille a SAQA verification certificate. I know this guide is from long ago and a lot has changed since then, so could you kindly confirm this for me? Thank you.
Yes, your university diploma must be verified by SAQA before it gets apostilled by DIRCO.