Korean Documents for Spain

Spain is a popular destination for Korean nationals seeking residence, employment and higher education. Korean public documents submitted to Spanish authorities, such as the Oficina de Extranjería, the Registro Civil and the degree recognition office, must be apostilled and accompanied by a traducción jurada (sworn translation) by a translator certified by Spain's Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores. The Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA) apostilles public documents and the Ministry of Justice apostilles notarized private documents. Our specialists manage the full chain for residence by arraigo, degree recognition (homologación) and civil registration.

Requirements & key facts

Spain is a Hague Convention member (in force 25 September 1978) — Korean public documents for Spanish authorities need an apostille; embassy legalization is not required

Spanish authorities require a traducción jurada by a translator certified by Spain's Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores — standard certified translations are not accepted

Arraigo is a temporary residence permit; under the immigration regulation in force since May 2025 there are five types: social, sociolaboral, socioformativo, familiar and segunda oportunidad. Arraigo applications need a criminal record certificate from the countries you lived in during the five years before entering Spain; a Korean one needs an apostille and a traducción jurada

Recognition of foreign university degrees (homologación/equivalencia) is handled by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades and requires apostilled Korean diplomas and transcripts with an official translation

Civil registration at the Registro Civil for mixed-nationality marriages requires apostilled Korean birth certificate and family register with traducción jurada

A traducción jurada by a sworn translator certified by Spain's foreign ministry is valid in Spain on its own, with no further legalization; translations made by a Spanish consulate abroad may not be accepted by some Spanish authorities

Apostille guides by document type

Step-by-step instructions for each Korean document you need apostilled for Spain.

Birth Certificate Diploma Academic Transcript Marriage Certificate Criminal Background Check Power of Attorney Family Register Corporate Registration

Available services for Spain

Apostille Certified Translation Notarization

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of Spanish translation is required for Korean documents?

Spanish authorities require a traducción jurada — a sworn translation by a translator officially certified by Spain's Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores. This is different from a standard certified translation. A sworn translator's translation is valid in Spain on its own, with no further legalization.

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

Yes. Spain is a Hague Convention member, so an apostille is the correct authentication for Korean public documents. OKA issues it for public documents and the Ministry of Justice for notarized private documents. No embassy legalization is required.

What Korean documents do I need for a Spanish residence permit by arraigo?

Arraigo applications need a criminal record certificate from the countries you lived in during the five years before entering Spain; a Korean one needs an apostille and a traducción jurada. Other documents depend on the arraigo type (social, sociolaboral, socioformativo, familiar, segunda oportunidad), so check the Oficina de Extranjería's guidance before applying.

Korean Documents for Spain

Requirements & key facts

Apostille guides by document type

Available services for Spain

Frequently Asked Questions

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