Use Case Guide

Korean Documents for Business Setup Abroad

Setting up a company branch, subsidiary, or representative office abroad requires apostilled Korean corporate documents. Whether you're registering at Germany's Handelsregister, the UK's Companies House, ASIC in Australia, or a US state Secretary of State, the Korean corporate documentation package is the foundation of your international expansion.

What documents you need

Apostilled 법인등기부등본 (Corporate Registry Certificate) — the core document required by all foreign commercial registries
Apostilled 정관 (Articles of Incorporation) — required by many foreign registries for subsidiary or branch registration
Apostilled power of attorney (위임장, notarized by a Korean notary before apostille) — required to authorize a local representative to act for the Korean company
Certified translation of all corporate documents into the destination country's official language
Country-specific requirements: Germany requires vereidigte Übersetzer, France requires traduction assermentée, Australia requires NAATI-certified translation
Corporate resolutions authorizing the overseas expansion may be required by foreign notaries

Timeline

Korean corporate document apostille typically takes 1–2 weeks (document issuance from the Court Registry + MOFA apostille + translation). The foreign registration process itself varies significantly by country and structure.

Tips & common mistakes to avoid

The 법인등기부등본 should be the 'current' version (현재 사항 증명) for most purposes — some foreign registries additionally require the 'full history' version (말소 사항 포함)

German Handelsregister requires specific corporate authorization — have your German Notar review the power of attorney requirements before drafting

Power of attorney must be notarized by a Korean notary (공증인) before MOFA apostille — unnotarized documents cannot be apostilled

The 정관 (articles of incorporation) typically needs both apostille and translation — check if the destination registry requires a notarized translation

For US subsidiary setup, each state has different foreign entity registration requirements — confirm your specific state's requirements before ordering documents

Document guides for business setup abroad

Step-by-step apostille instructions for each document in your package.

Corporate Registration Apostille Power of Attorney Apostille

Related services

Apostille Certified Translation Notarization

Frequently Asked Questions

What Korean corporate documents do I need apostilled to register a subsidiary in Germany?

The German Handelsregister typically requires the apostilled 법인등기부등본, apostilled 정관, and an apostilled + certified German-translated power of attorney. The power of attorney must be notarized by a Korean notary before apostille. Your German Notar (notary) will specify the exact requirements.

Does a Korean power of attorney need to be notarized before apostille?

Yes. A Korean power of attorney must be notarized by a Korean notary (공증인) before MOFA will apostille it. The apostille certifies the notary's official seal — not the document directly. This is a critical step that many first-time applicants miss.

How long does it take to get Korean corporate documents apostilled for overseas business registration?

The 법인등기부등본 can be issued same-day through the online Court Registry system. Power of attorney drafting and notarization takes 1–3 business days. MOFA apostille takes 3–5 business days (standard) or 1–2 business days (express). Translation adds 2–4 business days. Total: approximately 1–2 weeks.

Can I apostille Korean corporate documents if the company directors have changed recently?

Yes. The 법인등기부등본 reflects the current registered state of the company, including recent director changes. For foreign registration purposes, you want the most current version showing the current corporate structure.