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Hong Kong
Destination Guide
Hong Kong joined the Hague Apostille Convention on June 28, 2023, making MOFA apostille the correct certification for Korean documents submitted to Hong Kong authorities — no consular legalization is required. This is a key distinction from mainland China, which is not a Hague member and requires a separate legalization process. Hong Kong remains a major destination for Korean professionals, investors, and students. The main immigration pathways include the Employment Visa, the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES, relaunched in March 2024 with a minimum investment of HKD 30 million), the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), and the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS). Leading universities — HKU, HKUST, CUHK, City University, PolyU, and HKBU — all admit Korean students, and company registration with the Companies Registry (CR) is a common requirement for Korean businesses. Most Hong Kong government submissions require a Traditional Chinese (繁體字) translation.
Step-by-step instructions for each Korean document you need apostilled for Hong Kong.
Can I use an apostilled Korean document in Hong Kong? Is consular legalization still required?
Yes — since Hong Kong joined the Hague Convention on June 28, 2023, MOFA apostille is valid for Korean documents submitted to HK authorities. Consular legalization at the Chinese Embassy or Hong Kong Economic Trade Office is no longer required for HK use.
What is the difference between documents for Hong Kong vs. mainland China?
Mainland China does NOT accept apostille — Korean documents for mainland use require MOFA authentication followed by Chinese Embassy/Consulate legalization (领事认证). Hong Kong, by contrast, joined the Hague Convention in 2023 and accepts MOFA apostille directly. Prepare separate document sets if you need the same document for both jurisdictions.
What Korean documents are needed for the Hong Kong Employment Visa?
A Hong Kong Employment Visa typically requires an apostilled Korean degree certificate (학위증) and criminal background check (범죄경력조회서) with certified Traditional Chinese translation. Your sponsoring HK employer submits the application to the Immigration Department.
What Korean documents are needed for the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES)?
CIES applications require apostilled Korean identity documents, financial statements, and source-of-funds documentation with certified Traditional Chinese translation. Given the HKD 30 million minimum investment threshold, a Hong Kong-based financial institution or licensed professional typically coordinates the documentation with the Immigration Department.
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