🇨🇦 Canada — IRCC / Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Canada Express Entry — Korean Documents Required

Canada's Express Entry system manages applications for three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Korean nationals invited to apply (ITA) must submit a complete application to IRCC within 60 days. This tight deadline means Korean document preparation — including MOFA apostille and credential evaluation — must be started well in advance of receiving an ITA.

Required Korean Documents

Basic Certificate (Birth Certificate)

기본증명서Required

Apostilled 기본증명서 with certified English translation. Required for all Express Entry applications. Must be issued within 6 months of IRCC submission.

Family Relations Certificate

가족관계증명서Required

Apostilled 가족관계증명서 with certified translation. Required to document family relationships and accompany family members included in the application.

Criminal Background Check

범죄·수사경력 회보서Required

Combined criminal and investigation records from the Korean National Police Agency. Apostilled and translated. IRCC requires police clearances from Korea for all periods of residence. Must be issued within 6 months of submission.

Step-by-Step Process

1
Create an Express Entry profile in the IRCC online portal and receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score
2
While waiting for an Invitation to Apply (ITA), begin preparing Korean documents — especially WES credential evaluation, which takes 7–13 weeks
3
Order Korean diplomas and transcripts from your university, have them apostilled by MOFA, and submit to WES Canada for Educational Credential Assessment
4
Upon receiving an ITA, you have 60 days to submit a complete application — ensure all other documents (birth certificate, police clearance, civil documents) are apostilled and translated
5
Submit your complete application package to IRCC via the online portal within the 60-day window
6
IRCC reviews your application and may request additional documents (upfront medical exams are now standard)
7
Upon approval of Permanent Residence, obtain your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and travel to Canada

Tips & Common Mistakes

Start WES Canada credential evaluation as soon as you decide to pursue Express Entry — it takes 7–13 weeks and cannot be rushed
WES requires apostilled Korean diplomas and transcripts — these must come from you, not directly from the Korean university
The 60-day ITA window is very tight — having all Korean documents pre-apostilled and ready is strongly recommended before you receive an ITA
Police clearances must be from all countries where you have lived for 6 months or more since age 18 — not just Korea
IRCC accepts certified translations from any competent translator; there is no requirement for a sworn/court-registered translator as in Germany or France
Documents must generally be issued within 6 months — do not order everything too far in advance

Frequently Asked Questions

Does IRCC require apostille on Korean documents for Express Entry?

IRCC requires foreign civil documents to be certified/authenticated. Canada is a Hague Convention member, so for Korean documents, MOFA apostille is the correct certification. In practice, IRCC instructs applicants to submit certified copies of official documents — apostilled originals satisfy this requirement.

Can I start my WES evaluation before receiving an ITA?

Yes — and you should. WES Canada accepts applications at any time and the ECA result is valid for 5 years. Starting WES before you receive an ITA is strongly recommended given the 60-day submission window after an ITA.

My Korean degree is in a field different from my current occupation. Does WES still evaluate it?

Yes. WES evaluates the academic level and Korean institution, not whether your degree matches your occupation. The CRS points are based on your highest level of education — field of study affects which NOC codes you can claim, but WES will evaluate any Korean degree.