Korean Documents for Germany

Do I need an apostille for Korean documents used in Germany?

It depends on the document and the receiving office. Korean documents for marriage at a Standesamt and family documents for a family visa need an apostille; Blue Card degree documents and ZAB assessments generally do not. When a German authority asks for authentication, the method is an apostille, not embassy legalization, because Germany is a Hague Convention party. The Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA) issues it for public documents and the Ministry of Justice for notarized private documents.

What translation is required for Korean documents submitted to German authorities?

German authorities usually ask for a German translation, where possible by a translator publicly sworn or recognized in Germany. Each authority decides at its own discretion whether a translation made abroad can be used, so ask the receiving office before you order one. For university applications, uni-assist accepts a certified translation into German or English. We can arrange the translation in the form the receiving office asks for.

I am applying for a German Blue Card with a Korean university degree. What do I need?

The German Embassy in Seoul asks for your degree in the original and printouts from anabin showing the equivalence of both the university and the degree; it does not ask for an apostille on degree documents. If your university or degree is not in anabin, you apply to the ZAB for a Statement of Comparability, which generally needs no apostille or certification, only a simple scan. Family members who come with you need their Korean family documents with an apostille and a German translation.

Can I register my marriage at a German Standesamt with Korean documents?

Yes. The Korean partner submits the Basic Certificate, Family Relation Certificate and Marriage Relation Certificate (even if never married), each with an apostille and a translation by a translator authorized in Germany, and the case goes through an exemption from the certificate of no impediment granted by the Higher Regional Court (OLG). A German partner's German records need no apostille. Check the exact requirements with the Standesamt handling your case.