Document Legalization Experts
Verified specialists who handle apostille, translation, and legalization
Apostille First Guide
Immigration applications are the most document-intensive situations Apostille First handles. A missing apostille, a wrong document type, or a rejected translation can delay a visa by months. This guide gives you a complete, country-specific checklist of which Korean documents need to be apostilled for the most common immigration destinations — and what to watch out for at each step.
For any country that is a Hague Apostille Convention member (which includes the US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Australia, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, and Japan), all Korean official documents submitted to immigration authorities must be apostilled by MOFA. This applies regardless of whether you submit the documents directly or through an immigration attorney.
Common document requirements for US immigration applications:
IRCC requires apostilled documents with certified translations (by a certified translator — Canada does not require a sworn translator of a specific national registry, but accuracy is critical):
Australia's Department of Home Affairs requires NAATI-certified translations alongside apostilled Korean documents:
German authorities require vereidigte Übersetzer (sworn translator) German translations alongside MOFA apostilles:
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires certified English translations alongside apostilled Korean documents:
Japanese authorities require certified Japanese translations alongside apostilled Korean documents. Japan has been a Hague Convention member since 1970:
Immigration document packages typically involve 3–6 documents across two categories (civil status + academic/criminal). Allow:
Do I need a separate apostille for each copy of the same document?
Yes. The apostille is affixed to a specific physical document — it cannot be photocopied. If you need an apostilled document submitted to two separate authorities (e.g., USCIS and a state court), you need two separate apostilled originals.
My immigration attorney says I don't need an apostille, just a certified translation. Is that correct?
Some immigration attorneys simplify their instructions for clients and focus on the translation because that is what they work with. In practice, the underlying Korean document must be apostilled to authenticate it as a genuine government-issued document — especially for visa interviews and adjudication. We recommend apostilling all Korean source documents regardless of whether your attorney specifically requested it.
Can Apostille First handle the complete document package for my immigration application?
Yes. We coordinate the full package — obtaining each document from the relevant Korean authority, processing MOFA apostille, arranging certified translation in the required country's format (USCIS, vereidigte Übersetzer, NAATI, etc.), and couriering the complete package to you.
Verified specialists who handle apostille, translation, and legalization
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