🇬🇧 United Kingdom — UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)
UK Skilled Worker Visa — Korean Documents Required
The UK Skilled Worker visa replaced the old Tier 2 (General) visa in December 2020. Korean nationals need a job offer from a UK-licensed sponsor before applying. gov.uk's Skilled Worker document guidance does not ask for an apostille on Korean documents; it asks for a certified translation of any document that is not in English or Welsh. Korean documents mainly come up as a criminal record certificate for certain occupations, proof of relationship for family members applying with you, and a degree check through Ecctis in some cases. Professional registration bodies for regulated occupations (NMC, GMC, GPhC and others) set their own document formats separately from the visa, so read the guidance of the body concerned.
Required Korean Documents
May Also Be Required
University Diploma
학위증명서gov.uk points to Ecctis for the Skilled Worker visa in two cases: proving English through a degree taught in English, and relying on a PhD from outside the UK. Follow Ecctis's own instructions for the format of the documents you send it. gov.uk does not ask for an apostille for the visa. Professional registration bodies for regulated occupations (NMC, GMC, HCPC, GPhC and others) each set their own format for academic documents, so read the guidance of the body concerned.
How to apostille this documentAcademic Transcript
성적증명서Prepare this when Ecctis or a professional registration body asks for it. Which documents to send and in what form (original, certified copy, translation) is set by the body that asks. gov.uk's visa document guidance has no apostille requirement; get an apostille only if the body receiving the document asks for one.
How to apostille this documentBasic Certificate (Birth Certificate)
기본증명서If your partner or children apply with you, you may be asked for documents proving the family relationship. gov.uk does not name the Korean document, so prepare whichever of the 기본증명서, 가족관계증명서 or 혼인관계증명서 shows the relationship. No apostille is required for the visa; if the document is in Korean, send a certified translation with it.
How to apostille this documentCriminal Background Check
범죄·수사경력 회보서gov.uk asks for a criminal record certificate from applicants who apply from outside the UK and will work in education, healthcare, therapy or social services. One is needed from each country where you lived for 12 months or more in total in the last 10 years while aged 18 or over, and the applicant's dependent partner over 18 is covered too. The Korean document is the 범죄·수사경력 회보서, issued for the purpose 외국 입국·체류 허가용 (entry to or stay in a foreign country). gov.uk's Korea entry and the Korean Embassy in London both say this certificate is for immigration (visa) purposes only and cannot be used for a job application in the UK. No apostille or notarized translation is required; if the certificate is not in English, send a certified translation (the translator's written confirmation that it is a true and accurate translation, the date, and the translator's full name and contact details).
How to apostille this documentStep-by-Step Process
- 1
Secure a job offer from a UK employer with a valid Sponsor Licence for the Skilled Worker route
- 2
Receive your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your employer
- 3
Apply for the Skilled Worker visa online at gov.uk — most document requirements are uploaded digitally
- 4
For regulated professions, obtain professional registration with the relevant UK body (NMC, GMC, GPhC, etc.) — document formats differ by body, so read that body's own guidance
- 5
Biometric enrolment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Korea
- 6
After visa approval, enter the UK and register with your GP (National Health Service) within the first weeks
Tips & Common Mistakes
- UKVI itself does not typically require apostilled Korean documents for the Skilled Worker visa application — most requirements are met with digital uploads
- UK professional registration bodies (NMC for nurses, GMC for doctors, GPhC for pharmacists, HCPC for allied health) each set their own document format (original, certified copy, translation) separately from the visa — check that body's guidance to see whether it asks for an apostille
- gov.uk points to Ecctis in two cases: proving English through a degree taught in English, and relying on a PhD from outside the UK — not everyone with a Korean degree needs it, and the submission format follows Ecctis's instructions
- Korean nurses applying for NMC registration should check NMC's current guidance for how long the full process takes, including the CBT exam, OSCE, and document verification
Frequently Asked Questions
Does UKVI require apostilled Korean documents for the Skilled Worker visa?
The basic items gov.uk asks for on a Skilled Worker application are your Certificate of Sponsorship reference number, proof of your knowledge of English, your passport and your job details. Apostilled Korean documents are not typically required for the visa itself; any document that is not in English or Welsh needs a certified translation. To work in a regulated profession, your UK professional registration body may ask for documents separately, and the format differs by body. The Apostille Convention applies to the UK, so if a body in the UK asks for authentication of a Korean document, the method is the apostille, not consular legalization; the Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA) issues it for public documents and the Ministry of Justice for notarized private documents.
I am a Korean nurse applying to work in the UK (NHS). Do I need apostilles on my Korean documents?
Look at the visa and NMC registration separately. For the visa, gov.uk does not ask for an apostille; nursing is a healthcare occupation, so when you apply from outside the UK you send a criminal record certificate (in Korea, the 범죄·수사경력 회보서), with a certified translation if it is not in English. For NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) registration, NMC sets the format of the documents (certified copies, certified translations and so on), so read NMC's current guidance before you start. Get an apostille only if NMC or another body asks for one, and check NMC's current guidance for how long registration takes.
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