How to Order a Korean Family Register (가족관계증명서) + Apostille

Korea abolished the 호적 system in 2008

Before 2008, Korea used a 호주(戶主) system — a single family register organized under the head of household (호주). This system was abolished in January 2008 as part of gender equality reforms. It was replaced by an individual-based family relations registration system. What this means: you can no longer request a '호적등본' — it no longer exists as a current document. The correct documents are now issued under the Family Relations Registration Act.

The five types of family relations documents

The current system issues five distinct certificate types from the same registry. Each covers a different scope of information:

• 기본증명서 (Basic Certificate / Certificate of Basic Matters): Birth date, registration number, name changes, legal capacity changes, death. Functionally equivalent to a birth certificate for international use — this is what most foreign authorities mean when they ask for a 'Korean birth certificate.'
• 가족관계증명서 (Family Relations Certificate): Shows the subject person and their direct family relationships — parents, spouse, children. Required for most immigration and civil registration purposes where family structure must be proved.
• 혼인관계증명서 (Marriage Certificate / Certificate of Marriage Status): Shows marriage history — current spouse, previous marriages and divorces. Required for spousal visa and civil registration of marriage abroad.
• 입양관계증명서 (Adoption Certificate): Shows adoption history — adoptive parents and children. Required for international adoption proceedings.
• 친양자입양관계증명서 (Full Adoption Certificate): Shows full adoption (친양자) relationships. Less commonly requested internationally.

Which one does your foreign authority actually want?

This is where most confusion happens. When a foreign authority asks for a 'Korean birth certificate,' they almost always mean the 기본증명서. When they ask for a 'family register,' they typically want the 가족관계증명서. For marriage-related applications, the 혼인관계증명서 is usually required. Many immigration applications require both the 기본증명서 and 가족관계증명서. Apostille First specialists confirm the exact document type your specific authority requires before you order anything.

How to order these documents from abroad

If you are currently in Korea, these documents can be obtained immediately at any municipal office (주민센터) or online via Government24 (gov.kr). If you are abroad:

• Government24 (정부24, gov.kr): Korean nationals with a valid 공동인증서 (certificate of authentication) or digital identity can order civil documents online. The document can be issued electronically and used for e-apostille, or printed and submitted for physical apostille.
• Korean consulate/embassy: Most Korean overseas missions allow family relations documents to be requested by Korean nationals who present their passport and Korean ID (재외국민등록). Processing times vary by mission.
• Professional apostille agency: Apostille First specialists obtain these documents from Korean municipal authorities on your behalf using a power of attorney — the most reliable option for complex or time-sensitive requests.

Getting the family register apostilled

Once you have the document, it must be apostilled by MOFA before it is recognized abroad. Family relations documents issued by Government24 are eligible for both physical MOFA apostille and the e-apostille system (apostille.go.kr). For most immigration and civil registration purposes, a physical apostille on a paper document is more universally accepted.

Important: issue date requirements

Many foreign authorities specify that civil documents must have been issued within a certain period — typically 3 or 6 months of submission. Your apostilled family register issued 12 months ago may be rejected. Always order fresh documents for each application, not copies of previously used documents.